Not long ago this New Mexico personal injury legal blog discussed the role of negligence in accidents that occur between motor vehicles and bicycles. While both vehicle drivers and bicyclists are tasked with driving their chosen means of transportation with care, it is often the unreasonably dangerous and negligent actions of motor vehicle drivers that put bicyclists in harm’s way. When a fast moving vehicle collides with a small bike it is not uncommon for the bicyclist to suffer life-threatening injuries and to be left with serious losses to recover from.
The victim of a vehicle-bike collision can sustain many types of serious bodily injury. Even if they are wearing a helmet and other protective gear they may still sustain harm to their face, head and neck. Their appendages can be broken and may sustain abrasions if the bicyclist is thrown to the ground due to the impact of the collision. The bones of the bodies and their organs can endure significant injuries if they are struck with force.
As New Mexico residents find themselves riding their bikes home from school and work in darker and darker conditions as the long days of summer fade into a dimmer fall, it is important that they remember how dangerous it can be for them on local roads. Although drivers are supposed to share the roads with bicyclists it is often the errant driver who negligently maneuvers their vehicle into the path of a bicycle that causes a life-altering collision with a bicyclist.
If you have been hurt while riding your bicycle, you should know that you have legal rights. You have the right to seek compensation for your accident-related losses and it is often through civil litigation that these damages may be pursued. The attorneys of the Jaffe Law Firm are available to answer your questions and help you begin the process of seeking compensation for your bicycle accident damages.