What Is the Most Common Type of Bike Accident?
Bike accidents in Fort Worth, Texas, often happen because of a mistake made by a driver, a cyclist, or both. These errors can lead to crashes that cause serious injuries to the person on the bike.
Figuring out who caused the accident is important because it helps decide who should pay for the damages. If the driver was careless and caused the crash, they may be held legally responsible.
When this happens, a Fort Worth bicycle accident lawyer at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, can help injured cyclists get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation at (817) 420 7000.
How Stephens Law Firm, PLLC Can Help After a Bicycle Accident In Fort Worth, TX
The Fort Worth personal injury lawyers at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, have represented accident victims for over 25 years. Our attorneys have a proven record, with over $100 million in settlements and court verdicts recovered for our clients.
When you get hit while riding your bicycle due to a driver’s carelessness, our firm will provide the following forms of legal assistance:
- Reviewing your situation and discussing your legal options for seeking compensation
- Collecting evidence and filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurer
- Negotiating to settle your claim fairly and quickly
- Filing a lawsuit if our negotiations do not succeed
A bicycle accident often causes serious injuries to a rider due to the lack of protection during a collision. Contact Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Worth bicycle accident attorney to learn how we can help you pursue financial compensation for your injury-related losses.
Bicycle Accidents in Fort Worth
As of now, the most recent publicly available bicycle crash statistics for Fort Worth, Texas, are from 2022. According to the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), between 2018 and 2022, in Tarrant County—including Fort Worth—there were 16 fatal bicycle accidents and 648 non-fatal bicycle accidents. These incidents were primarily concentrated in urban areas with higher traffic volumes and limited cycling infrastructure.
Common Causes of Fort Worth Bike Collisions
Texas identifies the contributing factors for the city’s bicycle crashes on the Texas Crash Records Information System (CRIS). However, it’s important to recognize that a crash can have multiple contributing factors. For example, a driver might be speeding when they run a red light. The CRIS system, however, identifies all contributing factors when available.
Two main causes of bike accidents in Fort Worth include:
Distracted Driving
In a recent year, the most common cause of bicycle accidents in Fort Worth was distracted driving. It was cited as a factor in roughly a third (34) of its 100 bicycle collisions. Distractions can come from many sources, including electronic use, talking, or even daydreaming.
Distracted driving is a violation that is particularly dangerous for bicyclists, seeing as drivers already have difficulty seeing them on the road. And even if they do spot them, they may not have time to maneuver to avoid a crash.
Failing to Yield
Drivers must give bicycles the same respect as they do other vehicles. Specifically, cyclists are subject to the same right-of-way rules as other vehicles at intersections and roadways.
Violations can lead to several types of crash scenarios, including the following:
- A car turns right when a bicycle is on the shoulder adjacent to it
- A vehicle turns left across the path of a bike riding straight through an intersection
- A vehicle drives through a crosswalk while a cyclist is crossing
- A car emerges from an alley, driveway, or parking lot and hits a bike on the road
- A vehicle at a stop sign proceeds instead of waiting for a bicycle
In a recent year, a failure to yield the right of way was cited as a contributing factor in seven bicycle crashes.
Liability for Bike Accidents in Texas
The liability for bicycle accidents is based on whether the driver exercised reasonable care. If drivers expose other road users to an unreasonable risk of injury or death, they are liable for the crash they caused.
A failure to exercise reasonable care often results from a traffic violation. Tailgating, speeding, or running a red light could result in liability for the driver if their violation causes a crash. However, negligence can also occur when drivers do something dangerous, though not illegal.
For example, Texas does not have a statewide hands-free law outside of school zones. If a driver holds their phone to talk while driving, they will not necessarily get a ticket, though they may still be found liable for any crashes they cause.
Contact Our Fort Worth Bicycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A bicycle accident can produce injuries that require extensive medical treatment and therapy. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.
The Fort Worth bicycle accident attorneys at Stephens Law Firm, PLLC are here to help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
