A growing number of people in Seattle are relying on bicycles to get around. This stems from a desire to save money by moving away from automobiles, trying to help the environment and to achieve the goal of getting in better physical condition.
However, cities are still adapting their infrastructure to account for the increase in bicyclists. Drivers might be unaccustomed to sharing the road with riders, are not paying strict attention and make errors that place riders in jeopardy. This combination of factors places riders at risk.
Bicyclist deaths spiked by nearly 3% in Seattle
Recent statistical analysis shows that Seattle has seen a nearly 3% rise in bicyclist deaths. The numbers were accrued and assessed by the League of American Bicyclists and looked at the years 2017 to 2021.
During that time, bicyclist deaths rose by 15% when compared to the prior five years. This is worrisome due to the rapidly growing bicycle culture in Seattle and across the nation. Seattle has joined with other cities in bike-sharing programs to encourage riding instead of driving.
A byproduct of that is that the local and national fatality numbers are spiking. Overall, 2.7 riders were killed for every million people who live in the U.S. This was 5% higher than it was from 2012 to 2016.
Seattle is creating bike lanes to emphasize safety and give riders a clear path where they can avoid getting too close to automobiles, but these are still under construction. Regardless, it does not solve every problem related to riders and drivers sharing the road.
Bicyclists and their families should know their rights after a crash
People who choose to ride bicycles might take the proper precautions, wear helmets, adhere to the rules of the road and behave vigilantly. Unfortunately, as the numbers show, that does not prevent all collisions. Riders are vulnerable due to the lack of protection they are accorded.
An auto-bicycle accident can cause head injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, cuts and more. It will lead to massive medical costs, changes to a person’s ability to work and hinder their interaction with family members. If there is a fatality, these problems are made far worse. Knowing how to investigate the circumstances of a bicycle accident and what options are available is imperative to take the proper steps forward.