With the implementation of helmet laws and dedicated bike lanes on roads over the years, the number of bike accidents has decreased significantly.

However, bicycle accidents still occur for many reasons, and they are often devastating. There is simply no way for a relatively unprotected cyclist to leave the scene of an accident unscathed when he or she collides with another vehicle on the road.

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you should strongly consider talking with a bicycle accident lawyer to see what they can do for you.

How Do Bicycle Accidents Occur?

There are many ways in which someone might be injured while biking on the road.

First and foremost, cars may have difficulty seeing a much smaller bike when they are changing lanes or passing another vehicle. For this reason, even though a driver may have checked their side mirror, they may have neglected to check their blind spot before switching lanes. Unfortunately, there may be a cyclist who was riding right next to the car at that time. This can lead to a terrible collision in which the cyclist is much more likely to sustain serious injury.

Additionally, many drivers will disregard bike lanes in their pursuit to get to their destination as quickly as possible. Driving a car down a bike lane is a very dangerous decision and could force a cyclist to have to make a quick stop or may even lead to a head on crash between cyclist and car.

Naturally, there are many other ways in which bike accidents can occur as well, such as car doors being opened into a bike lane and parking lot accidents.

What Types of Injuries Can Cyclists Sustain?

Bicycle injuries can vary widely. For instance, a cyclist may suffer a very minor injury, such as a scrape or a bruise. Alternatively, the accident might be slightly more severe, causing fractures and similar injuries.

In the worst-case scenarios, cycling accidents can lead to death or serious disability such as a spinal cord injury.

While the push for helmet laws and other actions have certainly helped to decrease the incidence of serious cycling injuries, they do still occur at a troubling rate.

What Should I Do If I’ve Been in a Bicycle Accident?

Before you do anything else, you should ensure that you are safe and healthy by being evaluated by a medical professional. Allow EMS to examine you, if necessary, and follow up with a doctor as soon as possible. Your health is the most important thing.

Once your immediate medical needs are met, you should strongly consider consulting with an attorney. Bicycle accident cases are difficult to navigate withsout the help of a skilled lawyer. This is due to the fact that there are many interested parties such as other drivers, bike manufacturers, attorneys representing the other drivers, and insurance companies, to name a few.

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, don’t wait! Call a skilled bicycle accident lawyer right now!