How Common Are Bus Accidents Involving Bicycles In The US?

Bicycles provide a great way to get around town, and they are becoming increasingly popular. However, bicyclists often share the road with buses, which can be dangerous. Accidents that involve passenger cars and cyclists can already lead to severe injuries; more when these accidents involve larger vehicles like buses and light trucks. This article will look at data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on how common are bus accidents involving bicycles in the United States.

According to the latest data from the NHTSA, over 49,000 people sustained bicycle injuries from cycling accidents in the United States in 2019. Of the reported bicycle injury events, 12 pedal cyclists suffered fatal bicycle injuries from a crash with a bus.

If you are injured in an accident, it’s important to know your rights and find a bus accident and personal injury attorney who can handle your case. In Hallandale Beach, look no further than the law firm of Jared Spingarn, an experienced personal injury lawyer who can help you receive the compensation you deserve after an accident.

How Common are Bus and Bicycle Accidents: Florida Statistics

A bicycle accident can cause personal injuries and can lead to traumatic brain injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration keeps track of all motor vehicle crash reports in the United States; the latest report from the NHTSA was published in 2019. It reported a total of 49,000 injuries and 846 fatalities all caused by bike accidents.

Additional crash data from the NHTSA showed that accidents between bicycles and buses accounted for almost 21% of fatalities, the main cause of which was a right-side collision. This is a common occurrence for bicycle-bus accidents because of the position of bike lanes on the right side of major thoroughfares.

Further data showed that male riders were six times more likely to be involved in a bike accident compared to female riders. Additionally, 34% of all bike accidents involved alcohol consumption. Of the total number of fatalities, 25% of riders exceeded the blood alcohol concentration limits.

As for the location of the accident, many cyclists were involved in fatal crashes in urban areas. This is because urban areas are highly populated and cyclists must share the road with other vehicles more often than in rural areas.

The State of Florida recorded the highest number of fatalities in 2019 at 156, out of a total of 6,664 bicyclists injured. A Florida bicycle accident accounts for 0.75 deaths per 100,000 residents. This number was equivalent to more than 5% of all fatalities recorded in the entire state. In 2020, there were 5,952 injured riders with 169 fatalities. Preliminary data from 2021 shows a total of 6,398 bike accidents occurred in the state with 182 fatalities.

A Florida bike accident is very common due to the high resident and tourist population of the state. Although crashes involving buses are not as common as with passenger vehicles, they still occur. When this type of crash happens, it is usually the cyclist who gets seriously injured while bus passengers remain relatively unharmed or sustain minor, non-fatal injuries.

A bus accident often leads to more severe injuries due to the size of the vehicle. Since cyclists are considered vulnerable road users, a collision with a bus can lead to high medical bills and possibly a lifetime of assisted care for the cyclist involved. However, sometimes the crash is so severe that even the bus passengers need medical treatment at hospital emergency departments.

Thus, if you or someone you know is involved in a bus-bicycle accident in Florida, it is best to seek advice from Jared’s law firm. Jared has several accident lawyers who can give you a free case evaluation so you know the next steps to take.

What are the causes of bus-bike accidents?

In Florida, all road users are governed by the same traffic laws. This means that whether you are a bus driver or a cyclist, you must share the road and respect other vehicles. A Florida bus-bicycle accident happens when road users fail to follow these rules.

Cyclists are mandated to stay in their bike lanes; if there is no bicycle lane on the road, they must travel in the same direction as the other vehicles. Meanwhile, bus drivers must stop at designated bus stops. These rules help minimize the number of crashes while also promoting bicycle safety. However, many drivers can get impatient and become reckless while operating a vehicle, resulting in numerous motor vehicle crashes.

If you were a passenger on a bus or a cyclist involved in a collision, be sure to schedule a free consultation with the law firm of Jared Spingarn. Their team of lawyers can assess your case and help you file a claim to recover compensation.

1. Failure to Abide by Traffic Laws

Many bus-bicycle accidents occur because of the failure to abide by traffic laws. All road users must follow stop signs and signalized intersections, as well as be wary while driving in inclement weather.

Data from the NHTSA shows that an intersection is one of the most common areas where collisions occur. Bus-bicycle accidents can happen when drivers disregard traffic signs in an intersection. For instance, if the cyclist is riding outside the designated bicycle lane, they may be taking up the lanes designated for other drivers, causing a collision. Another example is if a bus driver fails to stop at a designated bus stop, causing cyclists to collide with the bus.

Many bus-bicycle accidents also happen when buses suddenly make a turn without considering cyclists who are riding on the bike lanes. This errant turning also applies to cyclists who overshoot their turns, causing them to collide with motor vehicles on the other side of the road.

2. Rear-ending

Many bicycle accidents also occur when motor vehicles or buses suddenly stop, causing the cyclist to collide with the vehicle in front of them. In these cases, the driver at fault is typically cited for following too closely.

The NHTSA recommends that all drivers maintain a safe following distance between their vehicle and the one in front of them. This allows the driver to have enough time to react in case the vehicle ahead makes a sudden stop. Failure to do so often results in rear-end collisions, which can be especially dangerous for cyclists.

If you or a loved one was rear-ended by a bus while riding a bicycle, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the driver or the bus company. An experienced accident lawyer from Jared’s firm can help you gather evidence and build a strong case so you can recover the compensation you deserve.

3. Dooring

Dooring collisions are less deadly than rear-end collisions but are still likely to result in injuries to the bicyclist. Dooring can happen when a driver or passenger in a parked car opens their door without checking for oncoming traffic, causing the cyclist to crash into the door. This type of accident often occurs in narrow side streets or parking lots. Although dooring accidents rarely occur in a bus-bike collision, they can still occur when a cyclist passes a bus that is stopped, causing them to crash into passengers entering or exiting the bus,

4. Speeding

Many bicycle accidents are caused by either drivers or cyclists going past the speed limit on the road. Cyclists are at risk of incurring severe injuries when riding past the speed limits, and a collision with a bus can be fatal.

5. Poor Road Conditions

Bus-bicycle accidents can also occur due to poor road conditions, In these cases, the municipality responsible for the upkeep of the road may be held liable for the accident.

For example, if a pothole causes a cyclist to lose control and collide with a bus, the city or county where the accident took place may be held liable. Poor road conditions can also include debris on the roadway, uneven pavement, and missing signage.

If you or a loved one was involved in a bus-bicycle accident, it’s important to speak with an experienced accident lawyer. The lawyers at Jared Spingarn can help you understand your legal options and guide you through the claims process so you can recover the compensation you deserve.

What should I do after a bus-bicycle accident?

All road users, even those who drive defensively, can get into a motor vehicle accident. In Florida, many drivers who get into an accident can recover compensation from their personal injury protection coverage. But there is a significant difference between the compensation you can recover for minor injuries and more serious injuries. The following are the steps that you can take if you are involved in an accident.

1. Get medical treatment.

This is the most important thing you can do after an accident. Whether you are a bus driver or a cyclist, you need to get a full medical evaluation, even if you feel fine. Many serious injuries, such as internal bleeding, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries may not have symptoms right away. A doctor can give you a thorough examination and order tests to rule out any serious injuries.

2. Call emergency services.

If you or anyone else involved in the accident is injured, call 911. The police will come to the scene of the accident and make a report. This report can be used as evidence in your personal injury claim. If you are not injured, you can still call the police to make a report. In Florida, all car accidents must be reported to the police if they resulted in injuries, death, or property damage.

3. Contact Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney.

After you have gotten medical treatment and the police have made a report, you need to contact an experienced accident attorney. Be sure to get in touch with Jared, as his team has dealt with thousands of cases and helped victims recover after an accident. If you may have caused the accident, it is still important to get in touch with Jared so he can advise you on the legal process.

Conclusion

How common are bus accidents involving bicycles in the US? Though they are not as common as car accidents, they do occur. And when they do, they often result in serious injuries or even death.

If you have been involved in a bus-bicycle accident, be sure to get medical treatment and contact an experienced accident attorney who can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

The law offices of Jared Spingarn can help you with your case. The firm has extensive experience dealing with all types of motor vehicle accidents, including bus-bicycle accidents. Contact them today for a free consultation.

>> If you’re involved in a bus accident in Florida, don’t hesitate to reach out to Jared Spingarn, Accident Attorney at 1-954-781-2316 for a Free Case Review or drop a message on out Contact Us page.