We realize that bicycling is an activity that many people in and around Cleveland enjoy, from children just learning to ride to adults who love getting some fresh air. When the weather heats up, we know that it is tempting to hit the road each day. However, we want you to keep some things in mind before you hit the road.
Bicyclists are more vulnerable to injuries than passengers in vehicles. Even when a cyclist wears a helmet, there is a high probability there will be an injury or a fatality during a crash. Cyclists have little to protect themselves from the force of a vehicle slamming into them. We commonly see the following injuries as a result of bicycle crashes:
For the more minor injuries on that list, the medical bills can reach into the tens of thousands of dollars. For major injuries, ones that require surgeries and rehabilitation, the costs can become detrimental. Many people, or insurance companies, do not factor in things like lost income, rehabilitation costs, medical devices, and more.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tells us that there were 840 bicyclist death in the US for the latest reporting year. However, there were thousands more injured, those left dealing with the aftermath.
In many cases, bicycle crashes are caused by negligent or careless drivers. In this state, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles on the roadway, yet drivers tend to ignore them. This can cause people to not give a cyclist space, leading to a crash.
