In 2013, 743 people lost their lives in bicycle/motor
vehicle accidents. Why do most of these accidents happen? We’ve listed some of
the most common causes of bicycle and vehicle collisions.
Midblock rideout:
This is the most frequent type of accident for young riders, and it happens
soon after the bicyclist enters the road from a driveway, alley, or curb
without slowing down, stopping, or looking for traffic. This sudden entry from
the bicyclist leaves the vehicle driver too little time to avoid the collision.
Wrong-way riding:
Riding against traffic confuses drivers as they do not expect traffic to be
approaching from the wrong way. You should ride on the right side with traffic.
Bicyclist left turn
or sudden swerve: A lot of accidents occur when the bicyclist swerves to
the left without checking traffic or signaling to the vehicles behind them.
Suddenly moving in front of a vehicle does not give the driver enough time to
avoid a crash. Always look out for traffic and signal when turning. Make sure
the driver is aware of your intention.
Stop sign ride-out:
This type of crash occurs at a two-way stop intersection when a bicyclist
enters the intersection from a lane that has a stop sign and then collides with
a vehicle approaching from a direction that does not have a stop sign.
Motorist overtaking
cyclist: When motorists do not see the bicyclist and fail to react until
it’s too late. This is more likely to happen at night and on narrow rural
roads. Many times it is also due to the driver not paying attention or being
impaired.
Always be very cautious when entering roads or switching
lanes while on your bike. It’s important to understand common causes of bicycle
accidents so that you can try to prevent them from happening by taking
preventive measures.
If
you or someone you know has been involved in a car crash or truck accident in
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren, Sterling Heights, Lansing, Flint, Ann Arbor,
Livonia, Dearborn, Canton, Westland, Troy, Farmington Hills, Southfield,
Waterford or any other city in Michigan, make sure to contact Motor City
Accident Attorneys by calling 1-800-411-PAIN. Motor City Accident Attorneys
know how stressful a car accident can be and want to help you get back on your
feet. They will fight tirelessly for your rights and help you get the
compensation you deserve, according to your specific case. Make sure to follow
Motor City Accident Attorneys on Twitter (@MCAccidentAtty) and Facebook. Join
the conversation by using #MCAA.
