Common Cause of Bike Accidents in Santa Monica

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Santa Monica is considered to be a bicycle-friendly place as the League of American Bicyclists awarded the city with Bicycle Friendly Community Award (Bronze level) distinction for having initiatives beneficial for cyclists. However, despite such recognition, the city is not totally free from bicycle accidents.

Santa Monica is considered to be friendlier to cyclists compared to other California cities because it has nearly 16 miles of bike lanes, 19 miles of bike routes, and 3 miles of beach bike way. Despite this, safety is always a concern whenever riding the bicycle in the city because even though how careful a biker is, he or she may still get involved in a road accident.

According to statistics, bicycle accidents account for at least two percent of all fatal vehicle accidents and about 14 percent of all non-fatal road accidents in the United States each year. In case that you get involved in a bicycle accident in Santa Monica due to another individual's negligence, you have the legal right to ask for legal assistance from a Santa Monica injury lawyer in order to assert your claim.

Bike accidents, just like any other forms of traffic mishap, happen due to certain reasons. The following are the most common causes of bicycle mishaps in Santa Monica:

Alcohol
Riding under the influence of alcohol is not a good idea to consider because it impairs cyclists' senses and reflexes; hence, an intoxicated rider endangers himself in getting involved in an accident.

Aside from drunken bicyclists, other motorists who are under the influence also post threat to cyclists. There are certain instances that intoxicated vehicle drivers cause severe or even fatal injuries to some unsuspecting bicyclists.

Road hazards
Because a bicycle is relatively small and light, when it hits a road hazard, there is a great possibility that the biker may be injured or harmed. Common road hazards that may cause bike accidents include potholes, sewer grates, and rail or trolley tracks.

Negligent motorists
It is imperative for all Santa Monica motorists to follow traffic rules; however, certain drivers still commit traffic infractions that sometimes result in bike accidents. It is common knowledge that bikers are often overlooked because many times they are not very much visible. Nonetheless, drivers must still be aware of bicyclists' presence in order to avoid any road accident.
Under personal injury law, bicyclists who get injured or killed due to a negligent act of a motorist, the victim or his or her survivors may file a lawsuit with the assistance of a Santa Monica injury lawyer. Pursuant to tort law, individuals who cause harm or injury to other due to negligence are legally required to provide compensation to the victim.
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