Myrtle Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer
This year, the South Carolina Department of Transportation reported an upward trend in bicycle crashes across the state, including a 75 percent increase in fatal crashes. This alarming pattern has been attributed to a number of different factors, including faster speed limits, limited roadway lighting, and fewer bicycle facilities, like bike lanes. Whatever the cause, collisions between motorists and bicyclists almost always have much more serious repercussions for the cyclist, who isn’t protected by seat belts and airbags.
Unfortunately, this means that the injuries sustained by bicyclists are often catastrophic, resulting in hefty medical bills and sometimes, permanent disability or even death. Negligent drivers who cause these kinds of crashes can and should be held liable for their failure to use reasonable care, so if you or a loved one were hurt in a bicycle accident, you should consider reaching out to an experienced Myrtle Beach bicycle accident lawyer for help filing a claim.
Driver Error as a Leading Cause of Bicycle Accident Injury
There are a lot of different ways that cyclists can be injured in collisions with motorists, but most occur as a result of driver error, such as:
- Failing to obey traffic signals;
- Speeding, swerving, or driving aggressively;
- Failing to yield;
- Failing to check one’s blind spot before changing lanes;
- Failing to give cyclists at least three feet of space when passing; and
- Veering into a nearby lane.
Many of these collisions take the form of left-turn accidents, where a driver turns in front of an oncoming cyclist, or right-turn accidents, which occur when a driver turns into a cyclist who is traveling in the same direction. Others, where a driver strikes or bumps into a cyclist from the side while attempting to pass, qualify as sideswipe accidents. These kinds of accidents can usually be attributed to things like distraction, fatigue, or even intoxication. Whatever the cause, the results are often catastrophic for the cyclist.
Road Conditions Can Also Cause Bicycle Accidents
While driver error contributes to the majority of collisions between cyclists and motorists, many aren’t the result of an individual’s actions, but of a third party’s negligence. Poor road conditions, for instance, which can be annoying for drivers, pose a much more present danger for cyclists. Potholes, crumbling asphalt, and cracks in the roadways can all be dangerous for bicyclists, causing them to skid or lose control. Slick pavement resulting from contact with painted roadways and metal surfaces, like grates and manhole covers, can also be perilous for cyclists, who, upon encountering the condition, could be thrown from their bicycles entirely, often into traffic.
Fortunately, when an accident wasn’t the result of driver or cyclist error, but poor maintenance, or improper road design, the city, state, company, or third party responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing the roadway could be required to compensate the victim for accident-related losses.
How Our Myrtle Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
Our dedicated Myrtle Beach bicycle accident lawyers at The Stanley Law Group have more than 60 years of experience helping accident victims recover reimbursement for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more about how we can help with your own case, call our office or send us an online message today.
