More people are using their bikes to get to work or to do their errands. There have been many different studies that have publicized the importance of remaining safe while you’re out and about biking. Unfortunately, however, fatal bike accidents have hit a 25 year high in California.
Between 2016 and 2018, traffic accidents killed over 455 cyclists, according to data analyzed by the new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This means that for every 1 million people in California, there were nearly four bike accident fatalities. That achieved the highest rate for any three-year period since the mid-1990s, before many cities had any bike networks or bike safety lanes in place.
Around the country the fatal accident rate for cyclists was lower but still increasing. There are many different factors that could contribute to the higher likelihood of being killed in a bike accident, including an increase in how many miles Americans are driving per year, the use of sport utility vehicles and big trucks which could cause more significant damage to a bicyclist and the prevalence of distracted driving.
If a bike accident has taken the life of your loved one, you need the support of a dedicated lawyer to help you navigate the process of filing a wrongful death claim.
If you or someone you know has been seriously hurt in a bicycle accident in San Francisco, you have rights. There’s also a good chance that you have significant medical bills because of the injuries you sustained. You should protect your rights by scheduling a consultation with a California personal injury lawyer.