Cycling in Phoenix has become increasingly popular, but sharing the road with distracted, speeding, or careless drivers puts riders at serious risk. When a bicycle collides with a vehicle, it is almost always the cyclist who suffers the most serious consequences. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, here is what you need to know.
Why Bicycle Accident Injuries Are So Serious
Unlike drivers, cyclists have no steel frame, airbags, or seatbelt protecting them. Even a low-speed collision can cause traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, road rash, spinal injuries, and internal trauma. Helmets reduce the risk of head injuries but cannot prevent all of them, and many cyclists are struck by vehicles traveling at speeds where even protective gear provides limited protection.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Phoenix
The majority of serious bicycle accidents involve a motor vehicle, and statistically the driver of that vehicle is likely to be at fault. Common causes include drivers failing to yield at intersections, opening car doors into the path of a cyclist, unsafe passing without sufficient clearance, distracted driving, and drivers failing to check blind spots before turning. In Phoenix, cyclists sharing lanes with high-speed traffic or navigating busy intersections face particularly elevated risk.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident
If you are physically able, stay at the scene and call 911. Document everything including photos of your bicycle, the vehicle involved, the road conditions, your injuries, and any skid marks or debris. Get the driver’s name, insurance information, and contact details for any witnesses. Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries, particularly head injuries, may not present symptoms right away.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
Can You Recover Compensation as a Cyclist?
If a driver’s negligence caused your accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle. It is also worth knowing that if the driver who hit you was uninsured or underinsured, there may be additional coverage options available to you. An experienced personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and fight to recover the full compensation you deserve.
The Law Office of Douglas Loefgren Represents Injured Cyclists
We represent bicycle accident victims throughout the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. We understand the physical, financial, and emotional toll these accidents take and we fight to make sure injured cyclists are treated fairly. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Phoenix, contact us for a free consultation. Call (602) 274-2300.
