Many of our Mississippi bicycle accident attorneys are biking enthusiasts.  We understand the harrowing experiences that the typical bicyclist experiences on a daily basis, including rude and insensitive motorists, lunging unrestrained dogs and shoddily maintained roadways.  We understand that the streets can be extremely unsafe for bicycle riders.  While the roads would be safer if the typical motorist was more sensitive to the vulnerability of bike riders, the reality is that many drivers consider bicyclists an annoying and unnecessary disruption to the flow of traffic.  Mississippi law provides that cyclists have the same rights to use our streets and roads as those driving cars, trucks and SUVs.  However, anyone who spends any time biking to work or for pleasure throughout Mississippi knows that many drivers are not the least bit concerned about bicycle and motor vehicle safety rules.

Bicyclists Are Extremely Vulnerable to Injury in Mississippi Bicycling Accident

A bicyclist is uniquely exposed to catastrophic injury and even death when they are involved in a collision with a motor vehicle in Mississippi.  Bicycles while good for the environment and your health provide absolutely no protection when you are involved in a collision with a motor vehicle weighing two tons or more.  Although estimates vary widely, bicycle accident data suggests that someone who rides a bicycle is in excess of ten times more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident than someone who is driving a passenger vehicle.  More than forty-four thousand people have died in bicycle accidents in the United States during the last seventy years.

We understand the staggering financial, emotional and physical challenges associated with bicycle accidents that may result in debilitating injuries and have an adverse impact on every aspect of a bicycle accident victim’s life.  Because bicyclists lack the structural protection that a motor vehicle offers, the risk of catastrophic injuries is extremely high.

How Do Most Mississippi Bike Accidents Occur?

Bicycles are subject to Mississippi laws that govern traffic rules for all motor vehicles.  These traffic safety rules provide right-of-way principles and other safety rules designed to keep drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians and everyone sharing the roadways safe. The lion’s share of serious bicycle accidents occurs when motorists disregard these rules of the road. Some of the most common causes of serious Mississippi bicycle accidents that our law firm handles include the following:

• Drivers that suddenly pull out in front of bicyclist and cut them off
• Failure of dog owners to keep their dog  on a leash to prevent them from lunging at bicyclists
• Failing to check blind spots when moving into an adjacent lane
• Drowsy drivers
• Motorists driving while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications
• Drivers that fail to obey stop signs and stoplights
• Drivers distracted by iPods, cell phones, grooming, eating, drinking and any other type of driver inattention
• Failure to allow a reasonable distance between a motor vehicle and a bicyclist
• Motorists who do not look both directions before proceeding through an intersection
• Product defects in bicycles

Our experienced Mississippi bicycle accident lawyers at Barrett Law provide the type of exemplary legal services that has helped us develop a reputation for effective and tenacious legal representation.  We make sure that insurance defense lawyers are on notice that we are prepared to seek a trial verdict unless the insurance carrier offers appropriate compensation for all of our client’s losses to provide a foundation for a high quality of life.  At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi.  Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.

Each year there are over 600 bicycle fatalities in the United States, and over 50,000 injuries which result from a bicyclist and a car colliding. Although the numbers have actually gone down through the past few years—a seventeen percent reduction since 1998—there are obvious risks associated with riding a bicycle in traffic. When you consider that bicyclists account for one percent of all trips in the United States, yet bicycle fatalities represent just under two percent of all traffic fatalities, you can see that riding a bicycle among the much bigger, much heavier cars, can be a dangerous proposition.

Almost ninety percent of all bicyclists killed are male, eighty percent of those injured are male and sixty-five percent of those killed are between the ages of 25 and 63—with an average age of bicyclists involved in a crash being approximately thirty-one. The risk of riding a bicycle varies widely depending on the time of day, the rider’s level of experience, the area the bicyclist is riding in, whether there is alcohol involved, however the health benefits of riding a bicycle on a regular basis do somewhat offset the risks.

The Perception Motorists Have of Bicyclists

The majority of people who travel only by car tend to believe, at least to some extent, that cyclists are a rather reckless group who take their lives into their hands every time they hit the streets, and don’t fully recognize the obvious dangers. The truth is, the occasional irresponsible bicyclist who throws caution to the wind, winding in and out of traffic and ignoring pedestrians and traffic laws is the exception rather than the rule.

Most cyclists are alert and respectful of the cars and pedestrians who share the road with them, and use caution and good judgment when they ride through traffic. More public education could go a long way in dispelling the misperceptions people have toward bicyclists, and more care and less distractions on the part of automobile drivers could greatly reduce the incidence of auto-bicycle accidents and fatalities. Most cyclists know to watch out for the distracted, negligent or reckless driver, not to mention swinging car doors and jaywalking pedestrians—not to mention road hazards—but it’s simply not feasible to anticipate every single possibility.

Where Do Most Bicycle Accidents Occur?

Although the majority of bicycle accidents happen in those cities with the highest populations, college towns, especially those in California, rank higher than their population would suggest. Many college students use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation; it’s healthy, it allows them to quickly get from one class to another, and it saves money—something most starving college students appreciate.  Almost seventy-five percent of all accidents involving a cyclist occur at an intersection or in a personal driveway, which suggests that cyclists and auto drivers are fully cognizant of the rules associated with high traffic situations.

How Drivers Can Help Reduce Accidents

Drivers must first and foremost realize that bicyclists are entitled to the exact same rights—and have the same responsibilities—as auto drivers. Drivers need to drive at safe speeds and exercise caution in city situations when traffic is heavy. They should also avoid distractions such as cell phone use or consulting a map while driving, and should be especially alert for bicycle riders before they back out of a driveway, make a turn in an intersection, or open their door into oncoming traffic.

If you have been the victim of an auto-pedestrian accident you have likely suffered serious injuries. Contact a Mississippi personal injury lawyer from our law firm to discuss your case.