Top 10 States for Bicyclist Fatalities Revealed
A new report on bicyclists killed by cars on U.S. roads shows that a disproportionate number of these fatal accidents occur in just a handful of states.
The report, issued Monday by the nonprofit Governors Highway Safety Association, found that biking accident deaths increased 16 percent nationwide between 2010 and 2012, while motor vehicle accident fatalities increased by just 1 percent.
Which states saw the highest number of bicyclists killed in motor vehicle accidents, according to 2012 figures? Here are the Top 10:
- California, with 123 bicyclist fatalities in motor vehicle accidents in 2012;
- Florida, with 120 bicyclist fatalities in 2012;
- Texas, with 56 fatalities;
- New York, with 45;
- Illinois, with 29;
- North Carolina, with 27;
- Michigan, with 19;
- (tie) Ohio and Arizona, both with 18; and
- Georgia, with 17.
In addition, the report found that more than half (54 percent) of U.S. bicycle fatalities over the period of 2010 to 2012 occurred in just six states: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Michigan, and Texas.
A Nationwide Problem, or Not?
According to the GHSA report, between 2010 and 2012, the number of bicyclist deaths increased in 22 states.
But in 28 other states and Washington, D.C., the number of bicyclist-versus-car fatalities either decreased or stayed the same; in some years, a handful of states saw no bicyclist fatalities at all.
In light of those facts, the GHSA report notes that the issue of bicycle fatalities "is not necessarily a national issue." Differences in the number of bicyclists killed in each state "suggests a need to focus more resources on those states and locations where bicyclist fatalities most often occur" -- particularly in urban areas, where 69 percent of all bicyclist fatalities took place in 2012, the GHSA's press release states.
To learn more about bicyclist safety and how to recover for bike accident injuries, head over to FindLaw's section on Bike Accidents.
Related Resources:
- Injured in a bike accident? Have an attorney review your claim for free. (Consumer Injury)
- Fatal Bicycle Crashes On the Rise: 5 Facts You Should Know (FindLaw's Injured)
- 5 Signs Your Bike Injury Is Lawsuit-Worthy (FindLaw's Injured)
- Bicycle Accidents: Cyclists Must Obey Traffic Laws (FindLaw's Injured)
