South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Accidents
Riding a bike has many benefits. Cyclists are able to get exercise from their daily commute as well as save on gas. In an area like Tahoe, biking also means getting to spend time in amazing natural beauty. For these reasons, many people choose to use a bicycle every day for pleasure or as a means of transportation. Despite many benefits, biking also has its dangers. Cyclists are some of the most vulnerable people on the road. This is because bikes lack safety features and can be hard to maneuver at higher speeds. To avoid getting hurt in a bicycle accident, area residents can learn about how cyclists are usually injured in South Lake Tahoe. The following blog uses data taken from UC Berkeley research conducted during 2006-2018.
Accidents Overview
During this time period, there were 104 injury-causing bicycle accidents in South Lake Tahoe. These accidents caused 107 injuries and one death. None of the crashes in question involved a motorcycle and only two involved pedestrians. Over half (53 percent) of these crashes happened on a state-operated highway inside of the city.
Bicycle accidents involved less fatal injuries than car accidents. Fatalities were about twice as common for crashes not involving a bicycle. However, severe injuries were more common when cyclists were involved in a crash by about 50 percent.
Time and Type
These crashes happened mostly in the afternoon to early night. The majority of South Lake Tahoe bicycle accidents happened from noon to 9:00 p.m. Crashes were most common on Fridays and Saturdays and happened less on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Very few crashes happened after midnight, except on Sundays.
By far, the two most common types of bicycle accidents were rear-ends and broadside collisions. These types of accidents often happen to cyclists when vehicles force them into a crash. When a car stops suddenly in front of a bike or cuts them off by turning in front of them, cyclists often can’t stop their bikes in time to avoid crashing. This usually happens when vehicles don’t notice bicyclists.
What Can I Do?
If you were hurt in a bicycle accident, you may be wondering what you are going to do. Serious injuries can be expensive and can leave people unsure of how they will be able to pay their bills. Most accidents are caused by negligent drivers, and those drivers can be held accountable to pay for these damages through “personal injury claims.” These claims aim to help injured people pay for surgeries, lost wages, medicine, in-home care, and more.
The first step to claiming personal injury damages is calling a lawyer. You should make sure that your attorney has experience working with bicyclist injuries and knows how to handle a serious injury case. You can learn a lot about your lawyer by looking at their online reviews. Some other good ways to make sure you can trust a lawyer are explained below:
More blogs by Ed Smith, South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Accident Lawyer
- Slipped Discs in Child Bicycle Collisions
- Defining a Personal Injury Lawyer
- Broken Ankles and Bicycle Accidents
South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe bicycle accident lawyer. Bicycle accidents can be serious. If you were hurt in a crash, call me at either (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly advice.
I’m proud to have been helping South Lake Tahoe residents claim personal injury and wrongful death payments for 37 years. My past settlements and verdicts can be viewed here. See the reviews that my clients have left for me on:
I’m part of these forums and groups:
South Lake Tahoe Bicycle Accidents: Ed Smith
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