Dallas Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Dallas Bicycle Accident Statistics

Although Dallas has a low incidence of bicycle accidents per resident, it has one of the highest bike accident fatality rates in the United States for cities with over 500,000 residents. Dallas has the 9th highest bicycle accident fatality rate out of the 37 largest cities in the country, with almost a 14% fatality rate per 100,000 population.

Bike Accident Statistics in Dallas, TX

The Dallas Police Department created crash reports for 145 bike accidents in 2021, 113 (78%) of which involved men and 32 (22%) of which involved women. Of those bike accidents, there were 82 that reported injuries, including:

• Fatal Bike Accidents:  3 fatal bike accidents in Dallas in 2021
• Serious Injury Bike Accidents:  12 serious injury bike accidents
• Minor Injury Bike Accidents:  42 minor injury bike accidents
• Possible Injury Bike Accidents:  25 possible injury bike accidents
• Other Bike Accident Injury Statistics:
  • 47% of bike accidents caused a visible injury not requiring an ambulance
  • 28% of bike accidents caused pain or other symptoms, but no visible injury
  • 15% of bike accidents caused injuries requiring an ambulance
  • 10% of bicycle accidents caused no injuries

Texas Bicycle Accident Statistics

The Walk. Bike. Safe. initiative is an outreach program by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) created to build awareness and reduce the number of injury accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists. The Crash Analysis Summary reveals several statistics that can be vital in reducing accidents just by knowing where and how biking and pedestrian accidents occur.

Our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers know information is vital in preventing deadly cycling crashes. We wanted to highlight some of the key findings from a study by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, since understanding Texas bicycle accident statistics can help you prevent a possibly fatal bike accident.

• 82% of cycling accidents victims are male.
• 31% of cyclists involved in bike accidents were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, compared to only 13% of vehicle drivers.
• Most accidents involving bicyclists happen between 3pm to 7pm.
• Bike accident injuries are more likely to occur during the day, while bicycle deaths are more likely to occur after dark.
• 57% of biking accidents happen at intersections.
• In 60% of the accidents involving a cyclist, the driver of the car or vehicle was between 20-49 years of age.
• Most of the cyclists involved in accidents are 10-19 years of age.
• African Americans and whites are over-represented in biking crashes compared to their percentages of the total population.
• The #1 reason a motor vehicle driver hits a cyclist is due to driver inattention.
• The #1 reason a cyclist is involved in an accident is failing to yield the right-of-way to another cyclist or motor vehicle.
• In 26% of fatal bike accidents, the motor vehicle involved was a pickup truck.
• The number of fatal bicycle accidents hit an all-time high in 2020, despite the total number of of cycling crashes declining.
• 71% of bicycle crashes happen in urban areas.

Bike Injuries and Crashes in Texas in 2022

Our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers collected crash report data aggregated by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from police departments across the state to break down the 2,347 bike accidents in Texas by severity.

• Fatal Bike Accidents:  92 fatal bike accidents leading to 91 fatally wounded bikers
• Serious Injury Bike Accidents:  321 serious injury bike accidents leading to 326 seriously injured bikers
• Minor Injury Bike Accidents:  1,120 minor injury bike accidents leading to 1,124 minor injured bikers
• Possible Injury Bike Accidents:  603 possible injury bike accidents leading to 611 possible injured bikers
• Non-Injury Bike Accidents:  205 non-injury bike accidents leading to 199 uninjured bikers
• Unknown Severity Bike Accidents:  6 unknown severity bike accidents leading to 39 bikers with unknown injuries

Source:  Pedestrian and Pedalcyclist Related Injuries and Crashes.

Understanding the Laws for Cyclists in Texas

According to Texas state law, bicyclists are held to the same set of rules as any other motor vehicle. You do not want to delay seeking legal help to navigate the intricacies of an accident involving a cyclist and motor vehicle. Our team of attorneys will guide you in fighting the insurance company and get you fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Biking Laws and Guidelines in Dallas, TX

According to Bike Texas, there are 8 important thing to know if you are riding a bicycle in Dallas:

1. Cyclists must follow the same rules of the road as motorized vehicles, such as stopping at stop signs and red lights, and slowing down at yield signs, just like you would when driving a car.
2. Always use proper hand signals when turning.
3. There can only be one person on a single bike; two on a tandem.
4. Always have at least one hand on the handlebars when cycling.
5. The only time when two cyclists can ride side by side is when they do not get in the way of motorized traffic.
6. Brakes must be in proper working condition.
7. Just like a motorized vehicle, the bike must have a proper white headlight and a red reflector light for the rear.
8. Cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic, never go against traffic, and stay inside designated bike lanes (or as close to the curb as possible if there is no bike lane).

Exceptions for Cyclists Traveling in Main Driving Lanes in Dallas, TX

Exceptions are made for those riding a bike to take full advantage of the lane designated for motorized vehicles when traveling when:

• The lane is not a standard, 14 feet wide lane.
• There is an obstruction or hazardous condition on the road forcing the bike to enter the main lane to avoid an unsafe situation.
• The person is passing another cyclist moving in the same direction.
• When a cyclist is preparing to turn left at an intersection.

It does not matter whether you live in Dallas or were visiting Dallas when you bicycle wreck occurred, our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers may be able to help.  Call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION.

The Most Common Causes of Bicycle Crashes in Dallas, TX

Most bike accidents that occur in Dallas happen when a vehicle is involved in a crash. Of the bike-related accidents in Dallas in 2021, 97% involved a moving vehicle coming into contact with the cyclist. Only two of the accidents involved a bicycle hitting a vehicle, and only one occurred when the bike hit a parked motor vehicle.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Dallas, TX

In 2021, more than 60% of bicycle accidents in Dallas were caused by one of the following negligent actions:

1. Ran a stop sign or red light:  10 bicycle accidents (over 11% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers running stop signs or red lights.
2. Ignored a stop and go signal:  9 bicycle accidents (over 10% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers ignoring stop lights.
3. Making a left turn:  9 bicycle accidents (over 10% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers making a left turn without yielding to oncoming traffic.
4. Didn’t yield to the cyclist:  6 bicycle accidents (almost 7% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers not yielding to a cyclist who had the right-of-way.
5. Changed lanes when unsafe:  4 bicycle accidents (almost 5% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers making unsafe lane changes.
6. Failure to yield on a private drive:  4 bicycle accidents (almost 5% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers not yielding when entering or exiting a private drive, such as a parking lot.
7. Passing to the left:  4 bicycle accidents (almost 5% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers passing on the left.
8. Speeding: 4 bicycle accidents (almost 5% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers exceeding the speed limit.
9. Driver Inattention: 3 bicycle accidents (more than 3% of bike wrecks) were caused by inattentive drivers.
10. Failure to stop at a proper place:  3 bicycle accidents (more than 3% of bike wrecks) were caused by drivers not stopping at the right place, such as a crosswalk where the biker has the right-of-way.

Regardless of what caused your cycling accident, our Dallas bike accident lawyers maybe able to assist. Call us today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.

Sources: Crash Records Information Systems (CRIS) database & People Powered Movement (PPM) – Biking and Walking Alliance.

Common Bike Accident Injuries

Injuries From Collisions With Motor Vehicles in Dallas, TX

Cycling injuries can be far more serious than an auto accident, because cyclists lack the protective shell a car, truck, or commercial vehicle. Bicyclists are at a much higher risk of suffering severe injuries to multiple body parts and internal organs when they share the road with drivers of large motor vehicles. Our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers understand the complexities of these types of injuries, which is critical to a bike wreck victim’s case.

Some of the most common injuries our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers see in cycling accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
  • Bicycling accidents are the most common reason for sport and recreation-related emergency department visits for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the United States. The growth in popularity of biking is a major contributing factor to the increase in emergency room visits involving TBIs. Further, the majority of cycling accident fatalities in the US are the result of head injury.
  • Some examples of TBIs include:
    • Brain contusions, where there is scattered bleeding on the surface of the brain.
    • Penetrating brain injury, where a hard and/or sharp object penetrates the skull and enters the brain.
• Broken bones
  • In a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, about 40% of those patients who had a biking accident had at least one broken bone. Most fractures were to the upper limbs of cyclists, and most bicycle accidents involving motor vehicles result in at least one surgery.
• Spinal column injuries
  • A study from the National Library of Medicine looked at specific areas of injuries in car, motorcycle, and bike accidents. The most common area impacted when riding a bicycle was to the cervical area of the spine. This section of the spinal column consists of the C1 through C7 vertebrae. These vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs, which are cushion-like and allow the spine to move with flexibility, acting like a shock absorber during activity.
  • Examples of spinal column injuries include:
    • Spinal cord injury, which is a partial or complete severing of the spinal cord that can lead to paralysis.
    • Intervertebral disc injury, such as bulging or herniated discs.
    • Neck and back injuries
• Internal organ injuries
• Joint injuries
• Skin injuries
  • Abrasions, also know as road rash or road burn
  • Puncture wounds
  • Lacerations
  • Bruising

Whatever type of injuries you suffered in your biking accident, our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers may be able to help. Call us today for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Statistics for Wearing or Not Wearing a Helmet on a Bike

Texas has no state helmet law for bicycle riding. Sometimes municipal regulations exist in local cities, but Dallas does not have any municipal regulations for bicycle helmets when riding a bike. Although you are not legally obligated to wear a biking helmet in Dallas, our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers still suggest you wear one for your own safety. The growth in the popularity of bicycling has coincided with an increase in traumatic brain injuries and death largely due to bikers not wearing a helmet.

Wearing a bike helmet will significantly increase your chances of surviving a bad accident without a traumatic brain injury. Here are a few surprising statistics regarding helmets:

• More than half of all cyclists killed annually were not wearing a helmet.
• Wearing a helmet reduces the chance of a head injury by more than 50%.
• Only 29% of all adults wear a helmet when biking.
• Bike helmets do not vary much in the quality of protection they provide between cheaper versus higher end helmets.

Whether you were wearing a helmet or not when your bike wreck occurred, you still have a legal right to compensation for your injuries. Call our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers today for a FREE CASE REVIEW.

Our Dallas Bicycle Accident Lawyers Charge No Upfront Fees

Call Our Dallas Bicycle Accident Lawyers Today!

Our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers charge NO UPFRONT COSTS. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only get paid out of a portion of your bike accident settlement. If for any reason we are unable to help with your bicycle accident or cannot recover a settlement, you will not owe us a penny.

Our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to help you with legal advice after a bike wreck. Our bike accident lawyers in Dallas, TX can even get you signed up with one of our attorneys over the phone before the insurance companies try to reach out to you and fight your right to compensation.

Our staff is fully bilingual in Spanish and English, and are standing by ready to help you get back on your feet after your cycling accident.

If you do not need our Dallas bicycle accident lawyers today, it is still a good idea to save our contact information in your phone so you are not searching for “bike injury lawyers dallas tx” or “bike accident lawyers in dallas tx near me” after a bike wreck.

Keep in mind that the state of Texas has a two-year statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit from the date of the accident in most cases. Call Thompson Law‘s Dallas bicycle accident lawyers today for a FREE CASE EVALUATION. Protect your right to fair compensation after a cycling accident.

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