As the weather warms up, more and more cyclists will take to the roads to enjoy the warmer climate and get some exercise in. People of all ages bicycle for recreation and exercise without realizing the danger they are exposing themselves to. Unfortunately, the roads in this country are built with motorists in mind, not cyclists. This means that cyclists have to share the road with motorists who often fail to see them.
Albuquerque is the most dangerous city in the U.S. for cyclists. The city accounts for 200 to 300 bicycle injuries a year and, in 2015, there were five fatalities. This equated to 8.9 fatalities for a million residents.
Biking is more common and, therefore, more dangerous in urban areas, where cyclists are sharing the road with motorists. Cycling increased by 60% between 2000 and 2010, and more and more people began commuting to work by bicycle as well. With that popularity came accidents and injuries, with more than 35,000 injuries attributed to bicycle accidents nationwide. In 2015, there were more than 800 fatalities in bicycle crashes.
In a car accident between a motorist and a bicyclist, the cyclist will most likely not fare well. They are more likely to sustain serious injuries, as there is little to protect them from the impact of the crash. What may have started off as fun may end up becoming deadly due to a motorist’s negligence. To hold that driver responsible for their actions, it might be possible to hold them accountable through a civil suit.