As more and more individuals are electing to bike to their destinations, the amount of bicycle accidents and fatalities that occur from a motor-vehicle collision are steadily increasing.
A 2016 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study shows that bicyclist fatalities composed 2.2 percent of total traffic deaths. This amounted to 840 fatalities. To stay as safe as possible on the road, it is beneficial to understand when fatalities are most common.
The NHTSA declares that the most hazardous time to be on a bicycle in traffic is from 6 to 9 p.m. As for how vehicles are most likely to injure or kill a cyclist, it is crucial to watch your back. The front of automobiles is what is most probable to hit a cyclist, as 78 percent of the time this is the case.
A car hit me while biking. Now what?
Having a vehicle hit you can be extremely disorienting, which is why it is good to have a plan in place in case an accident occurs. After a crash, immediately take the following actions:
- Get out of the road: Your first order of business should be to get out of the busy street, as the worst thing to happen after a vehicle hits you would be having another car hit you.
- Keep the driver with you: For the authorities to get an accurate depiction of the accident, both you and the driver who hit you should wait for the police to arrive. This would be a good time to get their contact and insurance information.
- Call 911: It is wise to detail what happened to the police from the scene. This way, they will file an accident report that can you can use to file insurance claim.
- Make sure you are okay: If you sense that the collision may have incapacitated you in any way, see a doctor as soon as you can.
Getting hit by a passing car or a car turning out of a parking lot is a difficult thought to imagine. However, if one does occur, it is good to be fully prepared.
