Many Indiana residents choose to ride bicycles as a way to get around and enjoy exercise. Unfortunately, those who ride face many risks while sharing roads with motor vehicles. These are some facts about bicycle accidents.
People most impacted by bicycle accidents
Pedestrian and bike accidents have significantly increased over the past few decades. These unfortunate incidents happen more often in urban areas compared with suburban or rural neighborhoods. Urban areas are more densely populated; bicyclists share the roads with cars and other, larger vehicles, which increases their chances of getting into serious accidents and suffering severe injuries.
People over the age of 40 are most affected by bicycle accidents. Those between the ages of 55 and 69 are the most likely to be killed in collisions while younger people in adolescence and young adulthood suffer more injuries that require hospital treatment.
Significant factors in bicycle accidents
Although bicycle accidents occur in many ways with the bike being struck from all angles, rear-end accidents are the most common. This usually occurs when drivers fail to see the bicycle. Sadly, when a rider is hit from behind, they are also more likely to die from injuries they sustain from being thrown from the bike.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reports that most bicycle accidents occur with one other vehicle. Most happen with passenger cars or with smaller trucks.
In many cases, bicycle accidents occur when alcohol is involved; some of these incidents involve motor vehicle drivers who are under the influence, but some bicyclists were intoxicated by alcohol. Many fatal bike accidents take place at night even when alcohol is not a factor.
Bicycle accidents are often devastating for victims and their families. Too many cyclists end up killed when the accidents that claim them could have been prevented.
