Why bicycle accidents happen

Some of the general known types of serious bicycle accidents include: (1) crashes with motor vehicles; (2) crashes with other riders or stationary objects; and (3) falls.  Crashes with motor vehicles are more often the most serious of all bicycle accidents, often causing crippling injuries or death.  Crashes with vehicles are the top source of deaths among bicyclists world wide.  Crashes with other riders more often occur in areas where cycling is popular, as with vehicle crashes; head on collisions are often more serious.  But, crashes with other riders can lead to loss of control and crash with vehicles or stationary objects, and or falls.  Crashes with stationary objects can vary is severity depending on what object is struck, where a crash into a bush can cause minor injuries; crashing into a concrete column may cause permanent injury or death.  Falls are the most common accident on bicycles; but many falls can lead to serious injury or death due to surrounding hazards such as moving vehicles, stationary objects, or dangerous terrain (e.g. cliffs, rocky terrain, or bodies of water).

A smaller yet real hazard are aggressive domestic and wild animals.  From pet dogs, to alligators; although rare animals can cause serious injury and even death to the unaware rider.

  These types of bicycle accidents happen because of (1) exposure to each of the factors to various degrees, and (2) lack of protective measure for each of the factors mentioned (knowingly or unknowingly).  Bicycle accidents involving any of the above factors can be completely eliminated or at least minimized; while still being able to ride the bicycle.

  Once an injury-accident is allowed to occur, whether due to ignorance, lack of protection or both; the accidents happen under specific circumstances.  The specific circumstances of bike accidents include distracted driving and or riding; drivers overlooking riders; riders crossing the path of cars (knowingly or unknowingly; riders loosing control; and riding at night exposed to traffic.

  Distracted operation, in part of the motor vehicle driver or bike rider, can be a common event today.  Digital devices can divert much needed attention away from the road and safe / defensive behavior.  Many bike for fitness reasons and fitness activities are often accompanied by music through earphones.  Music can be encouraging and relaxing, but also appears to take away attention, and logical and quick judgement (all critical when on the road).  And, perhaps more critically, music masks critical sounds of your surroundings as a rider or driver; drowning many sounds that could offer early warning and prevent accidents (like the sound of engines, tires, brakes, horns, or calls and whistles.

  Drivers may not be looking for riders, only other car-sized objects while driving, this is a known phenomena and a  major cause for car-motorcycle crashes.  Also, a study found that vehicle right turns into an intersection is a major cause for crashes with cyclists approaching from the right of the driver; this is because drivers are generally not expecting any vehicles coming from the right which would obstruct their path (Summala, 1996).

  Too often, riders unnecessarily come close or into the path of motor vehicles; to avoid rough terrain like grass, gravel, rocks, or wet areas.  But, these are hardly reasons to risk an accident and contact with a motor vehicle.  The risk of getting struck by a vehicle is obviously increased the closer a bike rider gets to the normal path of the vehicle.  At no point should a rider expect a vehicle to slow down, yield, or avoid the cyclist.  The contrary is often true; where drivers may not even be aware of a cyclist coming into their path; due to distraction or even not registering the situation in time in their brain.  During driving; you only have split seconds to react to many situations and you should not assume drivers are all alert and can make sound judgements, more on this on the Prevention Section.

  Often, riders loose control and may fall and strike the ground; other riders, pedestrians, stationary objects, or even moving vehicles.  This is another good reason to keep a good distance from moving or stationary hazardous objects, like cars, solid structures, people, and other riders.  You may loose control at any moment, no matter your expertise.  World class cyclists are known to have fallen for no apparent or obvious reasons.  So, loss of control and failing to provide clearance between riders and obstacles; are contributors to bike accidents.

  Riding at night raises the chances for accidents several magnitudes due to a repertoire of reasons: less visibility (reaction time), less alert riders and drivers, and poorer surface conditions; are only a few of many other factors.  Night riding can be a contributor to bike accidents.

  In a 1987 study it was found that 84% of bike accidents happen less than five blocks from home; 49% occurred in streets; 36% riders reported issues with the surface they rode on; 45% lost control of the car; 17% of riders were struck by motor vehicles; 10% were hit by other riders or pedestrians; 54% received no riding safety instruction (Selbst, 1987).

  Many studies show that cyclist and driver traffic and safe driving/riding errors lead to many accidents; perhaps most.  So, a majority of the cause of bike accidents and deaths can be attributed to ignorance and poor judgements (both preventable causes) (Kim, 2007).  Once an accident has occurred, a major cause for serious injury and death is the lack of wearing protective head equipment (helmets), as they are proven to lower the damage (Thompson, 1989; Robinson, 1996).