Glendale Bicycle Accident Attorney

Bicycles are an excellent means of transportation that cut down on gas costs and emissions and promote the health of the rider. Unfortunately, bicyclists are not always safe on California roadways. Aggressive, intoxicated, or otherwise negligent drivers are constantly putting California cyclists at risk of serious injury or worse. Whether they are aggressively looking for parking or are distracted while making a left turn, negligent drivers can hurt or kill even attentive cyclists when their driving goes wrong.

The seasoned and effective personal injury attorneys at McReynolds Vardanyan are prepared to investigate the claim of any cyclist injured or killed in a Glendale bicycle accident. We have years of experience investigating all types of traffic accident claims, including pedestrian and bicycle accidents, and we know how to build the strongest case in order to maximize your recovery. If you or a loved one were injured in a bicycle accident, we can help.

California Leads the Country in Fatal Bicycle Crashes

California has the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous state in the country for bicyclists. California carries this mantle consistently year over year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), bicyclists make up around two percent of all traffic fatalities across the country each year. In 2016, 814 bicyclists were killed in traffic accidents. Of those deaths, 147 deaths happened in California, just above Florida’s 138 deaths and more than double Texas, the state with the third-highest number of cyclist deaths at 65. Bicyclist deaths accounted for over four percent of traffic fatalities in California in 2016, twice the national rate.

California’s high population is not solely to blame for the high number of fatalities: In 2017, California had the fourth-highest rate of bicycle deaths in the country as compared to population, with 3.14 deaths per million people. California’s bicyclist fatality rate was only exceeded by Louisiana’s 4.7, Hawaii’s 4.2 and South Carolina with 3.58.

What Causes Bicycle Accidents?

NHTSA reports that the leading cause of fatal bicycle accidents is alcohol and, unfortunately, the cyclists are more often the impaired parties. Of the 783 cyclists killed nationwide in 2017, 289 involved alcohol. One hundred fifty-nine of those accidents involved an impaired cyclist (BAC over 0.08%) while 126 involved an impaired driver; in 37 of those crashes, both the cyclist and the driver were intoxicated. The vast majority (82%) of cyclists killed in car accidents were struck by the front of the vehicle.

NHTSA strongly recommends wearing a helmet while riding. Only 18% of cyclists killed were wearing helmets. They also recommend wearing bright colors, having all appropriate safety equipment such as reflectors, and obeying all traffic laws including riding in the same direction as traffic and signaling turns.

Where, When, and Who?

According to NHTSA, over 70% of bicycle crashes happen in urban areas and a slight majority (51%) happen in the daytime. In 2016, the average age of bicyclists killed was 46, and the majority (84%) were men. Cyclists aged 50 to 54 had the highest fatality rate with 9.51 deaths per million.

In California, Los Angeles had the greatest share of bicyclist deaths, with 20 of the 147 fatalities statewide. Generally, the summer months are more dangerous for California bicyclists as more bicycles are on the streets when the weather is warm. The most common type of vehicle involved was a light truck; light trucks were involved in 44% of cyclist fatalities.

Call Our Glendale Bicycle Attorneys Today for Help

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Los Angeles or Southern California, the bicycle accident attorneys at McReynolds Vardanyan want to hear from you. Call our Glendale office at 818-855-2115 for a free consultation to evaluate your case and make sure that you are prepared to get the recovery you deserve. Our honest, dependable and compassionate bicycle accident attorneys are ready to meet you and meet your needs.