Bicycle accidents can be incredibly dangerous and unfortunately, they happen more often than we would like. The Canadian Automobile Association reports that an average of 74 Canadians die in cycling collisions each year and 73% of those incidents involve a collision with a motor vehicle. Furthermore, the NHTSA National Survey on Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behaviors shows that 30% of cyclist injuries are caused by being hit by a car.

How a Helmet Can Save Your Life

While wearing a helmet won’t prevent accidents from happening, it can significantly reduce the risk of serious injury or death. Helmets are designed to protect the head and brain from impact in the event of an accident and studies show that they can prevent between 50% and 69% of head injuries among cyclists. This is why Ontario Law requires mandatory helmet use for cyclists under the age of 18.

Common Bicycle Accidents

In addition to wearing a helmet, cyclists should take other precautions to prevent accidents and collisions. As personal injury lawyers, the most common bike and pedestrian accidents that can cause injury we see include:

• “Dooring,” where a car door opens and a cyclist hits it
• Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
• Traffic, road rage, and violence
• Distracted driving by the operator of a car, van, truck, bus or taxi
• Carelessness at blind intersections or on curves in the road
• Not knowing the law requiring 1-meter space when passing a bike
• Dog Attacks

For more insight on Bike Safety Rules, Laws, and Tips, check out our last blog post.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a bicycle accident, it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. Bicycle accidents can be incredibly serious and if you don’t have resources to help with the cost of medical bills and lost wages, they can add up quickly.

Gosai Law can help navigate complicated accident benefit forms as well as bring legal action against whoever injured you. Contact us anytime during regular business hours at (905) 595-2225 or info@gosailaw.com.