Whether out for a leisurely ride or commenting to work, bicycles are a popular mode of transportation for many Bernalillo residents. Most make it to and from their destination with no issue. However, for an unlucky few, they are involved in a bicycle accident at some point on their journey. Many of these bicycle accidents are the result of distracted driving behaviors.
When distracted driving is discussed, it is rarely a term used to describe bicyclist behavior. Distracted driving is a term given to motor-vehicle driver behaviors that take their attention away from operating their vehicle safely. Sadly, distracted driving behaviors can lead to terrible accidents rendering bicyclists seriously injured. Bike awareness is a huge issue because if drivers were more alert and aware of bicyclists, it is likely that these bike accidents would be less frequent.
One question those affected by a bicycle accidents should ask is if it’s possible that the driver of the motor-vehicle was distracted at the time of the accident. Distracted driving behaviors could be texting while driving, eating or even reading or any other behavior that takes a distracted driver‘s attention off of the road and the task of driving. Distracted driving behavior usually falls under the legality of negligence. It’s possible a Bernalillo driver’s behavior could be considered reckless, especially if they were speeding or were otherwise reckless.
Reckless driving can sometimes be accompanied by criminal charges so be on the look out for the police’s report pending a full investigation after a bike accident. Serious injuries can reverberate for weeks or even years to come after a bicyclist is involved in an accident. In most cases, bicyclists have every right to be on the road as motor-vehicles do. While there isn’t a sure-fire way to predict when and where the next bike accident may happen, there are ways to affect the outcome after one occurs.
Source: injury.findlaw.com, “Bicycle Accidents,” Accessed December 25, 2016