If you have been injured in one of these common bicycle accidents, you will no doubt want to better understand what has happened to you. Here, you can find information about the most common bicycle accidents, and how to avoid them.
The drive out
This collision occurs when a driver enters a road from a cross-street or a driveway and fails to yield to a bicyclist. This can be caused by driver inattention, or if the driver misjudges the speed or distance of the cyclist. This can also be caused by a cyclist “coasting” through a stop sign, or if the cyclist is riding in a place where a driver is not expecting (and looking for) oncoming traffic. These types of crashes are most common when cyclists are riding the wrong way (against traffic) or on the sidewalk.
There are a few ways to avoid this crash. First, never ride against traffic, and always obey the rules for traffic on the road. While many cyclists do not stop at stop signs, and many drivers expect that you won’t, you should never assume that a driver is expecting you to ride through a stop sign. Going through a stop sign without stopping may also ruin your chances of proving that an accident was the fault of the other driver.
The ride out
This collision occurs when a cyclist enters the roadway from a cross-street or driveway and fails to yield to a vehicle. This is a common crash for children.
To avoid this crash, you should use caution at every intersection or driveway that you exit. If you are used to judging when to pull out based on driving a car, you will need to re-adjust your timing for riding a bike. When in doubt, don’t pull out.