Bike Lane Accidents

Bike accidents are down since designated bikes lanes have been marked on Grand Avenue and Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines. According the officials behind the project, bicyclists and pedestrians are safer with the addition of bike lanes to the heavily traveled corridor.

The Iowa Department of Transportation agrees, reporting that there has been a 2 percent drop in vehicle crashes and a 58 percent reduction in injury accidents since the bike lanes were installed. By all accounts, everything is running according to plan to make the downtown streets easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to navigate.

However, as many drivers in the area will tell you, it is sometimes difficult to see bicyclists in the lane as they travel alongside traffic so it is still important to remind bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists that there are risks involved.

Many injury accidents occur when pedestrians use bike paths and are struck by bicyclists. Other accidents may involve bicyclists on bicyclists who sometimes collide along the narrow pathways. When cars are added to the mix, some say that motorists may be even less aware of bicyclists in a bicycle lanes than those who share the road, so bicyclists should always drive defensively.

Common Accidents in a Bike Lane – Des Moines Bicycle Accident Lawyer

• Vehicles turning into the path of a bicyclist, or a pedestrian for that matter, is all too common. Whether a car is turning right or left, many motorists fail to see bicyclists and pedestrians crossing intersections or entrances to parking areas resulting in what can be catastrophic injuries.
• Other risks include dooring accidents where drivers will open a car door into the direct path of a bicyclist, resulting in the bicyclist having a collision with the door or other people or objects in an attempt to avoid the unexpected open door obstacle.

Although, so far, the bike lane program in Des Moines is off to a good start, it is important to remember that bicycle lanes and bike path accidents happen and can result in significant injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). People on bikes or on foot are simply no match for a motor vehicle with an inattentive driver behind the wheel.

If You Are Injured In A Bike Lane Accident

Contact an Experienced Team of Iowa Personal Injury AttorneysIf you are injured while walking, jogging or riding in a bike lane or pedestrian path, you may have a right to file suit against the person responsible for the accident to compensate you for your medical bills, missed work and also the pain and suffering that resulted from your injury. It is important to discuss your circumstances with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can tell you what options are available to you. Contact the Des Moines bicycle and pedestrian accident personal injury attorneys of John T. Hemminger for help today if you or a family member has been injured in a bike lane or pedestrian path accident.