Those who ride bikes regularly or are involved in biking culture in Southern California will not be surprised to learn that the number of bike accidents occurring each year is on the rise. In fact, we have written about this many times. Today we are going to discuss a concerning study released by the University of California San Francisco. They found that in the last 17 years alone, bike accidents have resulted in more than $230 billion in cost.
What is more, the cost of those accidents is only going up. If you have already been injured in a bike accident, please call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 right away for a free legal consultation. If you are curious about the changes in bike accidents over the last few decades, keep reading.
Additional Findings in the Study
The study found that bike accidents went up by 120% during the months that the study covered. With the increase in accidents came a 136% increase in the cost of treating bike accident injuries. It also showed that bike accident injuries are more common for older bike riders versus younger bike riders. Both bike and car accidents are increasing, which can increase the seriousness of accidents.
Bike Accidents Can Have Surprising Repercussions
Even if you do not ride a bike, you may be surprised by the ways in which these increases in accidents can affect your life. For example, a person who is injured in a bike accident not only has to deal with their ongoing issues, but they are likely to be less productive at work. That can put themselves and anyone who relies on their work at risk. This is just one example of the ways in which bike accidents can affect more than just the person injured.
Factors That Contribute to the Increase in the Cost of Bike Accidents
There are many reasons that there are more bike accidents and that the cost of dealing with them is going up. First, there are simply more people riding bikes. As more people move to urban areas, and many of them use their bikes to get to and from work, it is just a fact that there are more bikers and motorists sharing the road.
Second, the study found that many drivers did not know the rules for bicyclists. They found that drivers often assumed that the bicyclists were required to yield to cars but the fact is that bicyclists should be treated as other drivers on the road. They have the right of way any time a car in their position would have the right of way.
Finally, the increase in distracted driving is considered to be partially responsible for the increase in the cost of bike accidents. If you have been injured in a bike accident in which someone else was at fault, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
