• 27
  • June
    2011

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 600 pedalcyclists were killed and another 51,000 were injured on American roads in 2009. Cyclist deaths accounted for 2 percent of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities in the nation and also accounted for 2 percent of all the people injured in traffic crashes that same year. Most (70 percent) of these bicycle accidents occurred in urban areas; however, not enough Californians recognize that suburban areas, such as Contra Costa County, are also dangerous places for cyclists.

Contra Costa County, home to almost one million people, is considered part of the San Francisco metropolitan area. The county has almost 250 miles of bike lanes; however, the open roads are not necessarily a safe haven for county cyclists. According to California Highway Patrol (CHP) data reviewed by the area non-profit, The Bay Citizen, 23 bicyclists lost their lives on county roads from 2005 to 2009. During this same period, only nine cyclists were killed on the crowded urban streets of San Francisco.

Using CHP data and Bike Accident Tracker mapping system, crash data indicates that there were 2,246 bicycle accidents in San Francisco and 1,416 in Contra Costa County during this five-year period. Contra Costa has fewer cyclists as compared to San Francisco, but from a statistical standpoint, 11 percent of the county's bike commuters were involved in crashes as compared to 4 percent of the City's.

Cycling and cyclists present a unique challenge to roadway safety. In America, two bicyclist fatalities occur each day, and according to the National Safety Council, cyclist-related injuries and deaths cost the public about $4 billion dollars per year.

Cyclists risk more than just minor scrapes and bruises if hit by motor vehicles. Without the steel frame protection that cars, trucks, and SUVs provide, any bike crash can result in a cyclist-or a cyclist's passenger-being run over, receiving broken bones, getting a concussion, receiving brain injuries, or even dying.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in a cycling accident, it is best to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to ensure that no stone is left unturned so you may obtain the full compensation you are entitled to.

Source: baycitizen.org, "Danger Lurks for Cyclists on Contra Costa County's Open Roads" June 2, 2011.