Houston Sideswipe Bicycle Accident Lawyer Reshard Alexander and Houston Bicycle Accident Law Firm RJ Alexander Law PLLC
Bike Accident Lawyer for Houston Sideswipe Accidents – Houston Bicycle Accident Lawyer
When riding in a bicycle, even a slight brush from a vehicle that is easily thousands of pounds heavier can cause a serious and even fatal accident. These sideswipes bicycle accidents are very common, especially in heavy traffic areas. It only takes a second for a vehicle to swerve off course and clip a bicyclist or for the back-end of a large truck to swing to far to the right, swiping a rider. These accidents can be just as dangerous to the riders as being hit directly, causing them to crash, get thrown off their bikes or even crash in front of oncoming traffic.
Causes of Houston Sideswipe Bicycle Accidents – Houston Bicycle Death Lawyer
A sideswipe accident can happen at any time to a bicyclist riding on the roads with vehicles. Even when are riding in a designated bike lane or safely on the shoulder as the law permits, there are only a few feet between them and the vehicles traveling by in the right lane. This is a small buffer zone that can be covered in a heartbeat by a vehicle traveling 20 mph or more. Although most sideswipe accidents are not intentional, it does not make them any less dangerous. Some common causes of a sideswipe bicycle accidents are:
- Wide vehicles: Trucks with large rear-view mirrors, dual-wheel trucks, cargo trucks, vehicles pulling wide trailers and motorhomes are all exceptional wide and can take up an entire lane. It only takes a small move to the right to swing into the right shoulder or bike lane.
- Turning trailers: Semi-trailer trucks and other vehicles with long trailers can swing too wide or too close and inadvertently swipe a bicyclist.
- Distracted drivers: Distraction is much to common on the roads today. Cell phones, tablets, GPS devices, and even music can distract a driver just long enough to cause them to swerve out of their lane.
- Illegal behavior: Road rage, driving under the influence, and fatigued driving can also attribute to driver intentionally or even unintentionally swerving and swiping a bicyclist.
What makes the sideswipe accident one of the worst types of bicycle collisions is there is almost no way for the cyclist to avoid this accident. This type of accident happens when a driver allows part or all their vehicle to move outside of their lane, which is rarely a conscious action. There is no way to predict when this could happen, making it hard to avoid for bicyclists. The only defensive move a cyclist can make is that if they see a vehicle that is swerving within their own lane or a wide vehicle that is barely contained within the lane lines, make a point not to ride abreast of these vehicles.
Get Legal Help for Injuries Caused By A Driver Who Sideswipes You While Cycling – Houston Bicycle Wreck Lawyer
These sideswipe accidents are bound to occur and when they do, it is almost always the fault of the driver in the vehicle. If a cyclist is injured after being sideswiped, he or she deserves to be compensated for their injuries. This may include money for lost wages, medical expenses and even pain and suffering in some cases. Having an experienced legal team that will investigate the accident fully and make every effort to gain the most compensation for their injuries can make a big difference in the amount of money they will receive.
Houston Sideswipe Bicycle Injury Lawyer Serving Houston, Texas Victims
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a car door bicycle accident, you deserve to be compensated for the costs of the accident. Even if the perpetrator flees the scene, you may be able to be compensated through your own uninsured motorist insurance policy. At Houston Bicycle Accident Lawyer RJ Alexander Law PLLC, we will fight for your rights to receive a fair financial award for the pain and suffering you have had to endure due to the recklessness of someone else. RJ Alexander Law PLLC offers a free consultation to discuss your case and will not charge you a fee unless you receive a monetary payout so call (832) 458-1756 today.