Albuquerque Personal Injury Law Blog

The internet itself is just a system of computers that all connect to one another. A far-fetched idea when it began, it's now something that we use every day. If you're reading this, you're using it right now. Most people don't think twice about the whole thing, these days.

Digital reality has been expanded over the years into an "internet of things." These are internet-equipped devices that can communicate with one another. They make home automation possible, among many other things.

Much like runners, cyclists often like to listen to music while they ride. It helps to pass the time and prevent boredom. Plus, studies have found that people often ride harder when listening to music that they enjoy, so riders who care about their times may have a real advantage.

The downside, of course, is that listening to music can be very distracting. This is less true when you use a portable speaker, but many riders -- again, just like runners -- use headphones or earbuds. Doing so can effectively cut you off from the world around you.

Change starts with knowledge. If we want to change the number of cyclists getting injured or killed in accidents in the United States, the first step is simply to understand how and why these accidents take place. That can guide safety efforts moving forward.

With that in mind, take a look at these four key statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

1. In 37% of recent (2017) fatal cyclings accidents, alcohol use was involved. This does not necessarily mean that the cyclist was the one who was drinking, but just that it played a role.
2. When comparing male and female cycling fatalities for the same year, it was found that fatal crashes were 8 times higher for men than women.
3. Three-quarters of all fatalities on bikes occur on urban streets, with just one quarter happening on rural roads.
4. In every season, statistics showed that the most common time for these wrecks was from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

When you hear the news that bike vs. car accidents are declining on the whole, that sounds like nothing but good news. And it's true that fewer people getting into accidents is nothing but positive for the members of the cycling community.

However, there is a concerning trend that goes along with this falling accident rate: The number of deadly accidents has been trending up. So, while there are fewer accidents, a far greater percentage end up taking lives, rather than just putting people in the hospital.