Bicycle Accidents

Our Commitment To Riding

The Mann Law Firm takes great pride in representing bicyclists injured in bicycling accidents because we are bicyclists. Stuart Mann is an avid cyclist who has logged thousands of  miles cycling in Colorado on and off the road.  Our firm supports cycling by volunteering for local school bike rides, participating in ride to work and school events, and helping stage kids' bike racing events.  We are members of the American Cycling Association and the International Mountain Bike Association.  We participate in bike races such as the Boulder Roubaix,  The Leadville Trail 100, 24 Hours at Moab and local cyclocross series races.                

Our families ride bikes, we fix bikes, and we all sorts of bikes: road bikes, mountain bikes, single speeds, bmxs, fixed gear and we support local bike manufacturers.  

Often times we will ride the route of our injured clients to get a better understanding of how the accident happened. Everyone who rides knows that there is an on going battle between bikes and motor vehicles.  We have learned several ways to overcome  people's prejudices about bicyclists. We educate the public to understand that bicyclists belong on the road  along with the responsibility of following the rules of the road.

Often times, vehicle drivers ignore the fact that bicycle riders have the same legal rights as a car or truck. They fail to understand, or believe, that cyclists have an equal right to be on the road. Inattentive vehicle operators often fail to see bicyclists and only pay attention to other cars or trucks.   With GPS systems, cell phones, CD players and all of the distractions of modern driving, the bicyclist is more susceptible to injury than anyone on the road.   

Bicycle Accidents and Statistics

Many vehicle motorists make illegal right turns directly in front of bicyclists, and even open their vehicle doors when they pull over to the curb without even looking in the rear view mirror to see if a bicyclist is in the lane next to them. Sometimes a car will back out of a driveway, side street, alleyway or curb and run a bicyclist over and injure or kill the rider.  Some drivers will inadvertently drift into the shoulder and strike a bicyclist or they will make a left turn directly in front of a biker coming toward them.  In a study partly funded by the United States Department of Transportation  bike accidents were found to have been caused by the following reasons:

• Failing to yield the right-of-way at an intersection by motorist (21.7%) or bicyclist (16.8%);
  
• Motorists unexpectedly turning or merging into the path of a cyclist, often making left turns in the path of an oncoming cyclist (12.1%);
  
• Bicyclist, typically children, failing to yield the right-of-way at a mid-block location, often a residential driveway. (11.7%)
  
• Motorists overtaking bicyclists, often by misjudging the space needed to safely pass (8.6%); and
  
• Bicyclists unexpectedly turning or merging into the path of a motorist, often making left turns into the path of an oncoming motorist (7.3%).

Bicycle accidents will often require expert investigation and testimony such as accident reconstructionists, forensic experts, medical experts and life care planner expert and an economist.  Unfortunately, cyclists bodies are unprotected except for their helmet and a thin layer of colthing.  A cyclist is no match for the metal and hardened plastic of car and trucks, and the road sursurface of asphalt, cement or dirt.  This is especially true  with children who have little to no chance when hit.

Cycling Injuries

Because injuries sustained in a bike accident can be substantial, bicyclists and their families may lose the quality of life they previously enjoyed. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident, you may be able to recover your past and future lost wages, expenses for doctors, hospitals and skilled caregivers, and other expenses related to your bicycle accident. You also may be entitled to money that would compensate you for any pain, disability and disfigurement you have and may continue to suffer. If your bicycle injuries are long-lasting, your damages might also include reparation for diminished enjoyment of life.  Damages for injuries sustained in a bicycle accident which result in a decreased life expectancy of the claimant may also be recoverable

 If you have been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, you should not give a recorded statement to the insurance company and instead should contact an experienced attorney to advise you of your rights.  To preserve evidence that may be of great importance to your bicycle accident case, there are several actions that should be considered immediately. An experienced accident attorney may arrange for the safe storage of your bicycle for later inspection for potential evidence, possible defects, and accident reconstruction, to help conduct an initial thorough investigation of the accident scene, and to interview eyewitnesses while facts are fresh in their minds. And remember always wear your helmet and encourage other to wear their helmet also.