Bike Accidents on the Rise in SF: Your City Next?
Riding your bike in San Francisco can be dangerous. It can be dangerous in your city as well. Forgive the fear-mongering, but The New York Times did a piece on cyclist accidents in San Francisco, and found that 101 cyclists were "doored" in the last two years alone. (Dooring is what happens when a door is opened by a car in the path of a bicyclist, causing often serious accidents.)
According to a study by The Bay Citizen, 1,147 bike accidents were recorded in the past two years by the San Francisco Police Department.
It is no surprise that with more bikers on the streets, (up 58 percent from 2006), steep hills, limited space, and overlapping mass transit, cyclist accidents are up.
So what are the main causes of bike accidents, and what can you do about it? According to police, speeding by cyclists and illegal turns by automobiles are the top two causes, with dooring coming in third. It is interesting to note that the fault lines came down as 57% drivers, and 43% cyclists.
The problem obviously isn't limited to San Francisco. Cities like New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago as well as hundreds more present dangerous traffic situations. Where there are bikes and cars, there are going to be accidents. The more compact and crowded the area, the more accidents you are going to see.
If you are a cyclist injured in a bike accident, FindLaw is a great place to start looking for a little help.
Related Resources:
- Injured in a bike accident? Have an attorney review your claim for free. (Consumer Injury)
- Bicycle Accidents (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Special Accident Cases (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- Bike Lanes Added to San Francisco Streets (provided by Dolan Law Firm)