Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog
The recent phenomenon of bike-sharing has caught many of the nation’s largest cities by storm. Rather than purchase a bike to travel around the city, bike sharers opt to pay a fee to use bikes at stations around the city. In most cases, riders can pick up a bike at one location and drop it off at another, making the system very convenient for commuters, shoppers, or those just looking to see the sights.
However, a recent article explains that the convenience may come at a cost. As bike shares pop up around the country, the instances of bike-related head injuries are increasing as well. The most cited reason is that, while the bike shares offer bikes, riders must bring their own helmets, something many riders are not doing.
The Study
An NPR article cites a study that looked at Montreal as well as four U.S cities, including Washington DC, both before and after the bike-share program was implemented. The result was a 14% increase in the proportion of head injuries compared to the total number of serious biking injuries. The bottom line is that a larger percentage of bike-related accidents are involving head injuries than before.
Biking in the Nation’s Capital
Riding a bicycle is a great way to get around Washington DC for any purpose. However, bicycle safety cannot be overlooked. Washington DC is known for its horrendous traffic, and with traffic jams come frustrated and desperate drivers. These are the kinds of drivers who make lapses in judgment that can lead to a serious or fatal bicycle accident.
When a driver is involved in a bicycle accident, that driver may be legally responsible for the injuries sustained by the biker, provided the driver is at fault. Although many defendants wish it otherwise, the fact that a person is on a bike and is therefore more easily injured is not a defense to an accident involving negligence.
Recovering for Bike Accidents in Washington DC
In order to recover from a driver who causes a bicycle accident, the accident victim must prove that the driver was in some way negligent in causing the accident. Did the driver run a stop sign or fail to yield the right-of-way? Perhaps the driver was intoxicated at the time of the accident? Either of these may be potential sources of liability in Washington DC bicycle accidents.
Have You Been Injured in a Washington DC Bicycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Washington DC bicycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation based on the driver’s failure to exercise the proper caution while driving. To learn more about the DC laws governing liability for bicycle accidents, and to speak to a dedicated Washington DC injury attorney about the facts of your case, contact the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The skilled lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen have years of experience recovering for their clients and know what it takes to bring a winning case in Washington DC. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free initial consultation.
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Pennsylvania Construction Workers Injured When Trench Collapses on Them, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, June 5, 2014
Recently Filed Lawsuit Likely to Address the Effects of ADHD Drugs and the Wisdom of Their Use, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, May 13, 2014
DC Court of Appeals Dismisses Slip-and-Fall Plaintiff’s Suit Because the Defect in the Pavement Was “De Minimis”, Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog, May 20, 2014