Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

We’ve been talking a lot about bicycle safety, after all it is National Bike Safety Month. But we do understand that accidents happen. Do you know what to do when an accident is unavoidable?

Our Boston bicycle accident attorneys are here with tips from Bicycling.com to help to better your risks against injury in the event of a fall.

The first thing you’ve got to remember is to look where you’re going. Naturally, our body shift into the direction we’re looking. If you’re looking at a rock you want to avoid, the more likely you are to run into it. Your best bet is to keep looking into the clear path in the area you wish to ride. Your eyes will guide your bike.

Secondly you want to make sure that your pedals are ready for anything. Your best bet is to ride with clipless pedals. You don’t want to strap yourself onto a falling bike. Make sure you can remove your feet easily whenever needed.

Next you want to make sure that you’re staying loose and that you’re moving with the road. If you happen to jump a hump in the road or shoot over a pot hole, you want your body to be ready to absorb the movement. Staying stiff is only going to work against you and increase your risks of a fall.

Lastly, you want to make sure you’re stable. Whenever you’re pedaling at a slow speed or you’re heading up a hill, you’re going to want to make sure there’s space between you and the bike. Get up and use your body to pedal. It’s a good workout and it’s safer.

So you followed all of those safety precautions, but you still get into an accident. What now? The best thing you can do is prepare yourself for the fall and know what you’re doing.

The first thing you want to do is go with the flow. You want to fall along with the bike. Don’t put your arms out to stop yourself. That’s only going to increase your risks for a fracture or a broken bone (if not more than one). Instead, your best bet is to tuck your chin into your check, make your body into a ball and roll with the fall.

If you happen to fall backwards, you want to do something a little different. This is where you want to stop the energy. You still want to tuck your chin, to avoid whiplash or a head injury. Instead of rolling with the fall though, you’re going to want to extend your arms to the side to stop the momentum from rolling you further. Remember not to put your arms behind you to stop the fall, because you run the risk of a break or a fracture, but put your arms aside to stop.

To keep safe no matter what kind of fall you endure, your best bet is to lower your center of gravity. The lower you are, the easier it is for you to tuck and roll and the shorter distance it is to get to the ground.

With these tips, we’re not telling you it’s okay to get into an accident because you have a better chance of surviving. We’re just offering up these safety tips IN CASE something unavoidable happens. Best of luck out there!
Continue reading

The entire month of May has been dubbed National Bike Safety Month, according to MassBike. Massachusetts takes it one step further though and celebrates its own Bay State Bike Week.

Bay State Bike Week is an annual celebration of human-powered, two-wheeled transportation. It is fitting that Massachusetts would be the only state in the nation with a statewide bike week, given our long history of biking. From Worcester’s bicycle racing champion Major Taylor to the world-famous Springfield Bicycle Club Tournament, the love of biking has deep roots in our state.

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers understand that bicycling is a popular way to get around town, especially with the warming weather. We’re urging residents to get out there and to get involved to help spread the word about safe biking. You can check the bicycling event calendar on MassBike and find events near you.

Throughout the month, and during our Bay State Bike Week, officials will be pushing the “Same Roads, Same Rules” campaign. “Same Roads, Same Rules” is a program that is aimed at both bicyclists and motorists. It’s a program that is about coexisting in a shared space, respecting each other as human beings, using common sense and keeping yourself and others safe by following a common set of rules. The number of bicyclists has skyrocketed in the area and the need for more information has become urgent, with many on the road, bicyclists and motorists alike are too often unsure how to safely interact.

We’re here to help the bicyclists out and to get riders to refresh their bicycling safety knowledge before bike seasons gets into full swing. Read the following safety tips and share them with your biking loved ones to help ensure everyone a safe ride:

-Make sure you have plenty of space. You’ve got a legal right to the road, so use it – take the full lane when needed, stay away from car doors, and don’t squeeze between lanes. Two bicyclists can ride side-by-side, but get into single file if cars can’t pass safely.

-Ride with the flow. You want to make sure you’re riding in the same direction as traffic. That means ride on the right-hand side of the road. Never ride against oncoming traffic. It’s too dangerous.

-Give yourself a break. When you come to red lights and stop signs, you’ve got to obey them too. Use this as a time to catch your breath and take a break.

-Shine in the night. Make sure you have a light in your bicycle, not only to help you to see where you’re going, but to help others see you as well.

– Always wear a helmet. There’s no substitute and no better way to protect your head, skull and brain. Make sure your helmet fits properly and that you’re always wearing it.
Continue reading

Officials with Boston University and the City of Boston are continuing their effort to keep the 1.5 mile-long campus safer for travelers. They’re working to calm traffic on the main campus. They’re going to continue the focus on pedestrians and cyclists by encouraging these forms of transportation and raising awareness of their vulnerability. Part of these efforts include more highway reflectors, enhanced bike-lane markings and new signage throughout the area.

“I am hopeful that these changes will help protect bicyclists and pedestrians traveling along this very busy stretch of Commonwealth Avenue,” said Dr. Robert A. Brown, the President of Boston University.

Our Boston pedestrian accident attorneys understand that many residents and visitors to the area rely on their own two feet (or two pedals) to get to where they’ve got to be. Boston is a busy city and driving around isn’t all that pleasurable — not to mention it;s very time consuming. The problem we’ve been having in our area for a while now is the complete disregard for these kinds of travelers. It’s important that all travelers — especially motorists — understand that both pedestrians and bicyclists have a right to our roadways and those rights need to be protected.

The new measures to achieve safer roadways for these travelers comes from recommendations from the City of Boston and Boston University, They’ve been working to urge President Brown and Mayor Menino to take action for safer roads. This movement launched after a number of bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities in recent months — including the death of a BU student last year.

New safety measures have the City of Boston implementing a pilot program in the area to expand bicycle lanes. As part of the proposal, they’re also working to get new signs declaring high bicycle and pedestrian traffic — to remind drivers to share the road and to yield to bicycles as well.

They’ve also worked on getting better bike-lane road markings — with the goal to have every bike lane and crossing area painted with a high-visibility, non-skid green paint. Safety advocates believe that this green paint will help to draw attention to and raise awareness of these riders. They’ve also worked to expand the bike-lane markings from 4 to 6 inches.

The truth of the matter is that bicycling ridership has increase in the area by more than 80 percent from 2007 to 2011. It’s important that we keep the focus of safety on these riders.

Boston University is helping, offering close to 20,000 bike-safety items to locals, including reflectors, bicycle lights, flashlights and even helmets. Throughout the campus, there are signs reminding riders of safety tips and special safety days.

It’s a group effort and while these vulnerable travelers are putting in the work to make our area safer, we’re asking you to join the fight. It’s a never-ending battle without your help.
Continue reading

In early December, a Boston University student was killed when riding his bicycle. On the same day of the tragic death, a hearing had already been scheduled at City Hall to discuss efforts to make Boston safer for cyclers. The death of the young student has prompted the mayor to urge new bike safety efforts.

Our Foxboro personal injury attorneys are strong supporters of better bike safety measures. Bike accidents are very dangerous to riders since a bike provides no protection from the impact of a vehicle. Any steps that can be taken to improve safety and to make bike accidents less likely could potentially help to save lives.

Boston Bike Safety Programs
The hope is that the recent tragic bike death, along with encouragement from the mayor, will help to increase the focus on bike safety. According to Boston.com, however, there are currently a number of bike safety initiatives in Boston, although there is more work to be done. The Boston Bikes Program, for example, has been instrumental in helping to increase the presence of bicycle infrastructure in neighborhoods throughout Boston.

Some of the other safety measures that have been put in place to improve bike safety include:

• Education on bicycle safety. Education targets both bicycle riders and drivers. For example, information on bike safety is included in all mailings that go out with parking violations. A Youth Cycling program also provides instruction to more than 4,000 young bicycle riders each year.
• Engineering efforts to improve the bicycle network throughout Boston. The majority of streets in the city have been evaluated and recommendations will be made for how to create a better and stronger bicycle network. The improved network will include more bicycle lanes and also new solutions such as priority-shared lanes.
• Enforcement efforts to prevent drivers from parking in bike lanes. According to Boston.com, more than 1,500 tickets were written by Transportation Department Officers to drivers illegally parked in bike lanes. Bike riders who don’t obey the rules, such as riders who drive through red lights, can also be ticketed.
• Efforts to provide bicycles for all citizens and to increase ridership. A Roll it Forward Initiative, for example, has repaired more than 1,600 bikes and provided them to residents along with a bike helmet, a lock and bike education. This program, along with efforts to build a strong cycling community, is helping to increase the number of riders, which in turn increases public and legislative focus on bike safety.

Although tragic accidents like the death of the Boston student still occur, the hope is that with greater education and enforcement, as well as with more bike lanes and bike facilities, bike ridership will continue to grow and riders will become safer than ever before.
Continue reading

The “Bikes on the Beat” initiative is back, according to the Boston Inspectional Services Department. Last month, Code Enforcement Officers attended a three-day bike training course at the Boston Police Training Facility. Those who completed the course are now certified in instruction of bike usage, bike safety as well as bike safety precautions, including eye protection, gloves, knee pads, helmets and other protective measures.

According to the City of Boston, these officers will be hitting densely populated Boston areas, including Downtown Boston, the South End, Beacon Hill and Back Bay, on their city bikes. The purpose is to help to ensure a quick and timely response to emergency calls in these densely populated areas. These bicycling officers will be able to cut through the congested areas at a high-rate of speed and will help to increase the visibility of our area’s law enforcement.

Our Boston personal injury attorneys understand that these officers won’t be the only two-wheeled travelers on our roadways. During this time of year, the bike and on-foot traffic is plentiful. Travelers of all kinds are urged to be cautious out there. It’s these travelers that are most likely to be seriously injured or killed in the event of a traffic accident. We all need to work together to help to preserve the safety of our streets.

“This is a great program that will connect my staff with the general public on a daily basis,” said Mayor Menino.

With the increase in bicyclist traffic in the area during this time of the year, we also see an increase in the risks for these kinds of accidents. Oftentimes, these travelers are overlooked on our roadways and accidents result. Drivers are asked to be cautious and aware of their surroundings while traveling along our congested roadways. Your responsible driving habits can help to keep our residents and visitors safe.

According to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were nearly 620 bicyclists killed in traffic accidents in the U.S. in 2010. To make matters even worse, there were another 52,000 of these vulnerable riders injured in these same incidents.

To help protect these travelers, officials with the City of Boston ask that drivers consider the following:

-Never travel in a bike lane.

-Always look around for passing bicyclists before you open the door to your vehicle.

-Be sure to pass bicyclists slowly.

-Make sure you allow bicyclists with at least 4 feet of space when passing.

-Always use your turn signals. Make your maneuvers as predictable as possible.

-Always check your mirrors and your blind spots, especially before making a move in traffic.

-Allow bicyclists the entire lane if necessary.

-Don’t get distracted by using your cell phone.
Continue reading

Recently, friends, family members, the community and other bicycling advocates gathered at the corner of Neck Road and Boston Post Road to participate in a Ghost Ride to ride in “in support of cyclists’ rights to travel safely,” according to the Madison Patch.

One of the women who showed up for this awareness event, Colleen Kelly Alexander, was actually still recovering from a horrific bicycling accident that happened back in October of 2011. She was run over by a truck at that very same corner while bicycling her way home from work. After she was run over, she flatlined twice, but was able to be revived. After that, she underwent a number of painful and extensive reconstruction surgeries to fix the parts of her body that were mangled in the accident.

Alexander isn’t able to work yet, but spends what time and energy she can helping to raise money for organizations and groups that have offered her assistance since the accident. She also helps groups who work to raise awareness about bicycle safety.

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers understand the risks cyclists face on our state’s roadways. Every year, there are hundreds of bicyclists who are killed in traffic accidents across the country. Many of these accidents are drivers’ faults. Oftentimes, motor vehicle drivers aren’t paying attention or fail to recognize bicyclists along our roadways. With all of these accidents and all of these fatalities, we now see a number of Ghost Bike memorials throughout the state. These Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials that are set up to remember bicyclists who were killed or were hit by a motor vehicle. These bikes are painted all white and they’re locked to a street sign near where the accident happened. Accompanying these bikes is a small plaque. These bikes are meant to help remind drivers about these kinds of accidents and the vulnerability of our bicycling friends.

A number of supporters of the Ghost Bike program say that they’re hoping that these bikes help to remind drivers to be safe and cautious when traveling near bicyclers. They also say that they hope that the bicycle will serve as a reminder about the congestion and the dangers at that particular intersection, so that any future accidents can be avoided.

Since the accident, transportation officials have reviewed that intersection to see if anything more could be done to make it safer. Besides a few new yellow stripes, nothing has changed. Still, residents complain that there is no line to alert drivers where to stop when approaching the intersection and drivers complain that the stop sign is so far back that that have an obstructed view going both ways.

Since the roadway doesn’t seem like it’s going to be changed, drivers are urged to be extra careful in this area. Unfortunately, these are problems that we see at many intersections across the country. Drivers are asked to be on the lookout for our vulnerable two-wheeled friends at all times, but especially when approaching an intersection.
Continue reading

In a recent bicycle accident in Bridgewater, an 81-year-old cyclist was severely injured. According to recent reports, his condition has grown worse. It all happened as the elderly rider was riding in the breakdown lane on Pleasant Street when his bicycle was hit by a passing motorist that was heading in the same direction, according to the Taunton Daily Gazette.

Immediately following the accident, the rider was transported to the Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and then later taken to Mass General via MedFlight. It was there where he was admitted to the surgical intensive care unit. Last reports indicate that his condition was deteriorating.

Our Bridgewater bicycle accident attorneys understand that there were more than 600 bicyclists killed in auto-related accidents in just 2010. According to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were another 52,000 bicyclists killed in these kinds of accidents. You may not think that there are a lot of bicyclists on roadways, but these traffic fatalities account for 2 percent of all of the fatalities during the year. Bicyclists are some of the most vulnerable travelers on the road.

Bicyclists are urged to be extra careful when traveling along our busy roads. When riding a bike you should always cross the street at an intersection with a crosswalk or with a traffic light. Nearly 70 percent of all fatal bicycling accidents in 2010 occurred at non-intersections.

Bicyclists are also warned when traveling during the evening hours. About 30 percent of these accidents occurred between 4:00 p.m. and 7:59 p.m. The second most dangerous time for these accidents was from 8:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

If you happen to be 42-years-old you might want to be a little more careful when biking around the city, too. The average age of bicyclists who were killed in traffic accidents in 2010 was 42. During the last decade, there has been steady increase in this average.

Don’t forget about the kids though. Our youngest riders may not be able to comprehend the dangers that come along with traffic. They may dart out into traffic. They may not stop for oncoming vehicles. And they may wind up in a potentially fatal accident. Be sure to keep an eye on the young riders in your family. If they’re under the age of 10, don’t let them ride without the supervision of an adult. In 2010, bicyclists under the age of 16 accounted for more than 10 percent of all of the bicyclists who were killed and another 21 percent of all those who were injured.
Continue reading

In 2011, the state of Massachusetts was ranked the 9th safest bicycling state in the Northeast. In 2010, we ranked in at 16th place and in 2009 at 19th place, according to a study conducted by the League of American Bicyclists.

In 2012 we are ranked in 3rd place! We’re getting better and our roadways are getting safer for bicyclists, but we still have a long way to go. For the fifth straight year in a row, Washington ranked in at number one. Unfortunately, even with a 3rd place ranking bicycling accidents in Boston and elsewhere are still a common occurrence.

“We are encouraged to see significant progress in top states like Washington, Minnesota, Colorado [which ranked fourth this year] and Massachusetts,” said Andy Clarke, president of the League.

Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers understand that this recent study illustrates there is still much to be done to make our roadways safer. Thousands are still being injured on our roadways every year. Many of these changes need to be done in funding and in infrastructure. Overall, the study concluded that state DOTs and legislatures across the country are lagging behind when it comes to bicycle safety even though there’s a much higher demand for safe riding areas.

In the study, the League of American Bicyclists looked at each state’s enforcement and legislation, programs and policies, funding and infrastructure, encouragement and education and their planning and evaluation. States were then ranked on these categories and their contributions to bicycling traffic.

Richard A Davey, the Secretary for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), said the department marks its commitment to provide residents and visitors with efficient, healthy and safe forms of transportation and continues to push the importance of the GreenDOT policy.

In April, the League of American Bicyclists named MassDOT and another 66 organizations as being Bicycle Friendly Businesses. Our state was the first state to have its DOT to receive national recognition for this kind of thing, according to the Boston Globe.

Recently, MassDOT launched the GreenDOT program to help to push environmental responsibility and a sustainability initiative to help make our state a national leader in “greening” the state transportation system. With pushing bicycling in the city, officials have also had to make some changes along our roadways to protect these travelers.

Awareness of bicyclists has also been important with the re-launch of the Hubway system, which allows residents and visitors to rent a bike, ride to their destination or where ever else and just return it to another kiosk in the area.

Other rankings in the New England area:

-Vermont: 18.

-Connecticut: 20.

-New Hampshire: 27.

-Rhode Island: 27.

We may be ranked higher than many of our neighboring states, but it’s no time to rest. We need to continue pushing forward to making biking in Massachusetts the safest it can be!
Continue reading

Bicyclists throughout the state are encouraged to hop on their bike during this year’s Bay State Bike Week. It’s all for a good cause and to help to save lives.

This annual week-long event is being held this year from May 14th through the 20th and is used to raise awareness about bicyclists in the state. Every year, there are far too many bicyclists who are killed in traffic-related bicycle accidents in Boston and elsewhere. These accidents can be prevented!

As the weather warms up, more and more cyclists will be hitting our roadways and risks for accidents will increase. Be on your best and most cautious behavior behind the wheel to help avoid causing an accident with a cyclist.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), there have been hundreds of events registered throughout the state for this year’s campaign. You’re urged to sign up and participate by visiting the campaign’s website. Get involved and help to raise awareness about bicycle safety.

Just two years ago, MassDOT became the very first state DOT in the U.S. to organize a state bike week event. Our state continues to be the only state in the country to dedicate an entire week to our bicyclists. Our Boston bicycling accident attorneys understand that there were more than 600 lives of bicyclists lost in motor-vehicle accidents across the U.S. in 2009. During the same year, there were more than 50,000 bicyclists injured, according to bicyclinginfo.com. What’s worse is that experts believe these numbers are actually much higher as they believe that not all bicycle accidents are even reported by police.

This year, MassDOT is teaming up with MassRIDES as well as MassBIKE to successfully execute the Bay State’s Bike Week. Both MassBIKE and MassRIDES are two of Commonwealth’s statewide travel options program.

“The work that each community places in hosting events throughout the Commonwealth works to achieve the GreenDOT mission and the Healthy Transportation Compact statewide,” Richard A. Davey, MassDOT Secretary and CEO.

In addition to all of the registered events throughout the state, there will also be more than 10 Massachusetts Transportation Management Associations (TMA) that will be giving out this year’s MassCommute Bicycle Challenge. This is the state’s 18th anniversary and will be used to conduct friendly competitions between residents, visitors, employers, communities, schools and others and is used to encourage everyone to use their bike to get to and from work, school, errands, etc.

Even if you’re not getting out there on a bicycle, you’re still encouraged to help to raise awareness about these travelers. Everyone is urged to share the road safely with one another, regardless of mode of transportation, to help make our roadways safer for all!
Continue reading