What Are the Top 4 Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Indiana?
Author: Rachel N. Woloshin
POST DATE: 5.19.23
Church Church Hittle and Antrim have been helping personal injury victims in Noblesville and across Central Indiana advocate for their legal rights for over 140 years. Our team has an impressive track record and provides personalized legal representation to clients throughout Indiana.
To help keep you safe, we explore the top four causes of bicycle accidents, which include speeding, the time of day, and alcohol. Bikes are also at an increased risk of accidents when crossing the street and driving on the roadway.
If you experience a bike crash in Indiana as a result of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
When Do Most Collisions with Bicyclists Happen?
When going for a simple bike ride, you expect to get from Point A to Point B and back safely again. This expectation may be turned on its head if you encounter a negligent driver who causes a crash.
According to the most recent data from the Indiana University Public Policy Institute, bicycle crashes were most common on weekdays versus weekends in 2020. Likewise, the data shows that bike crashes are most common on Fridays between 3:00 PM and 5:59 PM. Thursdays also showed an increased number of accidents over other days of the week. Between noon and 8:59 PM also showed an uptick in collisions between bicyclists and other vehicles than other times of the day. Additionally, bike crashes are most common when it’s warm, so the months of July, August, and September were particularly perilous for bicyclists.
What Are the Top 4 Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
Many types of activities can cause bike crashes, but four situations tend to lead to more collisions than others.
1. Crossing the Street
When bicyclists are crossing the street, they are at a higher risk of getting into a crash, according to recent Indiana statistics cited above. A total of 264 accidents involving bicyclists occurred while crossing the street at a designated intersection (e.g., within a crosswalk). Of those, 128 or 48.5% were attributable to the bicyclist making an error, such as crossing when it was unsafe. Forty-three collisions occurred when the bicyclist was crossing the street outside an intersection (e.g., “jaywalking”), with 34 or 79.1% of accidents attributed to the bicyclists’ actions.
2. Riding on a Roadway
Riding on a roadway with another motorist also resulted in a higher rate of crashes for bicyclists, leading to 102 accidents in Indiana in 2020. Law enforcement noted that 46 or 45.1% of those may have been caused by the bicyclists’ actions. The bicyclist may not exercise proper techniques for safety on a bicycle, such as failing to share the road with the motorist or not using adequate signaling techniques.
But not all roadway accidents are caused by bicyclists. Motorists may cause an accident if they do not see the bike or fail to give them space to maneuver on the roadway safely.
3. Speeding
Speed is another cause of bicycle accidents in Indiana, comprising 2% of all bike crashes between 2016 and 2020. In 2020, there were 18 bike crashes involving a motorist speeding, with one-third of these operators experiencing incapacitating injuries or death because of the accident. When drivers speed, they reduce their available response time to obstructions on the roadway, increasing the likelihood of a crash.
4. Driving While Intoxicated
Finally, driving while intoxicated can also contribute to bike crashes. Approximately 15 bicyclists were involved in alcohol-related accidents between 2016 and 2020 in Indiana, with 3 of those occurring in 2020. Alcohol has a devastating impact on a motorist’s or bicyclist’s ability to make effective and life-saving decisions while on the road. It is best to stay home or have a designated driver transport you to circumvent the risks of an accident.
CCHA Law: Dedicated Personal Injury Attorneys in Noblesville
Bike accidents can cause many injuries, uprooting your life and causing you to miss work or incur vast medical expenses. Our team is here to advocate for your legal rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one were injured in a bike accident in Indiana caused by someone else’s negligence, contact our personal injury team to schedule a consultation today.
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