Bicycling and walking are wonderful alternatives forms of transportation that not only your health but also contribute to less pollution overall. Bicycling is a wonderful option for people to take, but not everyone is thrilled when they see a cyclist on the side of the road. Those people are drivers. Drivers have a hard time seeing things that aren’t other cars on the road. So, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians tend to feel the brunt of a driver’s inability to register non-car like structures.
In 2016, 18,477 cyclists were injured in reported accidents. Of those, 3,499 were killed or suffered serious injury. Unfortunately, of those who died due to a bicycle accident, 8 of those were children from ages 0-15. The remaining were adults with a shocking 81% of those injured identifying as male. Serious injuries from a bicycle accident can include head trauma, back and neck trauma, paralysis, partial paralysis, lacerations, bruises, as well as broken limbs alongside fractures or sprains. Getting hit while on a bicycle increases severity as the speed of the driver increases. It is also suggested in the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents study that bicyclists who choose to ride on higher speed roads are more likely to get involved in an accident.
So was this the case for the cyclist who was hit by the SUV?
A Traumatic Ending To An Afternoon Ride
In Prairie Village, a bicyclist was hit by an SUV. The accident happened around 5:30 pm. The bicyclist was rushed to a hospital with severe head trauma. The driver of the SUV did stay on the scene and was cooperating with the police, but that does not excuse the incident.
According to the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents study, around 80% of bicycle accidents happen during the day with the more dangerous hours from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Human error from either the cyclist or the driver was the most frequent reason for why accidents occurred. Even though the news story was not clear as to why the SUV hit the bicyclist, it is safe to say that any time a bicycle hits a large vehicle like an SUV, a tragedy is bound to occur.
What To Do
If you or someone you love is suffering from a bicycle accident then you need to call the police and get a police report stated. Just like any other car accident, it is important that you get a detailed understanding of what happened. Then call our Bicycle Accident Attorneys at Mayer & Rosenberg in Kansas City. With over 40 years of experience, we can see the headache before it starts. We have the education and resources to ensure that your story gets told the right way and you are fairly compensated for your situation.
Like the bicycle rider who was struck by the SUV, your life can change in a day. Call 816-941-8949 or click here to speak with our Kansas City Bicycle Attorney so that we can be a bigger and better life change for you.