Bicycle Safety

Baltimore Personal Injury News: Driver Impatience, Motorist Road Rage Potential Causes of Maryland Auto-Bicycle Accidents

September 19, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It will come as no surprise to bicyclists and cycling enthusiasts that collisions with motor vehicles are the most deadly kind of accident that a bike rider can have. While many bicycle crashes are completely accidental, there has always been an undercurrent of animosity between motorists and cyclists. Whether perceived or real, there can be potential for tragic consequences when the two groups literally butt heads on public roads.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, my firm understands the seriousness of a bicycle-car accident. Just as is the case with motorcycle crashes, the pedal-powered rider is virtually unprotected from a motor vehicle’s hard steel body. The roadway itself can itself become an enemy when a biker is thrown off his ride and onto the tarmac.

Whether a bicycle collides with an economy car, a sedan, an SUV, or a commercial delivery truck, the results can be serious, if not fatal to the cyclist involved. Injuries from motor vehicle crashes can range from bruises, abrasions and broken bones, to neck and back injuries. Life-threatening traumatic brain injuries are not uncommon.

Maryland Bicycle Injury Update: Baltimore and D.C. Rank 29th and 32nd Nationwide in Fatal Traffic Accidents

July 22, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Baltimore has become a very popular city with cycling enthusiasts. However, with that popularity comes increasing number of cyclists on city streets, sharing lanes with passenger cars, motor-powered two-wheelers, large SUVs and commercial trucks of all types. Whether you’re an optimist or not, recent data may have bicycle riders grinning ear-to-ear while at the same time looking over their collective shoulders more than ever.

According to Transportation for America (TOA), the pedestrian and bicycle safety organization, over 76,000 Americans have been killed in the past 15 years simply crossing the roads in their very own communities.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my colleagues offer legal services to individuals hurt in bicycle and automobile-related accidents. Many of these accidents are caused, sadly, by the negligence of motorists or because of commercial trucking accidents. As injury attorneys, all of us have sensed the pain and seen the suffering that can follow a cycling accident resulting from a car or truck crash. It goes without saying that the medical costs associated with treatment and rehabilitation from such accidents can become quite expensive.

The TOA’s report on pedestrian injuries and fatalities nationwide ranked metropolitan areas in terms of accident frequency for persons on foot as well as on bicycles. The shocking part of the study for this office was the authors’ description of the total deaths across the nation as being equivalent to a commercial airliner crashing with a full passenger load once a month.

Transportation for America points out that nearly 4,000 children under 16 years have been killed so far in the 2000s. Based on the TOA’s numbers, the study stated that children, the elderly and infirm individuals, and ethnic minorities are over-represented when it comes to total death count.

The study also pointed out that while many pedestrian deaths (which in this case includes not only persons on foot but also bicycle riders) are typically termed “accidents,” suggesting an error either on the part of the motor vehicle operator or the person on foot or on his or her bike. However, the TOA stresses that a large percentage of supposed accidents occurred along roadways that were, as they term it, “dangerous by design.” This is to say, that maybe the blame should be aimed at poor roadway and sidewalk design, rather than at the drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who use those walkways and streets.

Baltimore Bicycle Injury News: Could Several Feet Help to Reduce Cycling Injury Accidents in Maryland?

April 30, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Now that Maryland’s weather is getting better, it would appear that bicycle season is in full swing. Spring is a wonderful time, but dangers are always present when riding on public roads, especially heavily trafficked thoroughfares. My office handles numerous injury accidents every year, a percentage of those represent bicycle-car and bike-truck crashes.

One thing I’ve learned practicing in this area: You can never, ever be too cautious. The lack of protection when cycling is evident by the frequent stories of bicycling enthusiasts who are occasionally injured or killed in traffic accidents. My suggestion to anyone contemplating riding in the city or other congested roadway is to assume nobody sees you on your bike.

Maybe in the future laws will be tightened in favor of the even increasing population of bicycle riders, but until then I also remind motorists — as a Baltimore automobile accident aattorney –to be vigilant and watch out for cyclists at all times, especially in the warmer weather. Recently an editorial appeared in the Baltimore Sun suggesting that bikes get a little extra room from the four-wheeled neighbors.

Baltimore Cycling Accident News: Road Rage Blamed for Auto-Bicycle Crashes in Maryland and Across U.S.

March 31, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A recent editorial brought up an interesting traffic topic as relates to bicycle-car accidents here in Maryland and across the country in general. As Baltimore injury accident lawyers, we see many victims of traffic collisions, both from truck and car crashes as well as bicycle accidents caused by drivers of motor vehicles. It’s no surprise that when a car and bike tangle on public streets, the cyclist is usually the first to be hurt, sometimes critically. Head injuries are most common, even with helmet use, as are spinal damage, neck injuries and broken bones.

The editorial pointed out that road rage may be to blame for many of the car-bike accidents around the nation, yet authorities may be turning a blind eye to the problem. As drivers in the Baltimore area, as well as other urban and rural areas, I’m certain that more than one person has experienced the anger of another driver on the road. It’s not hard to imagine how much more dangerous this kind of behavior can be when directed toward a cyclist — the results could be deadly.

According to the editorial, there is a sort of “traffic injustice” felt by bicycle riders in some of the nation’s urban centers. The author based his comments on articles documenting certain road rage trials and suggested that individuals can’t ride their bicycles anywhere with safety due to the lack of seriousness on the part of law enforcement when it comes to car-bike accidents that smack of road rage.

Using the analogy of a New Year’s reveler discharging a pistol into the air only to kill an innocent bystander somewhere across town, the author suggests that police are more likely to arrest that gun owner for manslaughter than to charge a driver for intentionally going after and killing a cyclist during a bout of road rage.

The New Year’s incident is hypothetical, yet the author’s point is made very clear; no law enforcement agency would treat this unintentional New Year’s death as “just an accident” unworthy of serious charges, says the author. However, as he explains, when the instrument of injury or death is an automobile in the hands of a careless driver, this is often exactly what happens, according to the author.

Maryland Bike Injury Update: Bicycle Safety Equipment can Reduce Chance of Serious or Fatal Accidents

March 24, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Almost every time a person is involved in a bicycle-auto accident the bike rider is almost guaranteed to be seriously injured. Various factors will determine to what extent those injuries are suffered, but the outcome is rarely good for the cyclist. As a Baltimore injury accident attorney, I have come across some fairly horrendous cases.

Injuries typically sustained by cyclists in automobile-related traffic accidents range from simple bruises and scratches to broken bones, spine and neck trauma, and serious head injuries. Fatalities are not uncommon as are permanently disabilities that make even the simplest of tasks nearly impossible and requiring the assistance of a full-time caregiver.

Although I and my colleagues are always ready and willing to assist victims of bicycle-car or bike-truck crashes, we would much rather that people not become injured in the first place. To that end, below are a few suggestions or pointers to keep in mind when planning your next foray onto the streets and roadways of Maryland’s cities, suburbs and rural areas.

Accessories that Can Make a Difference

The following items can be very helpful in either preventing an accident or lessening the effects of a collision with a delivery truck, car or SUV. Although nothing can protect a rider completely, these accessories may be able to keep potential injuries to a minimum.

Helmet — Certainly the most important of all safety-related cycling equipment, a properly fitted helmet can make the difference between surviving a traffic accident on your bike and never coming home again. Ask any safety expert and you’ll learn that bicycle helmets can reduce significantly the number and severity of head injuries sustained in a car-bicycle accident or even a single-bike crash.

Horn — Prevention is the key to safety when riding a bicycle in busy city centers and even in sleepy neighborhoods. To be sure, many bike accidents happen because a driver does not see an approaching cyclist and either turns or pulls out in front of a cyclist. A loud horn mounted to your bike will greatly improve your chances of being heard, then seen and hopefully avoided.

Mirrors — Bicycle riders can make very good use of rear-view mirrors to better see what vehicles are approaching from behind. Knowledge is power and knowing whether a large delivery truck is about to pass you can help you prepare. Mirrors can be attached to handlebars or helmets. New cycling-specific sunglasses come equipped with small mirrors that allow the rider to see behind. This is extremely important as the statistics show that many cyclists are hit from behind by vehicles they were never even aware of before the crash.

Maryland Bike Injury Update: Reducing Tragic Car-Bicycle Accidents by Teaching Kids Safe Riding Techniques

March 9, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As a personal injury attorney practicing in the Baltimore area and representing residents of Maryland injured in bicycle accidents around the state, I have a detailed understanding of how an auto-bike crash can change the course of a person’s life. Whether it is a youngster riding a new bicycle around his or her neighborhood, or a teenager going to class at a local junior or senior high school, accidents can occur anywhere cars and kids on bikes meet.

Safety starts at home and parents can do much to instill in their children the correct and safe way to operate their bikes on public roads. Bicycle riding can be a pleasant way to commute and has always been a rite of passage for kids getting their first two-wheeler. But with this enhanced mobility comes added responsibility, both for the parents and the kids.

For most children, riding a bicycle throughout their neighborhood or to get to school can result in many wonderful childhood memories. But sadly, every year hundreds of kids are either killed or seriously injured in automobile-bicycle accidents. Making sure that your child does not become part of this tragic statistic is every mother and father’s goal. Here are a few tips on teaching kids about bicycle safety:

1) Be aware of your surroundings. One of the most important things you can teach your children is to understand the local traffic environment. This is especially important because kids usually haven’t honed their powers of observation by the age they get their first bike.

As a parent or guardian, you should try to teach your child to carefully observe their environment. This is critical to all other safety tips you give them for riding their bike near motor vehicle traffic. Insist that they keep their eyes and ears open at all times while riding a bicycle, even if it’s right in front of their own home in a quiet neighborhood.

2) Wear that helmet. While you can teach kids everything they need to know about safe riding, accidents can and do still happen, even to the best prepared riders. In such cases, it is very important that your child have as much protection as possible in the event of a crash. Wearing a properly fitted and right-sized helmet can make the difference between a minor accident with just bruises and scratches and a potentially life-threatening crash.

Baltimore Bicycle Accident Update: Safety Equipment for Bikes could Help Save Lives

February 23, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Being a personal injury lawyer and practicing Maryland bicycle accident attorney I understand the causes for bicycling injuries in and around large municipalities. Living and working in Baltimore, Annapolis, D.C. and other cities around the state, cyclists must be constantly aware of the dangers presented by other vehicular traffic, as well as watch out for pedestrians and parked cars.

Although bicycle crashes cannot totally be prevented, having some key safety equipment on your bike can make a big difference in helping riders avoid serious injury or death. Cycling is fun, rewarding and healthy, not to mention energy efficient and economical. Although the weather is still rather cold and snowy for most riders’ comfort, the following tips can get you in a safe state of mind once spring rolls around.

Here are five useful accessories that every bicycle rider should consider from the standpoint of accident avoidance and crash survival. Whether you choose to include any or all of the following items in your compliment of cycling gear is up to you. Just keep in mind that any time an automobile and a bicycle meet in a traffic collision, the bike and its rider are usually the ones to suffer.

1) Audible signaling device, such as a horn. Most bike accidents happen when the driver of a car, truck or SUV does not see the cyclist approaching and turns his vehicle into the bike’s path. Having a load horn, especially in loud urban setting, could help to get a driver’s attention before disaster strikes.

2) A rear-view mirror. A large number of cycling-related injuries and deaths are attributed to the rider being hit from behind by a motor vehicle, such as a delivery truck, city bus or passenger car. Using a rearview mirror can help riders avoid this kind of accident by allowing them to see what’s approaching from behind.

For relatively little money, cyclists can purchase rear-view mirrors that clip to the bike’s handlebars, or onto the rider’s helmet. Some newer cycling glasses combine sunglasses with tiny rear-view mirrors built right into the frames.

3) A headlamp. Maryland, like most other states, requires cyclists to have an operating headlamp for use after dark. Although your odds of being cited for not having a headlamp could be quite low, not taking advantage of a headlamp for night riding would be inviting danger on the road. A headlamp serves two separate and distinct functions; first it provides needed forward lighting so that the rider can actually see the roadway ahead of him or her, and thus avoid potholes or road debris that could cause a puncture or serious injury; second, it lets other drivers and slower-moving pedestrians see you coming in the dark, and hopefully avoid a possible accident.

Maryland Bike Safety News: State Seeks to Reduce Car-Bicycle Accidents with New Legislation

February 18, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In Baltimore, Annapolis, the District of Columbia, and other municipalities across Maryland and the surrounding area, more and more people are riding bicycles as a way to reduce commuting costs and lead healthier lives. As a bicycle accident attorney and experienced personal injury lawyer, I know the freedom and invigoration that bike riding provides many in our community.

Unfortunately, with more people bicycling to work and school, the potential for bodily injury may also be on the rise. It’s not unusual for a rider to sustain broken bones and lacerations as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car, SUV or delivery truck. Instances of car-bike accidents usually increase with the higher traffic density found in medium and large metropolitan areas.

In an effort to alleviate, or at least limit the potential for traffic accidents involving bicyclists, our state legislature is doing its part to help cyclists have more rights on publics roads. According to news reports, the Maryland Senate this recently approved a measure requiring motorists to give bicycles, scooters and other personal transportation devices, such as Segways, at least three feet of space whenever possible.

Lagging Maryland Traffic Laws, Increasing Bike Usage Make Car-Bicycle Traffic Accidents More Possible, Deadlier

January 24, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It won’t be long before the promise of spring weather entices more and more cyclists out onto the roads in and around cities like Annapolis, Bethesda and D.C., among others. As Maryland traffic accident injury attorneys, the staff at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers can see a shift toward greater environmental consciousness, so it’s not surprising that more people are using bicycles to get to work, school or even to the store for some light shopping.

Unfortunately, even though more riders are out on the roads, our traffic laws and driver awareness are apparently behind the times. What does this mean in terms of increased traffic accidents and bicycle riding injuries? According to a recent editorial, the percentage of people using bikes for transportation has been on the rise for nearly 20 years, with no expectation that this trend will change any time soon.

To accommodate this increase in two-wheeled traffic, engineers and traffic planners have been working to update the state’s infrastructure and to encourage cycling and create a more safe environment for autos and bikes to coexist. There has also been a call for improved and updated legislation as well.

Maryland Cycling Injury News: Baltimore Seeks to Become a Safe “City of Bicycles”

January 5, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There are proposals being put forward that could go a long way toward increasing the number of bicycling enthusiasts who choose Baltimore as their home. Of course, with an increase in bikes, there will also be an inevitable increase in cycling accidents, including car-bike collisions, severe truck-bicycle wrecks and even fatal traffic accidents involving bicycles, as well as bike-pedestrian crashes.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer handling bicycle accident cases, I and my colleagues know the pain and suffering that can accompany a bike-auto traffic collision. Unfortunately, the laws of physics are on the side of the automobile, which means cyclists must be on their game 110 percent if they want to survive in an urban traffic setting.

According to news reports, Baltimore’s city counsel is looking to make Baltimore streets safer for cyclists, and in doing so encourage a whole new group of potential resident to make this city their home.