​

​

The most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

 

Bicyclist Getting Hit by a Motor Vehicle Making a Right-Hand Turn

This happens all too frequently when a driver fails to check for or acknowledge that a bicyclist is sharing the roadway. A vehicle could pull out from a side street or parking lot and crash right into the side of a bicyclist who is obeying the traffic laws. Bicyclists are also involved in accidents where a driver and a bicyclist are sharing a road going the same direction and then the vehicle makes a right-hand turn without checking for a bicyclist. Drivers who fail to check their surroundings for bicycles sharing the roadway could be held negligent if they cause harm to a bicyclist.

 

Bicyclist Getting Hit by a Motor Vehicle Making a Left-Hand Turn

There are plenty of bicycle accidents that are caused because a vehicle is making a left-hand turn and they fail to see an oncoming bicyclist. Traveling in opposite directions when the vehicle makes the left-hand turn, it is possible that the bicyclist was too far away for the driver to see the bicyclist. Because the bicyclist has too much momentum, and no time to stop, the bicyclist can run right into the side of the left-turning vehicle, or could get severely hurt by trying to swerve out of the way of the left-turning vehicle.

 

Bicyclist Getting Rear-Ended

Just like motor vehicles can be involved in rear-end collisions, bicyclists can be rear-ended by motor vehicles. This usually happens when the driver is not paying attention to the road or to what a bicyclist is doing. A bicyclist could follow all of the appropriate bike laws concerning wearing the proper reflective gear, having appropriate lights attached to their bicycle, or using the appropriate hand signals to communicate with other drivers. But if a driver is not paying attention, it can result in the bicyclist becoming a victim in a rear-end accident all the same.

 

Bicyclist Getting Hit by a Vehicle Door

When a driver exits his or her vehicle parked on the side of a road and does not check for oncoming bicyclists, as the driver negligently opens his or her vehicle door, it can catch an unsuspecting bicyclist. The bicyclist crashes into the open car door because the bicyclist had no warning that the driver was about to open the door. This is a particularly common type of bicycle accident in the city.

 

How do I Prove the Other Party Was at Fault?

If you want to have a successful bicycle accident claim, the first thing is to identify the other party responsible for the crash and prove that the accident resulted from their negligence. You’ll need four elements to prove the at-fault party’s negligence in your personal injury claim.

​

• Breach of duty: You should prove that the driver neglected or failed to uphold a standard that would ensure that other motorists or pedestrians are safe on the road.

• Duty: Every driver must act responsibly and safely while driving a vehicle to minimize the possibility of an auto accident.

• Causation: You can prove that the car crash resulted from the driver’s actions, and it wouldn’t have happened if they had acted within reasonable standards of care.

• Damages: You should have evidence of the damages directly related to the car crash caused by the other driver’s negligence.

 

Note that even after an investigation by the law enforcement agencies, they must prove without a doubt that all the above elements were present so that the responsible party can be held liable for the auto accident. If you are the victim of a car accident, you need an experienced car accident attorney on your side who can aid you in seeking damages, proving fault, and recovering the compensation award you deserve.  If you’re looking for an attorney you can count on, call the Winner Injury Law firm today.

 

​