Car Accidents: Pedestrians and Bicycles

Hundreds of thousands of people are injured each year in auto accidents.  When most of us think of auto accidents, we think of accidents involving two or more vehicles.  However, many auto versus pedestrian, auto versus bicycle, and pedestrian truck accidents occur each year. These accidents often result in serious injury or even death to the pedestrian or cyclist and give rise to the thousands of auto accident personal injury claims filed each year.

Car Pedestrian Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2008, almost 5000 pedestrians were killed and another 69,000 were injured in accidents involving automobiles.  Most of these accidents occured in heavily congested urban areas and almost half involved alcohol.

The reasons for auto pedestrian accidents can be divided into to two categories: 1) pedestrian error and 2) driver error.  Examples of pedestrian error include:

• Failure to obey traffic control signals;
• Jaywalking;
• Attempting to cross major highways and freeways; and
• Darting into roadways in pursuit of a child, pet, or toy.

Examples of driver error include:

• Failure to obey traffic control devices;
• Failure to yield to pedestrians;
• Disregarding crosswalks;
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol; and
• Passing a school bus.

Car Bicycle Accidents

Most auto bicycle accidents occur at intersections and driveways.  According to the NHTSA, 716 cyclists were killed and another 52,000 were injured in traffic accidents in 2008.  One-hundred twenty five of those death occurred in Florida.  California came in as the second most dangerous state for cyclists with 109 fatalities.

As with auto pedestrian accidents, auto bicycle accidents are caused by either driver error or cyclist error.

Examples of driver error include:

• Failing to obey traffic signals;
• Turning into a cyclist;
• Pulling out of a driveway or parking lot in front of a cyclist;
• Failure to yield to a cyclist; and
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Examples of cyclist error include:

• Failing to obey traffic signals;
• Failing to yield the right of way to vehicles;
• Riding facing oncoming traffic;
• Riding while under the influence of drugs or alcohol; and
• Failing to follow the rules of the road.

Potential for Serious Injury

When an auto bike or auto pedestrian accident occurs, the potential for serious injury and death is extremely high because the accident victim's body takes so much of the vehicle's impact.  Even low speed accidents may result in catastrophic injury to a pedestrian or cyclist.  The most common injuries are head injuries and injuries to the arms and legs.

Getting Legal Help

If you have been injured in an auto bike or auto pedestrian accident or if you have lost a loved one in an auto bike or auto pedestrian crash, you have only a limited amount of time to seek financial compensation for your injuries.  Representing clients who have been injured in these types of accidents requires specialized knowledge which the average personal injury attorney may not possess.  Therefore, you should contact a bicycle accident attorney or a pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.