What Causes Bike Accidents in Louisiana?

In populous cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge, bicyclists have to contend with traffic congestion regularly, including drivers who may violate bike laws. Although bike accidents are sometimes caused by cyclist error, in many cases the fault lies with the motorist. Here are some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in Louisiana: Distracted or reckless driving Driving too closely Excessive speeding Opening car doors Merging errors

What Are Common Bike Accident Injuries?

Bicycle accidents can result in anything from scrapes and bruises to life-changing traumatic brain injuries, even while wearing protective gear such as a helmet. In severe cases, bike accident injuries can lead to wrongful death. Some of the most common bike accident injuries in Louisiana include: Head trauma Road rash Facial fractures and contusions Broken and dislocated bones Rib fractures and lung injuries Internal bleeding Pelvic fractures

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Accident?

Several major factors may be important when determining who is liable for a bike accident. Liable parties may include the driver, the bicyclist, or the city (if the accident occurred due to poorly maintained roads, for example). In some bicycle accident cases, more than one party may share fault. Reconstructing the scene of a bike accident and the series of contributing events can be a difficult process, but liability often boils down to three major points: Bicycle Laws: In Louisiana, bicycles are treated the same as any other motor vehicle. This means bicyclists must obey all applicable traffic laws. It also means that bicyclists are legally permitted to drive in any traffic lane, even those outside of a bike lane. (However, it is important to note that cyclists are required to ride as close as possible to the right-hand side of the traffic lane or bike lane unless they are passing another bike or vehicles, turning left, or avoiding obstacles in their path) Appropriate Passing Space: Motor vehicles are required to give bicyclists at least three feet of space at all times. Bicyclists are not required to slow down or stop for vehicles behind them. It is the driver’s responsibility to stop or slow down until it is safe to pass a cyclist. Right-of-Way: Many bike accidents occur at intersections when a vehicle is turning right while a bicyclist is going straight through the intersection. Right-of-way becomes an important issue in these types of accident claims. Motorists are almost always held liable for right turn accidents.

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Bicycle Accidents

Bike Riders Shouldn’t Have to Pay for Injuries Caused By Reckless Drivers

Louisiana Bicycle Accident Attorney

According to recent U.S. census data, approximately two percent of New Orleans workers bike to work every day. The Big Easy is generally considered to be a fairly bike-friendly city, with over 100 miles of designated bike lanes.

Unfortunately, in spite of the state’s efforts to make cycling safer for residents, those who ride their bike in Louisiana may still be at risk of being involved in a bicycle accident with other cyclists or motorists. There are dozens of bicycle accident fatalities and hundreds of bike riders injured on Louisiana roads each year. Nearly a third of those accidents were alcohol related.

Those injured in a bike accident through no fault of their own may be entitled to compensation. Contact a Louisiana bicycle accident attorney for more information regarding bike accident cases.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 1,000 bicyclists died as a result of crashes with motor vehicles in the United States annually. More than 130,000 bicyclists experience non-fatal injuries each year.

Only one percent of all trips in the United States are made by bicycle, but bicyclists are at a higher risk of injury or death than occupants of motor vehicles. Often there is a misconception that the bicyclist was to blame in a crash, which does happen occasionally. However, in over half of bike crashes, the vehicle driver is at fault. Our Louisiana bicycle accident lawyer wants you to be aware of the common causes of bicycle accidents with cars.

Distracted Driving or Riding

Drivers that look away from the road while texting or making a phone call might not see a bicyclist crossing the street or traveling in traffic. But it is not only drivers that can suffer distraction. Bicyclists can be distracted too by texting on their phones or wearing headphones that impede their hearing.

Riding Too Close

In Louisiana, drivers are required to maintain at least three feet of space between a bicycle and their vehicles. Bicyclists should always be aware of how much space they have because not all cars will yield to allow space. In some circumstances, it may be safer to stay to a shoulder or sidewalk instead of the right edge of the road if space is tight.

Traveling Too Fast

Speeding cars cannot always stop in time for a bike rider who suddenly veers into a lane or unexpectedly crosses the street. Bicyclists could also travel too fast for road conditions, traffic or bad weather conditions that could affect their ability to control their bike.

Opening Car Doors (Dooring)

Drivers opening car doors after parking on the side of the street can cause an unsafe condition for bicyclists. Before opening a car door, drivers should look to make sure there are no bicycles coming from behind or in front of the vehicle. Bicyclists should also exercise caution when passing parked vehicles.

Cars Entering Street

A bicyclist can never assume that a driver sees them approaching as they back out or pull out of a driveway, parking lot or across a sidewalk. Because space is usually limited in these areas, a driver or bicyclist may not be able to react in time to try to avoid a crash.

Merging Lanes or Turning in an Intersection

A bicyclist must observe the rules of the road, and that means staying to the right side of the road unless they are making a turn. Because bicycles don’t come with turning signals, oncoming drivers and those approaching from behind cannot always anticipate where a bicyclist is turning.

Reduce Your Risk of Injury

As a responsible bicyclist, you always need to follow the rules of the road and be aware of your surroundings. While you cannot control the actions of drivers on the road, you can take steps to protect yourself from injury by:

Keeping a safe distance from vehicles on the road
Wearing a bike helmet every time you ride your bike
Dressing in bright or reflective clothing, especially at night
Installing front and rear lights on your bicycle
Signaling when making turns or stops
Not riding and texting

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Louisiana Bicycle Accident Frequently Asked Questions

What Causes Bike Accidents in Louisiana?
In populous cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge, bicyclists have to contend with traffic congestion regularly, including drivers who may violate bike laws. Although bike accidents are sometimes caused by cyclist error, in many cases the fault lies with the motorist.

Here are some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents in Louisiana:
- Distracted or reckless driving
- Driving too closely
- Excessive speeding
- Opening car doors
- Merging errors
What Are Common Bike Accident Injuries?
Bicycle accidents can result in anything from scrapes and bruises to life-changing traumatic brain injuries, even while wearing protective gear such as a helmet. In severe cases, bike accident injuries can lead to wrongful death. Some of the most common bike accident injuries in Louisiana include:
- Head trauma
- Road rash
- Facial fractures and contusions
- Broken and dislocated bones
- Rib fractures and lung injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Pelvic fractures
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bus Accident?
Several major factors may be important when determining who is liable for a bike accident. Liable parties may include the driver, the bicyclist, or the city (if the accident occurred due to poorly maintained roads, for example). In some bicycle accident cases, more than one party may share fault.

Reconstructing the scene of a bike accident and the series of contributing events can be a difficult process, but liability often boils down to three major points:
- Bicycle Laws: In Louisiana, bicycles are treated the same as any other motor vehicle. This means bicyclists must obey all applicable traffic laws. It also means that bicyclists are legally permitted to drive in any traffic lane, even those outside of a bike lane. (However, it is important to note that cyclists are required to ride as close as possible to the right-hand side of the traffic lane or bike lane unless they are passing another bike or vehicles, turning left, or avoiding obstacles in their path)
- Appropriate Passing Space: Motor vehicles are required to give bicyclists at least three feet of space at all times. Bicyclists are not required to slow down or stop for vehicles behind them. It is the driver’s responsibility to stop or slow down until it is safe to pass a cyclist.
- Right-of-Way: Many bike accidents occur at intersections when a vehicle is turning right while a bicyclist is going straight through the intersection. Right-of-way becomes an important issue in these types of accident claims. Motorists are almost always held liable for right turn accidents.

SERVING THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

Do I Need a Louisiana Bicycle Accident Attorney?

By enlisting a Louisiana bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible after an accident, you can ensure that your lawyer is able to gather all the necessary details to accurately reconstruct the accident and prove the driver’s liability in court.

If you have been seriously injured, you may not be up to the task of gathering important documents related to your accident claim, including medical bills, accident reports, and witness statements.

At Mike Brandner Law, we can do all of this on your behalf in order to expedite the resolution of your case. Our legal team can also help you obtain compensation beyond just hospital bills, including pain and suffering, lost wages, loss of consortium, and more.