Henderson has been named a bicycle-friendly city and has focused on keeping it that way with expansive trails that take riders away from the road. However, many riders rely on public roadways to get to work, school, or other places. This puts them in proximity with the drivers of larger, faster-moving vehicles. The most common causes of bicycle accidents in Henderson often involve negligent drivers. Here is a look at some of the careless driving behaviors that lead to accidents involving bicyclists.
If you have been injured in a bike wreck due to someone else’s negligence, contact the dedicated bicycle accident attorneys at DBLF Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
On-street parking is a common part of visiting the Water Street District and other popular areas around Henderson. On-street parking can create a hazard for bicyclists, with accidents occurring due to dooring. Dooring involves the occupant of a vehicle parked on the street opening the door to their vehicle into the path of an oncoming bicyclist, causing them to either swerve to miss the door or collide with it.
One of the most common traffic violations in Henderson that leads to bike accidents is speeding. Drivers traveling at high speeds have less time to notice a bicyclist and respond appropriately to avoid a collision, such as by braking or swerving. Their vehicles also require more distance to stop, as the brakes must counter greater momentum. In certain intersections, speeding reduces a bicyclist’s ability to accurately judge safe gaps in traffic when attempting to make a left turn.
Another common cause of vehicle and bicycle accidents in Henderson is distracted driving. Driver distractions involve anything from cell phones to eating, drinking, smoking, visiting with passengers, or dealing with children or pets in the back seat. It should be noted that it is illegal to operate a handheld device (cell phone) while driving.
Henderson has a significant issue with drunk drivers, with a large portion of the traffic fatalities in the city being the result of someone operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The response times, the ability to focus on details, brake effectively, control one’s speed, and make good driving decisions are all impacted by intoxication, placing bicyclists and others on the roadway in danger of being injured in an accident.
A common statement at bicycle accident scenes made by at-fault drivers in Henderson is: “I didn’t see them.” As it turns out, there is often some truth to the statement. Inattentional blindness involves the way the brain processes information in chaotic scenes, such as a busy roadway. In some cases, a driver will focus on larger hazards, such as semi-trucks, and fail to even notice smaller vehicles such as bicycles or motorcycles.
Nevada is a fault state, meaning drivers who cause collisions with bicyclists may be responsible for the resulting financial and emotional harm. If you were injured due to one of these common causes of bicycle accidents in Henderson or another act of negligence, you may have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. Our legal team is available to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
We offer support in Spanish and never charge fees unless we win your case. Schedule your free consultation today.
