Unfortunately, bicycle accidents happen a lot and often leave cyclists with serious injuries. Most of the time, these accidents happen when cyclists collide with cars, pedestrians, or other cyclists. A lot of the time, they happen because cyclists are not paying attention or are acting recklessly. By learning about the most common types of bicycle accidents, riders can take extra care on the road and feel safer.
In situations where injuries happen, lawyers may be very important in helping victims with their claims. For those who have been hurt or know someone who has, talking to bicycle accident lawyers at The Brannon Law Firm can help get the deserved compensation. Because many bicycle crashes involve complicated situations, legal help ensures victims know their rights and options.
The five most common types of bicycle crashes are discussed below:
1. Right Cross Collisions
When a car pulls out of a driveway, side street, or parking lot and hits a bicycle riding on the right side of the road, this is called a right cross collision. A lot of the time, cars don’t look out for bikes before they pull out, which causes these accidents.
Cyclists can also hit the side of a car that suddenly pulls out in front of them. A lot of these accidents happen in residential areas where drivers aren’t paying as much attention to cyclists.
2. Left Cross Collisions
When a driver makes a left turn in front of an oncoming bicycle, this is called a left cross collision. Drivers often think they have enough time to make the turn even though bicycles are faster or harder to see than they think.
The cyclist might not have much time to respond or stop in this kind of accident. When turning left, drivers need to be extra careful, especially at intersections where cyclists have the right of way.
3. Right Hook Accidents
When a car passes a cyclist on the left and then quickly turns right into their path, this is called a right hook accident. This happens a lot because the driver either forgets about the rider or doesn’t look out for them in their blind spot.
At intersections and when there are bike lanes, right hook accidents are especially dangerous. Cyclists should always be careful when they get close to roads where cars can turn right.
4. Dooring Accidents
Dooring accidents happen when someone opens their car door into the path of a cyclist who is going the other way. In cities where bicycles ride near parked cars, these kinds of accidents happen all the time.
Cyclists can get hurt more seriously when they hit open doors because they can be thrown off their bikes or pushed into traffic. To avoid accidents like these, drivers and passengers must check for cyclists before getting out of their cars.
5. Rear-End Collisions
When a car hits a cyclist from behind, this is called a rear-end collision. Most of the time, these accidents happen when cyclists move to the left to avoid something, when they ride too close to the edge of the road, or when drivers are paying attention to something else or are following too closely.
Rear-end collisions are especially dangerous for bikers because they might not see the car coming up behind them, giving them little time to avoid hitting the ground.
