If you haven’t noticed, more people are turning to bicycles for transportation and exercise. Unfortunately, with this increase in bicycle usage, there has also been an increase in bicycle accidents. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Florida routinely leads the list of the worst states for bicyclists. In 2018, there were 6,568 bicycle crashes in Florida, resulting in 148 deaths and 6,175 injuries. In 2019, the counties making up the Tampa Bay area saw the following number of bicycle accidents:
Hillsborough: 543 bike crashes, 11 of which were fatal
Pinellas: 513 bike crashes, 6 of which were fatal
Pasco: 191 bike crashes, 8 of which were fatal
Polk: 136 bike crashes, 7 of which were fatal
Manatee: 120 bike crashes, 4 of which were fatal
Sarasota: 179 bike crashes, 6 of which were fatal
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
While the most common cause of bicycle accidents are falls involving only the rider, the statistics show that vehicle versus bicycle accidents are alarmingly occurring with more frequency. This is likely due to the increase in our population, and in the spread of our communities, many of which emphasize and promote outdoor activities for their residents.
Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents involving vehicles include:
Distracted Driving
Aggressive driving/driver impatience
Driver inexperience
Speeding
Impaired Driving
Rider inattention
Unsafe crossing
Inexperienced/improper night riding
In addition to these causes, road conditions often times can cause or contribute to a bicycle accident. For example, an area of roadway in disrepair can force a bicyclist into a vehicle’s lane of travel, causing an accident to occur. This is why it is of the utmost importance for both the driver and cyclist to be fully aware of their surroundings at all times.
7 Tips to Avoid Being Involved in a Ruskin Bicycle Accident
The following are some additional tips that help you avoid being involved in a bicycle accident.
Make sure that your bike fits you
Make sure that your bike is in proper working order
Make sure that you and your bike are equipped with proper reflective gear and equipment
Carry all of your items in a backpack or secure them to your bike
Avoid listening to music or talking on your cellphone so you can hear possible hazards and warnings
Go with the flow of traffic
Avoid sudden crossings or lane changes
Trust SouthShore Injury Attorneys With Your Ruskin Bicycle Accident Claim
These are just a few of the tips you should use while bicycling to best protect yourself from getting into a bicycle accident. Unfortunately, no matter how safe a person tries to be, accidents can still happen. If you’re in need of help following a Ruskin bicycle accident, the attorneys at SouthShore Injury Attorneys are experienced in representing personal injury cases throughout the State of Florida. If you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, contact SouthShore Injury Attorneys at (813) 419-3866 for a free consultation.
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