Increase in Cycling Popularity Leads to Increase in Bike Accidents

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Bicycle Accidents

It seems that the more advanced society becomes, the more forgotten some of the simple experiences are. In the eyes of many people, this is also true of bicycle riding. However, upon further investigation, in 2016 there is a large shift to become more self-sufficient and healthy, which also seems to be making an impact on the cycling industry. From the food we consume, to carpooling and adding exercise to our daily routine, it seems that Americans are truly interested in improving the world around them. Many are finding that their contribution to everything is to ditch the car and take the more economical bike ride for their transportation, especially in larger cities where most destinations are well within riding distance. Unfortunately, with the rise of cyclists comes a rise in bicycle accidents and a new round of bills to try to compensate. Why Cycling Has Increased in Popularity

In 2014, cycling saw a sharp increase in the rise of cycling as the primary transportation people used to get to work. Although, cycling commuters still create less than 2 percent of the population of the United States as a whole, in larger cities, the numbers of cyclists doubled. Some of the benefits include:

• Better health: If you are in a car, you are not typically burning many calories pressing that gas pedal and often you are consuming them while you drive. Riding a bike to work would keep you from consuming the 740 calories in a fast food breakfast meal and would burn the calories, helping you achieve weight loss goals.
• Reduced cost: Besides occasionally replacing tires ($5.00 vs the cost of your current vehicle tires), you have not many added expenses. There is no need to purchase gas, vehicle insurance, car washes or oil changes. You can save hundreds of dollars annually.
• Avoiding the traffic jam: Imagine all of those times that you were stuck in traffic wishing you could jump into the next lane but they were not really moving either. At this point, walking would be faster. Then you saw a cyclist zip right on past without so much of a hesitation or a glance back as you just sit, stuck in that traffic jam. That could have been you, increasing endorphins from exercise rather than raising blood pressure due to stress.

The Increase of Adult Bike Riding Accidents From 1998 to 2013, bike riding accidents in adults increased by 28 percent according to the Journal of American Medical Association. Furthermore, bike injury related hospitalizations increased by 120 percent. These numbers are staggering which is why legislation is continuously trying to make adjustments to the laws surrounding cyclists and motor vehicles. Collisions with motor vehicles is consistently the leading cause of non-fatal injuries of cyclists. In previous years, the ranking of accidents are as follows:

• 29 percent hit by a car,
• 17 percent rider fall,
• 13 percent rider error,
• 13 percent road inadequate,
• 7 percent non-vehicular crash, and
• 4 percent canine intervention.

Some of the behavior that has been shown to prove more likely to result in a motor vehicle striking a cyclist are:

• Inattentive driving,
• Speeding,
• Aggressive driving,
• Rapid lane changing,
• Failure to signal, and
• Drunk driving.

If you have been struck by a car while driving a bicycle, it is likely that you sustained injuries. This is largely in part that vehicles are significantly larger than bicycles and can be traveling at higher speeds. If you are suffering from injuries related to a bicycle accident, seeking legal counsel may be in your best interest. Yet it is important to find the right lawyer for your case. It is a decision that can make the difference between winning and losing your case. At Salvi & Maher, LLP, we have previously represented clients and have recovered multi-million payouts. If you would like to discuss your case with a Lake County accident attorney, contact us today at 847-662-3303 to schedule your free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations.

Sources:

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2432153&resultClick=3

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/08/bike-commuting-popularity-grows/8846311/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/02/health/bike-injuries-increase/index.html