When Cycling Accidents Cause Wrongful Death
Car accidents are the most common cause of wrongful death cases – when a person is killed as a result of the negligence or intentional act of another person or organization. Cyclists who are hit by motor vehicles, especially trucks, have a very high likelihood of injury and death. Per billion vehicle miles, 1,011 cyclists are killed or seriously injured, compared to 26 car drivers.
If the driver of the motor vehicle was acting negligently at the time of the accident and a cyclist was killed, the accident may be a wrongful death case. Examples of negligent driving behavior include driving while fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol or running a red light.
When Cycling Accidents Cause Wrongful Death
If you believe that your loved one was killed in a cycling accident as a result of a negligent driver, seek the help of an experienced wrongful death lawyer as soon as possible. He or she may be able to hold the driver accountable for their behavior through a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death claims are a type of personal injury claim which means that cases are generally handled on a contingency fee basis. This means that you pay only a percentage of damages.
Cycling accident death statistics
Serious cycling accidents happen most in densely populated areas with lots of motor vehicles around – approximately 75 percent of fatal or serious cyclist accidents occur in urban areas. Yet, about 50 percent of cyclist fatalities occur on rural roads. Ten percent of cyclists killed are children and about 75 percent of all cyclists killed have major head injuries.
Common causes of cycling accidents
Driver/rider error was the cause of 71 percent of all reported cycling accidents in 2016. The error is most often “failure to look properly before proceeding”, especially at road junctions. Common results of “failure to look properly before proceeding” include motor vehicles crossing into the path of a cyclist, cyclists riding into the path of a motor vehicle and cyclist being clipped by a motor vehicle. Cyclists are most likely to suffer serious injury or death when the driver of the motor vehicle was impaired by drugs or alcohol, travelling too fast for road conditions and/or driving at excessive speeds.
When child cyclists are killed in a cycling accident with a motor vehicle it is most often because of the child entering the road from the pavement or crosswalk (over 1/3 of child cycling accidents) and/or losing control of their bicycle when they ride too fast or do a trick. Teenage and adult cyclists are injured or killed in cycling accidents involving a motor vehicle in 74 percent of reported accidents.
If you lost a loved one due to the reckless/negligent behavior of another, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced wrongful death attorney fight for justice on your behalf. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a wrongful death lawyer. Call the most experienced practicing wrongful death attorneys Bellingham has at Tario & Associates, P.S. today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing grieving family members in Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
