Phoenix Bicycle Accident Attorney

Roads Are Meant To Be Shared, But Some Drivers Forget Bicycles Are Included

Whether you go out on a bike ride to enjoy a nice day or to get to work, you shouldn’t have to worry about your safety any time you hear an approaching vehicle. Unfortunately, hundreds of cyclists are injured in accidents every year, and far too many of them are the result of a negligent driver. Unlike a typical passenger or driver involved in a car crash, a bicyclist only has the clothes on their back and the helmet on their head to rely on for protection when they’re hit by a several thousand pound steel vehicle.

Call us at (602) 428-7104 to speak with a personal injury attorney today.

At MayesTelles PLLC, our bicycle accident attorneys work tirelessly to ensure that accident victims receive the care and support they need. Our lawyers have nearly 200 years of collective legal experience, and over that time we’ve handled thousands of cases. That’s the kind of experience you need on your when filing a personal injury claim, and you won’t even owe us any legal fees until we secure you financial compensation.

What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

An accident could happen anywhere, but certain events are far more likely to result in a crash.

• Vehicle Turns Into Your Path – Opposite Direction: If a vehicle is driving down the road in the opposite direction as you, they may cause a crash by making a left turn into your travel path. This crash is most often caused by an inattentive driver who either misjudged the distance and speed of the cyclist, or who simply didn’t pay attention to the oncoming cyclist.
• Vehicle Turns Into Your Path – Same Direction: In these crashes, the driver travelling in the same direction as you made a sudden right turn into your travel path. Similarly to an opposite direction crash, it is most often caused by an inattentive driver who misjudged your speed, failed to pay attention to the cyclist sharing the road, or neglected to check their blind spot before turning.
• Opening a Door in Your Path: This is one of the main dangers cyclists face when riding around in a city. Many bike lanes travel parallel to parking spaces, and if drivers or passengers fail to check oncoming traffic before opening their door they could open it directly in your travel path. Depending on how far the open door is, you may have no way to avoid a collision.
• Rear Ending: Not all bicycle accidents involve the cyclist colliding with an obstacle – sometimes the reckless driver can ram into you from behind because they were driving far too fast to stop in time or didn’t pay attention to the road. This can be an incredibly dangerous type of crash, especially since the car may crash into you at a far higher speed than you could aver reach on your bicycle.

How Can I Keep Myself Safe?

Every person on the road should prioritize safety above all else, but some people fail to look out for anyone other than themselves. While the fault rests squarely on the shoulders of the person who caused the crash, avoiding an accident altogether is always the preferred result. Here are a few ways to both make yourself as visible as possible and potentially compensate for someone else’s negligence.

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• Gear Up: Lycra shorts may not be everyone’s favorite type of clothing, but there’s a reason they're so brightly colored. If you don’t care about the performance aspects of aerodynamic clothing, try to wear as much brightly colored and reflective clothing as possible when you go for a ride. Reflective material is especially useful when you go out at night.
• Stay Alert: As tempting as it may be to put on a pair of headphones, you may want to forego the musical accompaniment when your ride takes you down a road used by other types of vehicles. The more senses you keep active and engaged, the more chances you have to avoid a crash with a negligent driver.
• Attach A Headlight: Your bicycle may come with a headlight attached – if it doesn’t it may be in your best interest to head to your local store and purchase the accessory. While especially useful at night, keeping it on a strobe setting in the middle of the day could make you more noticeable to an inattentive driver.

Hire Legal Representation Today

Bicycle crashes can result in serious, life-altering injuries that may require you to change your entire lifestyle. If you were involved in a crash, you have the right to seek the compensation you need and deserve to cover any costs and / or damages.

Contact the Phoenix bicycle accident lawyers at MayesTelles PLLC today by filling out the form on our website, or by calling us at (602) 428-7104.