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Bicycles are a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of transportation, but cyclists face significant safety risks when riding near motor vehicles. Many drivers in Cheyenne don’t respect cyclists’ rights and may become impatient or aggressive. Even cautious drivers can make mistakes that lead to serious or life-threatening injuries.
Bicycle accidents are all too common in Cheyenne and throughout Wyoming. A report from 2016 found that 13 bicyclists were injured in crashes in the Cheyenne urban area, one of which was fatal. Despite Wyoming’s efforts to improve bicycle safety, a review from the League of American Bicyclists ranked the state as the least bicycle-friendly in the country.
A serious bicycle accident can leave you facing life-altering injuries and financial strain. But if someone else caused your accident, you have legal options. The Cheyenne bicycle accident attorneys at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to help you seek the compensation you deserve. Schedule a free consultation today.
Lead Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Cheyenne
Cars, trucks, and motorcycles are some of the greatest risks to cyclists on the road. Most bicyclists take precautions to make their bikes visible, like installing lights and wearing reflective gear. They know that drivers often fail to check their blind spots or miss cyclists when they do check.
Some drivers simply don’t know or refuse to follow precautions that protect cyclists on the road. Unlike cars, bicycles do not have safety features like steel structures and airbags that reduce the impact of collisions. This makes a bicycle crash extremely dangerous for the rider. Even a helmet provides only minimal protection.
Although drivers should always maintain a safe distance between themselves and any other vehicles on the road, this is especially crucial when driving near a bicycle. Cyclists may be forced to make an unexpected movement or fall, so motor vehicles must be prepared to stop quickly to avoid an accident. If a driver makes a dangerous or careless decision on the road, they are much more likely to cause a serious and even fatal bicycle collision.
Some of the most common ways that drivers cause bicycle accidents include:
- Failing to keep a proper lookout
- Leaving too little space while passing
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Turning into the path of a cyclist
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failing to use headlights and turn signals
- Aggressive driving
- Drunk driving
Although most serious bicycle accidents involve a collision with a vehicle, sometimes poorly maintained roads or insufficient street lighting can be just as dangerous for a cyclist. In those cases, your attorney may be able to seek compensation for your injuries from a property owner or municipality for their negligent property maintenance or design.
Types of Bicycle Accidents
Every bicycle accident is different. Legal experts try to describe accidents clearly so that the location and severity of your collision are clear to opposing attorneys, insurance companies, and judges.
It’s important to understand the different kinds of bicycle accidents so that your accident claim makes the most convincing argument that the person who hurt you is responsible for your injury. Some of the most common types of bicycle accidents include:
- Cross accidents – a vehicle crosses into a bicycle’s path while turning
- Hook accidents – the side of a vehicle hits or hooks onto the bicycle, usually while passing
- Open-door or “dooring” accidents – a person opens a car door in front of a cyclist, usually while the car is parallel parked.
- Rear-end accident – a vehicle hits the back of a bicycle
- Backing accident – a vehicle in reverse collides with a bicycle
- Red light or intersection accidents – a driver does not yield the right of way to a cyclist or does not see a cyclist before turning or stopping
- Road defect accident – potholes, cracks, or other road damage causes a cyclist to fall or lose control of the bicycle
Understanding this terminology can help you and your attorney describe your accident clearly in support of your bike accident settlement. The circumstances that caused your bicycle accident may fall into one or more of these categories, or they may not fit these descriptions at all. No matter how your accident occurred, the attorneys at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers can help you seek fair compensation from the party at fault.
Injuries Sustained from Bike Accidents
When you ride a bicycle, your entire body is vulnerable to injury. Although wearing a helmet can help protect your head, the rest of your body is fully exposed to the force of a collision. In particularly serious accidents, even wearing a helmet may not be enough to prevent you from suffering an injury to your skull or brain.
Bicycle accidents cause a wide variety of injuries, including:
- Lacerations and bruises
- Sprains, strains, and dislocations
- Broken or shattered bones
- Neck injuries or whiplash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
Some of the most serious injuries from a bicycle accident may have life-altering consequences, such as coma, paralysis, amputation, and even death.
If your family member was killed in a bicycle accident that was someone else’s fault, a lawyer can help you file a wrongful death claim. You shouldn’t have to pay for the medical and funeral expenses caused by your loved one’s accident. This type of claim may allow you to recover the financial cost of losing someone you love and a symbolic payment for their pain and suffering.
Since bicycle accidents are so dangerous, both drivers and cyclists must exercise extra caution to prevent injuries. Following Wyoming’s bicycle laws can help.
Cheyenne Bicycle Laws
According to Wyoming Statute § 31-5-702, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as all other vehicles. This means that other drivers must respect a cyclist’s use of the road and yield the right of way, just like they would for any other car.
Cyclists must follow some additional laws to protect their safety. Article 7 of the Wyoming statutes on traffic regulation describes the laws specific to cyclists. According to these laws:
- Bicyclists may transport only the number of riders the bike was designed for.
- Adults may carry a child on their bicycle, as long as the child is secured.
- Cyclists may only ride their bike on the road and should remain as far to the right as possible.
- Cyclists must have at least one hand on the handlebar at all times.
- Bicycles must have a headlight and a rear-reflector for nighttime riding.
As of July 1, 2019, Wyoming’s government amended these regulations to include electric bicycles as well as standard pedal bicycles. Obeying these laws is essential to prevent bicycle accidents. But the burden of biking safely doesn’t fall on the cyclists alone. No matter how cautious you are while riding your bicycle, other drivers can still cause a serious accident if they fail to follow the rules of the road.
Accidents happen, but when they’re caused by someone else’s carelessness, you shouldn’t have to bear the burden alone. Our experienced personal injury attorneys are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Can I Get Compensation for My Bicycle Accident?
If another person’s negligence or recklessness caused your bicycle accident, they may owe you financial compensation for your injuries. The circumstances of your bike accident and the injuries you sustained as a result determine the compensation you may receive as a part of a settlement or judgment.
Bicycle injury claims can recover the physical, emotional, and financial damages caused by your accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation services
- Lost income due to time off of work
- Loss of future income
- Temporary or permanent disability
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Repairs or replacement of your bike or other property
A knowledgeable bike accident attorney can determine how much compensation the at-fault party owes you. At Olson Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ll aggressively seek fair compensation for your injuries and fight for your rights.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Cheyenne
You can’t afford to wait for the compensation you need after a bicycle accident. The Cheyenne bicycle accident lawyers at Olson Personal Injury Lawyers are ready to start working on your claim right now. We have helped accident victims across Wyoming recover millions of dollars in settlements, and we can put our skills to work for you.
Olson Personal Injury Lawyers offers a free, no-obligation case review to help you take the first step toward the compensation you need. Contact Olson Personal Injury Lawyers today by calling us at (307) 317-6779 or filling out our online form.
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