Bicycle Accidents

How Do Bicycle Accidents Happen?

Although cyclists get struck by cars in all states and cities, most bicycle accidents, like pedestrian accidents, happen in larger cities with lots of people. Downtown areas are particularly dangerous for bicycle accidents, and many bicycle accidents occur during rush hour traffic or at night. In the areas Tehrani Law practices, Washington, D.C., is by far the most common location for bicycle and pedestrian accidents. Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, and Baltimore City in Maryland, are two other common areas for bicycle accidents near Tehrani Law. But they are by no means the only places where pedestrians are struck and injured or killed.

Many bicycle accidents occur from drivers swerving too close to bicycle lanes or the shoulders of the road where cyclists are usually riding. They also occur when drivers are not looking when turning at intersections or when they try to beat a light. This happens even when cyclists are properly using the roadways, sidewalks, or bike lanes. Distracted driving and weather conditions also contribute to these accidents.

Poorly maintained roads, sidewalks, and bike paths are other common causes of bicycle accidents. Bicycle riders may find themselves crashing as a result of unmarked hazards on the roads and bicycle paths. Bicycle riders may still be entitled to compensation if they are injured by poor road conditions. It is important to speak with an attorney who can investigate your accident and evaluate whether you could get compensation for these types of bicycle accidents.

What About Scooters?

Scooters are most closely related to bicycles when it comes to types of traffic accidents. Scooters are usually defined as the motorized scooters available for hire by a single user through payment on an app. These scooters are available in larger metropolitan cities such as Washington, D.C., and even in more touristy towns like the City of Alexandria, in Northern Virginia. The scooters can be hired at Metro stops or along sidewalks and are often used to help commuters get to and from work a little faster.

Just like bicycle and pedestrian accidents, scooter accidents offer very little protection to the riders and cause more serious injuries to the scooter rider than to the driver of the vehicle that hits them.

Defenses to Bicycle Accidents

Unfortunately, in the Metropolitan D.C. area, the best defense to a bicycle accident claim is that of contributory negligence. This means that if a cyclist has any fault at all in an auto accident, they cannot recover any damages for their injuries – even if they are only 1 % at fault. This contributory negligence rule applies in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

For bicycle accidents, insurance companies will claim that the cyclist didn’t use the designated bike lanes or paths, they didn’t use proper hand signals, or that the cyclist negligently merged into vehicle lanes of travel.
Because of this strong and complete defense to any insurance or legal claims by injured cyclists, Tehrani Law strongly encourages all cyclists to follow the local rules and regulations for using roadways, bicycle paths, and sidewalks. Know your routes before you go!

What Can You Do?

If you or someone you love has been the victim of a bicycle accident, we provide a free, confidential, and honest evaluation of your claim. We can help review your claims, the nature of your injuries and the medical care that you need, the parties who are at fault, and any and all possible means of payment for your expenses and injuries. Our team at Tehrani Law will fight to get you the justice you deserve.