The Most Common Types of Bicycle Accidents

When people hear the phrase “bicycle accident” there is an instinctive association between bicycles and cars. Bicycle accidents may actually involve many different things — a cyclist may fall off their bike or run into a fixed object, for example — but accidents that are between cars and cyclists often take place at intersections. Some of the most common scenarios that lead to intersect collisions between bikes and cars involve:

• Accidents at stop signs. These are the most common types of intersection collisions, and often occur when the cyclist has a stop sign and the motorist does not. Cyclists often, albeit unknowingly, ride out in front of cars that have the right of way. If there are no other factors at play in this circumstance, the cyclist will be ruled at fault in the accident.
• Failure to yield. Whether an intersection is controlled or uncontrolled, a cyclist is expected to obey all rules of the road, just as a car would. Riding into an intersection without yielding could lead to an accident. This is a particularly common type of accident when young cyclists are involved, because they may not have any experience with the rules of the road. That said, crashes of this nature also occur when motorists fail to obey traffic laws or recognize a cyclist’s right of way.
• Cars turning left. If a car and cyclist approach an intersection from opposite directions, the cyclist has the right of way to go straight before a car can turn left. In many cases, the driver will either not see the cyclist or misjudge his or her speed, which makes the driver liable.
• Cars turning right. Many accidents at intersections happen when cars attempt to turn right, right in front of a cyclist alongside the vehicle. In most situations, the driver will be held liable for the accident.

Liability in bike accidents depends largely on the type of accident that has occurred. If you or a loved one has been injured in one of these crashes, consult a knowledgeable New York bicycle accident lawyer with [ln::firm_name].