Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

There have been roughly 20 bicyclist deaths because of accidents this year alone, according to the Somerville Police Department. All of these bicyclist deaths involved a collision with a motor vehicle. The department received nearly 90 reports of bicycle accidents in Somerville in 2009 and only 66 in 2009, according to the Somerville Patch.

The Patch’s website offers residents with a map that shows exactly where each of these 2011 fatal bicycling accidents occurred. A number of these accident reports identify the road, but not the cross street of specific address where the collision happened.

Our Boston bicycle accident attorneys understand that this summer weather provides the perfect opportunity for residents and visitors to hit the sidewalks and the roadways on their bicycles to enjoy the beautiful weather and to get some open-air exercise.

Unfortunately, this is also a time where we see an increase number of bicycling accidents in the state. It is important to remember that these are not the complete statistics for bicycling accidents because a number of cyclists that are involved in collisions with motor vehicles fail to report the incidents because they weren’t seriously hurt.

“A lot of the times,” said Sgt. David Monte, “No one wants to get involved because nobody wants to be found at fault.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released new data regarding bicycle accidents. The most recent data, figures from 2009, were recently released on their website. According to the NHTSA, there were nearly 650 bicyclists killed on our roadways during that year alone. More than 51,000 injuries were sustained because of bicycling accidents. These deaths accounted for 2 percent of all motor-vehicle traffic fatalities for the year, as did the injuries.

Nearly 75 percent of these bicycling accidents occur during the daytime hours, between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. They’re also most likely to happen at non-intersection areas.

The average age of those who were killed while riding a bicycle was 41-years-old. During the last decade, this number has experienced a steady increase in both the age of the victim and the number of victims. Nearly 90 percent of bicyclists that were killed in 2009 were males. Massachusetts saw nearly 10 bicyclist fatalities in 2009 alone. This year is expected to be much, much higher with the preliminary data.

Motorists are urged to follow these safety tips to help keep our Massachusetts bicyclists safe, provided by The Department of Cambridge Community Development:

-Always look for bicyclists, especially when making a turn or parking your car.

-When you pass a bicyclist, make sure you’ve completely cleared the bike before moving back into your lane.

-Remember that cyclists who are not on the extreme right-hand side of their lane are not being careless, but are in fact trying to avoid hazards that could cause a crash.

-Always check for bicyclists before opening your car door.

-Never double park or park your car in a bike lane. It is not only unsafe, but illegal.

-Make sure you yield to bicyclists when turning.

-Bicyclists the right of way through intersections.

-Make sure you NEVER turn right after passing a cyclist. You should wait until they have merged behind you or completed their trip through the intersection.
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Massachusetts has recently climbed from 19th to 10th on the League of American Bicyclists “Bike Friendly State” list. Our state has also been recognized with the special Bronze level award. As our state has climbed the safety list for riders, motorists are still asked to be cautious to help to decrease the risks of a Massachusetts bicycle accident even further.

“These prestigious national honors are an important recognition of all the changes that we have implemented since becoming MassDOT on November 1, 2009,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeffrey B. Mullan. “Key to these honors has been the teamwork across divisions in recognizing and promoting the value of bicycling. The RMV, MBTA, Highway and even the Aeronautics divisions have made important contributions to bicycling as MassDOT becomes a truly multi-modal DOT focused on customer service and safety.”

Our Boston bike accident attorneys would like to point out that this award comes after the Bay State just wrapped up our Bike Safety Week. This event, held last month, proved to be very successful. MassDOT worked with the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) to hold this week-long event that celebrated bicyclists and safety awareness across the state.

In 2010, MassDOT became the first state DOT in the country to organize a statewide Bike Week celebration. This year’s Bike Week celebrations held nearly 200 bike-related events, spanning Massachusetts from Pittsfield to Orleans.

MassDOT prides itself on its commitment to pedestrian and bicycle safety as a key part of their overall transportation vision. Riding bicycles throughout our city allows people to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and the environment and promote healthy lifestyles.

The beginning of the GreenDOT policy, MassDOT’s comprehensive sustainability initiative that includes promoting walking, bicycling, and public transit as one of its central goals, has largely contributed to these milestones in travel and safety.

GreenDOT asks that residents of the Bay State incorporate sustainability into nearly all of their daily activities. The DOT has vowed to do the same with the strategic planning to project design and construction to system operation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 650 bicyclists were killed in motor-vehicle accidents in the United States in 2009. Another 51,000 bicyclists suffered injuries from these types of accidents. These bicycling fatalities made up roughly 2 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities, and another 2 percent of all injuries in these accidents, throughout the year. Nearly 10 of these bicyclist fatalities occurred in Massachusetts in 2009.
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Our Boston personal injury lawyers warn you to watch for bicyclist as the weather warms up. Cycling is a wonderful activity for the whole family, but stay alert to prevent a Massachusetts bicycle accident.

According to Mass.gov children ages 5-18 make up more than 50 percent of all non-fatal bicycle injuries in Massachusetts.

Every year nearly 5,600 children go to the hospital or are hospitalized for injuries sustained while bicycle riding. Boys 10-14 receive the most non-fatal bike riding injuries and they are 3 times more likely to get hurt riding a bike than girls.

The most frequent cause of death sustained while riding a bicycle is a head injury. Falling off a bike without a helmet can easily cause a traumatic brain injury or a skull fracture. Head injuries can be reduced up to 85 percent by wearing an approved bicycle helmet. In a recent Safekids study, 52 percent of kids ages 5 to 14 were observed not wearing a helmet. Almost half the kids wearing helmets had them on incorrectly.

Massachusetts requires an approved properly fitting helmet be worn by riders under age 17.

In 2009, nationally 630 bicyclists lost their lives in traffic-related crashes, another 51,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nearly 70 percent of the accidents happened in urban areas and most were non-intersection related. Almost 3 out of 4 fatal accidents happen during the day and the average age of those killed was 41. Males account for most of the fatalities and injuries from cycling. Alcohol was a factor in 40 percent of cyclist’s deaths, either by the rider or the driver.
Children under age 16 made up 13 percent of all cyclists killed and accounted for 20 percent of those injured.

Massachusetts had 6 bicycle fatalities in 2009.

Kids can be safer by following these bike riding tips:

-Wear a helmet and be visible to motorists.

-Check your equipment before heading out, especially your brakes.

-Ride with the flow of traffic, never against it.

-Obey traffic laws.

-Yield to traffic.

-Signal your turns, be predictable.

-Be alert, take out the ear buds.

-Always look before making a turn.

-Watch out for parked cars opening their doors.
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Solar glare is believed to have played a role in a South End car accident involving a white sedan and a cyclist on the corner of Tremont and Arlington late last week, the Boston Globe reports. The 74-year-old cyclist was killed, his death marking at least the third fatal Boston bicycle accident in the area in two years.

Our Boston personal injury lawyers remind motorists that cyclists enjoy the same rights to the road. Boston has been named one of the best cities for cycling in America. Every bike on the road is one fewer vehicle at rush-hour. Please treat them with the care and respect they deserve.

According to the article, a 2009 survey by the Boston director of bicycle programs found that since 2005 roughly 375 cyclists a year report being involved in a bicycle accident on Boston streets. Of those, 37 percent involved a bike and a motor vehicle.

With that said, a Jan. 27 Boston Globe article reports that while Boston has a “historic standing” among the nation’s least-friendly places to ride, an aggressive effort in 2010 to amend that perception led to the installation of 20 miles of bike lanes around Boston last year alone.

Since Mayor Thomas Menino brought on Nicole Freedman – a former Olympic cyclists and current urban planner – in 2007 to establish Boston Bikes (a city-wide initiative to make Boston streets safer and more accessible to cyclists), there are now 35 miles of bike lanes sharing city roads. In addition to adding bike lanes, there are now more than 1,600 hitch racks located throughout the city. Boston has also sponsored numerous community programs to encourage bicycling as a public health, traffic safety, pro-environmental initiative.

According to the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Security, 27 cyclists were killed in bicycle-related Massachusetts car accidents between 2006 and 2008. In an effort to make city streets safer for both motorists and cyclists and to raise public awareness regarding the issue of bike safety, the City of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health offer a few tips for riders and drivers:

FOR CYCLISTS:
~ You have a legal right to be on the road so steer clear of car door thresholds and don’t squeeze between lanes of traffic. Ride with the flow of traffic. Don’t weave and dodge. Unpredictable behavior only increases your risk of accident.

~ Follow traffic signals. Meaning: red means stop (not just for cars but for you too). Give pedestrians the right-of-way when entering a crosswalk.

~ Be visible! Use lights when riding in the dark and reflective or bright-colored clothing during daytime and dusk.

~ Perhaps most important – protect your noggin. Always wear a helmet. It might save your life.

FOR MOTORISTS:
~ Cars and bikes aren’t in competition for road space, so share. If you grow frustrated because a cyclist is slowing you down, remember: more bikes means fewer cars. Fewer cars mean less traffic congestion.

~ Give bicyclists some room. Use your signals, not your horn. Exhibit street courtesy and look around before doing something unexpected, like opening your car door.

~ Remember, bikes can mix with traffic and legally ride on the road. Cars, not so much. Motor vehicles must steer clear of bike lanes.
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Massachusetts’ Bike Week began with a fatal Boston bicycle accident that claimed the life of a 21-year-old man, the Boston Globe reported.

As we reported last week on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, authorities are pleading with motorists to use caution as the spring and summer bicycling season begins. More than 700 serious cycling accidents occurred in Boston in 2008. Nationwide, 716 people were killed and more than 52,000 injured in bicycle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In this case, the rider was killed in an accident with an SUV at a Newton intersection. In Authorities believe the cyclist may have ran the red light while traveling eastbound on Commonwealth. He collided with a Honda SUV driven by a 48-year-old Newton woman, who was northbound on Homer Street.

Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Jeffrey B. Mullan took to Boston streets during rush hour last week on his way to the inaugural Boston Bicycle Safety Summit.

There, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and others urged motorists and cyclists to adopt safe driving habits at the outset of the spring and summer riding season, the Boston Globe reported.

As we reported last week on our Boston Personal Injury Attorney Blog, spring is a particularly dangerous time for Massachusetts bicycle accidents; motorists are urged to use extra caution to help keep the roads safe for our cycling friends.

A total of 716 cyclists were killed in bicycle accidents nationwide in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Seeking to become a cycling haven, Boston has added 15 miles of bike trails, installed more than 500 bicycle racks and instituted a $100 fine for parking in bike lanes. This year’s budget includes $450,000 for 20 more miles of bike lanes.

The Mayor said he wants drivers to respect cyclists and police officers to enforce the law.

“Autos will not rule the road any longer,” he said. “It’s a health issue, it’s a convenient way of getting around the city. And we want to listen to the very active (cycling) community.”
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