Brazoria County Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Traveling by bicycle is an excellent way to get exercise, reduce your carbon footprint, and save money on gas. However, bicycling also comes with many risks.

Motorists often drive with distractions or in a hurry and may misjudge the distance of bicyclists or try to pass them without enough room. Unfortunately, most accidents that involve cars and bicycles often leave cyclists with severe injuries and damages.

If the careless driving of a motorist caused you or someone you love to suffer severe injuries, you could benefit from speaking with a skilled personal injury attorney. Call a Brazoria County bicycle accident attorney to begin preparing your case.

Four Common Reasons for Bike Accidents

While there are numerous reasons a vehicle and bicycle collision may occur, some are more common than others. A skillful Brazoria County attorney could help review the bicycle wreck details to determine liability and collect the evidence needed to sue for compensation.

Some of the most common reasons for car-bicycle collisions include:

Dooring

Dooring can cause severe injuries to cyclists. These accidents occur when a motorist opens the door of their parked vehicle in the path of an oncoming cyclist. Vehicle drivers can avoid this accident by checking their mirrors and checking their blind spots before opening their door. Cyclists can help to prevent them by staying alert of their surroundings at all times.

Dangerous Passing

If a vehicle driver fails to leave enough space between their car and the bicyclist in front of them, they may clip the rider or accidentally run them off the road. Motorists can avoid these accidents by ensuring they leave plenty of room between themselves and the bicyclist in front or to the side of them.

Left Cross

A left cross crash occurs when a vehicle and bicycle approach an intersection, and the motorist fails to yield the right of way. The failure to yield may cause the car to turn left into the bicyclist patch and cause a severe collision. Cyclists and motorists can help to avoid these accidents by ensuring they stay alert whenever they enter intersections.

Right Hook

A right hook collision occurs when a vehicle driver makes a right turn or lane change in the path of a bicycle moving in the same direction. Motorists can avoid these accidents by ensuring they use their blinkers and checking all mirrors and blind spots before making any turns or lane changes.

What are the Rights of Duties of Bicyclists?

Under Texas Transportation Code Section § 551.001., cyclists have the same rights and duties as vehicle drivers on state highways and bicycle paths. One of those includes the right to take up an entire lane of traffic when they are riding on the road.

When collisions occur, the court determining liability after a vehicle-bicycle collision will assess liability similar to an accident involving two vehicles. If the cyclist sustains injuries because of the motorist’s negligent or reckless driving, liability for damages could fall on the vehicle driver. A seasoned bike accident lawyer in Brazoria County could help you collect the evidence needed to prove driver liability.

Schedule a Consultation with a Brazoria County Bicycle Accident Attorney

If a reckless vehicle driver followed too closely or failed to respect your rights as a bicyclist, you could have the right to take legal action and collect compensation for damages. Cyclists have the same rights to ride on the highways and should expect the same respect.

An experienced Brazoria County bicycle accident lawyer could review your case and help you determine how to best move forward. Call today to get started on your case.