Cycling is quickly becoming one of the modes of transportation that many are promoting for health reasons. But if you take into consideration the number of people involved in a bicycle accident, as well as the injuries and fatalities associated with it, you need to be cautious when riding a bicycle on our roads.
In California alone, bicycle accident statistics are quite alarming. In fact, when ranked according to the total bike accident fatalities all over the nation, the state many times ranks either first or second.
Being the first state to pass a bicycle helmet law, you would think that the number of accidents and deaths should have dropped. But the latest figures tell a different story.
If you put together the figures from the rest of the United States, you would want to put away your bicycle until better safety measures are put in place.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for collecting statistics for roadway accidents but the only bicycle accidents they list are those that involve motor vehicles.
Facts and figures from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) helped bring together more information that cyclists in California should know.
Bicycle Accident Statistics
- 3% to 4% of its total auto accident deaths are bicycle accident deaths, a number that is higher than the around 2% national average
- 141 cyclists died in fatal bike accidents, according to the latest bicycle accident statistics in California.
Bicycle Injuries With and Without Helmets
The District of Columbia and 22 other states in the US have bicycle helmet laws. In California, the law specifies that a helmet must be worn by everyone under the age of 18 when riding a bicycle.
Despite the law being enforced, cycling injuries where the rider doesn’t wear a helmet are plenty.
- Head and brain injuries are 85% effectively prevented with the use of bicycle helmets
- The most common form of bicycle injury are head injuries
- Up to 45,000 head injuries would have been prevented if every child between the ages of 4 and 15 wore a helmet
Clearly, many still violate the bicycle helmet law and end up with long-term consequences.
Other figures have shown:
- More than 500,000 people are treated for bicycle accidents in hospitals every year
- Nearly 60% of hospitalized bicycle injuries involve children age 15 and under
- 48,000 bicycle injuries from auto accidents were reported for the last year
- There is a 40% probability that on-road cyclists are likely to get injured compared to off-road cyclists due to lower helmet use and higher vehicle traffic
Frequency of Bicycle Accidents and Fatalities
- Majority of bicycle deaths happen in July, August, and September between the hours of 4 and 8 in the afternoon
- More bicycle deaths in recent years occur in urban areas than in rural areas at two thirds and one third, respectively
- 2% of deaths in automobile accidents are made up of bicycle deaths
- Bicycle deaths have decreased by 61% from 1975 at 1003 to 616 in 2010
- There is a 19% increase in the number of bicycle fatalities since 2010
- 88% of the time, men are the victims of a bicycle accident fatality
Get a lawyer
It is clear that bicycle accidents, deaths, and injuries are common but not many know enough about it, resulting in victims not receiving maximum compensation. In the event that you get involved in a bicycle accident, make sure to contact an experience lawyer. Get a free consultation from a bicycle accident attorney today from Shamon Law.
Shamon Law is happy to provide the following legal services to San Diego 92108, and the surrounding San Diego areas: Wrongful Death, Motorcycle Accidents, Dog Bites, Bicycle Accidents, Slip & Fall Accidents, Wills, Trust and Estate Planning, as well as Auto Accidents and other legal fields. Call us today at 619-737-2727 and see if we can help you!
