Crashes are an unfortunate but natural byproduct of modern traffic. Those who travel via enclosed vehicles might fail to notice one another or could lose control of their vehicles, resulting in collisions with fellow motorists, motorcycle riders, cyclists and pedestrians. Sometimes, pedestrians or cyclists that get hit by motor vehicles are to blame for the crashes they experience. They may violate traffic safety laws and end up paying the price.
However, cyclists generally make safety their top priority and very cautiously adhere to all road rules for their own protection. Frequently, it is the person driving the motor vehicle who is directly responsible for a collision that hurts a cyclist. Why do drivers so frequently cause crashes with those who are traveling on bicycles?
Drivers simply don’t notice cyclists
It takes a lot of focus to remain attentive to driving when someone has a long commute. People tend to distract themselves and to start focusing on the radio or their phone instead of the road in front of them. By the time they look up and spot the pedestrian lawfully crossing at a marked crosswalk, they may not have enough time to stop their vehicle before striking that pedestrian.
It isn’t always distraction that is to blame for such crashes either, as drivers may look right at a pedestrian and never mentally realize they are there. The brain prioritizes what it focuses on in traffic, and smaller objects, like cyclists and pedestrians, often don’t seem like a safety priority. Even when cyclists carefully abide by traffic laws, ride bicycles with illuminated turn signals and invest in brightly colored gear, they still run the risk of a driver claiming they never saw them before striking them.
Failure to notice a cyclist is not an excuse
Cyclists can suffer severe injuries in a collision and may therefore need to negotiate sizable insurance claims after a collision occurs. However, basic liability coverage may not be enough for the injuries suffered by a cyclist in a crash. Some cyclists or their surviving family members may need to pursue personal injury lawsuits following a collision.
Understanding the causes of bicycle-car collisions can help those who cycle stay safer and those who have been hurt demand justice.