Home > Q: Bike Accidents: What if a reckless driver caused me to lose control of my bike and that resulted in another vehicle hitting me? Who can I sue?

Q: Bike Accidents: What if a reckless driver caused me to lose control of my bike and that resulted in another vehicle hitting me? Who can I sue?

As a victim of a bike accident, you can legally sue whoever is responsible for the accident. This can mean multiple parties may be liable. Some motor vehicle drivers do not understand that they have a duty to share the roadway with bicyclists at all times. Failure to do so may be considered negligence, which has legal and financial consequences.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 500,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries every year. In addition, about 700 people are killed in bike-related accidents every year. If you are a victim of an accident caused by a motorist’s negligence, contact bicycle accident attorneys in Denver, CO to review the case.

Determining Liability

A reckless driver can intentionally or unintentionally make a bike rider lose control. A driver may be disobeying traffic laws or driving while under the influence. He or she may be speeding and/or need to suddenly swerve around the bike, which could cause the bicyclist to lose control. If the driver’s reckless actions lead to the accident, then that driver may be liable for the accident even if the bike did not touch the vehicle.

In addition, the driver who hit the bicyclist may be responsible as well if it is determined that the driver disobeyed traffic laws or signals or was following the bike too closely. Extra care must be taken when driving around smaller vehicles such as bicycles. The bike rider may even be held partially responsible if he or she contributed to the accident in some way. Police reports and witnesses will likely be able to determine how the accident occurred and which parties are responsible.

Common Types of Bicycle Accidents

A bike accident can occur in several ways:

  • some bikes are brushed back by vehicles passing too closely;
  • some bikes are hit by drivers who open a car door without looking for oncoming bicycles; and
  • others are hit by motor vehicles that are turning right and do not see the bike entering the intersection.

Drivers must be patient and wait their turns. Driving aggressively by following too closely or distracting the bike rider by unnecessarily honking the horn is unacceptable. Bikes are generally slower than motor vehicles and may have to swerve to avoid potholes and other objects in the road. They may not be able to simply ride over them like many motor vehicles.

In any of these situations, if a reckless driver causes the bike rider to lose control and cause a bike accident with another vehicle, the operator of the motor vehicle can potentially be sued for damages. A bicycle accident attorney in Denver, CO at D.J. Banovitz Personal Injury Law can help bicyclists develop a case to prove the driver’s negligence.

Speak with Attorney D.J. Banovitz in Denver

If you were seriously injured in a bike accident caused by a reckless driver, make sure you get the compensation you deserve for injuries and bike damage. Contact bicycle accident attorneys in Denver, CO for legal help.

Give us a call at (303) 300-5060 to set up an appointment, and be sure to check out our free injury book. Consult D.J. Banovitz for help determining liability in an accident and to build a strong case to recover compensation for damages resulting from the bike accident.