Manassas, VA Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Lawyers for Cyclists Who Have Been Hit by Negligent Drivers in Manassas

Cyclists have the same legal right to use the roads as any other vehicle. Drivers are required to respect that right and operate their vehicles in ways that will protect the safety of cyclists. When drivers fail to do so, a bike rider can suffer serious harm. A cyclist who is struck by a motor vehicle is likely to be seriously injured, and they will need to determine how to hold a negligent driver responsible for the harm they have suffered.

Locklin & Coleman, PLLC represents bicycle accident victims in Manassas and Northern Virginia. Our attorneys work to secure compensation for our clients and make sure drivers are held accountable for injuring them. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to protect our clients' rights and ensure that they will have the financial resources they need.

Why Bicycle Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries

Even when a passenger car is traveling at moderate speed, its mass and momentum are large enough to throw a cyclist from their bike, send them into the pavement or a fixed object, or pin them beneath the vehicle. The injuries that result often may affect multiple parts of the body, and extensive medical treatment will often be required. These injuries may include:

Bone Fractures

Broken bones are some of the most common consequences of bicycle accidents. Arm and wrist fractures may occur when a cyclist extends their hands to break their fall. Clavicle fractures, leg fractures, and hip injuries can occur due to the impact of a vehicle or when landing on the ground. Compound fractures or shattered bones may require surgery, and extensive rehabilitation may be needed before a person can regain function in the parts of the body where fractures occurred.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

While helmets can provide some protection for cyclists, they may not be able to fully prevent traumatic brain injuries. The effects of brain trauma may include cognitive impairments, memory loss, emotional disorders, loss of coordination, chronic pain, and more. These issues may be long-lasting or permanent, significantly affecting a victim's quality of life.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Being thrown from a bicycle and landing on the neck or upper back may cause serious harm to the spinal cord. Injuries to the spine may also occur when a vehicle initially strikes a cyclist or when a person is run over. Paralysis can occur due to nerve damage in the spinal cord, and victims may suffer permanent disabilities.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Even if no bones are broken in a bicycle accident, tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles may be damaged. Serious sprains can occur, or a person may experience dislocated joints. These injuries can affect the use of arms, legs, or other parts of the body, and physical therapy may be needed to restore mobility.

Forms of Driver Negligence That Can Cause Bicycle Accidents

Drivers who fail to protect the safety of people on bicycles can be held liable for negligence, which may include:

Unsafe Passing

Drivers are required to give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing. A driver who squeezes past a cyclist without adequate space, passes at an excessive speed, or cuts back into a cyclist's lane too quickly may collide with the cyclist or force them off the road. The turbulence caused by a large vehicle passing closely to a bicycle can affect a cyclist, even if there was no direct contact.

Following Too Closely

A driver who follows directly behind a cyclist may not have enough time and distance to stop if the rider slows down unexpectedly. Rear-end collisions between vehicles and bicycles can be dangerous due to the force of a vehicle striking a cyclist from behind. Drivers are required to maintain safe following distances and be prepared for sudden changes in a cyclist's speed or direction.

Illegal and Unsafe Turns

A driver may turn right across a cyclist's path, giving them no time to react. Left-turn accidents can also occur when a driver who is turning across oncoming traffic fails to notice an approaching cyclist. When a vehicle turns directly in the path of a bicycle, the cyclist may have no way to stop, and they may suffer harm when striking the vehicle or after falling off their bike.

Speeding

At higher speeds, drivers will have less time to notice and respond to the movements of bicycles. Speed limits in residential neighborhoods, near parks, and on routes where cyclists share the road are meant to protect against harm to people who are vulnerable. Drivers who exceed the speed limit can inflict serious injuries on cyclists in collisions.

Running Stop Signs and Red Lights

A driver who ignores a traffic control device may strike a cyclist in an intersection. These crashes may lead to serious injuries when a driver is speeding through an intersection or does not make an attempt to stop.

Dooring

Parked cars can present risks to cyclists. If a vehicle's door opens unexpectedly when a bike rider is traveling near a line of cars, they may have no way to avoid it. The collision with an open door can send a cyclist flying from their bike, or they could even be knocked into the path of moving vehicles, resulting in additional injuries. Drivers or passengers may be responsible for injuries that occur when they do not look for approaching bicycles before opening their doors.

Distracted Driving

When looking at their phone, reaching for an object, eating, or engaging in other activities that take their attention away from the road, a driver may not see a cyclist at all before colliding with them. Distracted driving can lead to dangerous bicycle accidents and serious injuries.

Intoxicated Driving

Drivers who get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol or using drugs will have less visual awareness of what is happening around them, and they will experience slower reaction times that may prevent them from avoiding a collision with a bicycle. A drunk driver may not see a bicycle at all, or they may be unable to take evasive action after noticing a cyclist. Bicycle crashes caused by intoxicated drivers may lead to severe injuries, especially in cases where there was no attempt to slow down before a collision.

Contact Our Manassas, Virginia Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Drivers who do not share the road safely with cyclists can be held accountable for the injuries they cause. At Locklin & Coleman, PLLC, our lawyers advocate forbicycle accident victims, helping them obtain the full compensation they need to recover from their injuries. Contact our Manassas bike accident attorneys at 703-392-6686 to schedule a free consultation.