Mississippi’s Natchez Trace has emerged as one of the most popular locations for recreational cycling. The area provides hundreds of miles of picturesque scenery and well-maintained asphalt. Bikers across the U.S. enjoy exploring this stretch of federal park land. However, caution and prudence are important when navigating “The Trace” by bicycle. The distraction of scenic vistas along with a narrow roadway constitute a potentially deadly combination of risk factors. Distracted drivers of car, trucks, and SUVs who are distracted by the scenic views can present an extremely serious hazard for bicyclists. Natchez Trace has been the scene of injuries and deaths for a number of cyclists.
Hundreds of bicyclists are killed annually in the U.S. in bicycle collisions, and tens of thousands more suffer injury in bicycle crashes. While only about a third of all bicycle accidents involve a collision with a motor vehicle, these types of bicycle accidents account for the vast majority or catastrophic cycling injuries and wrongful deaths. Tragically, almost half of those who suffer serious injury or wrongful death in bicycle accidents are children under the age of 16.
Bicyclists often are injured even when in protected areas like bicycle lanes by drivers who do not respect a cyclist right to share Mississippi roadways. There are a wide variety of factors that contribute to a typical bicycle accident, including but not limited to the following:
- Inattentive Motorists: Drivers who are not focused on the road because they are engaged in other activities, including using a cell phone, talking with vehicle passengers, or other distracted driving practices. Inattentive drivers are a leading cause of motor vehicle collisions with bicycles.
- Drunk Drivers: Driver who are impaired by drugs or alcohol also constitute a common cause of many types of motor vehicle accidents that include crashes involving bicycles. Drivers who are intoxicated experience impaired judgement, poor reaction time, slow braking response, and distorted perception, which often causes bicycle accidents.
- Dangerous Roadways: Frequently, roadways are constructed or maintained in a fashion that makes them unsafe, such as: traffic signal malfunctions, overgrown foliage obscuring visibility, potholes, or uneven pavement that disrupts balance.
- Motorists Violating Traffic Safety Laws: Many drivers simply refuse to obey traffic safety laws that are designed to keep our roadways safe for cyclists. Drivers who are speeding or fail to respect traffic signals frequently put cyclists at risk of serious injury.
Mississippi bicycle accident victims tend to suffer serious injuries, including head injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones or fractures, and internal organ damage. These injures are often debilitating and frequently result in disability from work as well as permanent loss of mental or physical functioning. Cyclist that experience head injuries account for the majority of catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. This means that wearing a helmet when bicycling in The Trace, Jackson or elsewhere throughout Mississippi is imperative.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident in Mississippi, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries. The Mississippi Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law, PLLC are committed to helping bicycle accident victims accidents by handling insurance headaches and legal issues. We tenaciously pursue financial compensation for our clients, so contact us today at (601)790-1505 to schedule your free consultation.