Whenever a Pennsylvania resident goes out on the road in any way, there is always a chance that there will be an accident. These accidents can lead to injuries and fatalities. The circumstances will often dictate the amount of damage that victims suffer, and if there are minor injuries all the way up to a fatality. One group that is increasingly at risk is bicyclists. Statistics indicate the number of fatalities for bicyclists is rising in the U.S. Those who frequently ride a bicycle should be aware of this. When there is an accident, the person and his or her family should know about the importance of a legal filing in the aftermath.
The Governors Highway Safety Association conducted a study that showed more than 800 people were killed in bicycle accidents in 2015 alone. That was a rise of more than 12 percent from 2014. The number of fatalities on a bicycle was a small percentage of the more than 35,000 deaths on U.S. roads, but the fastest growing category of fatal accidents is bicyclists.
Since bicycle riders do not have the protections accorded to those inside a vehicle, they are more vulnerable to a fatal accident. Bicycle riding is growing in popularity as more than one out of three Americans rode a bicycle in 2015. The increasing use of programs in which bicycles are available for rent on the street is also part of this trend. Since it is a tactic to save money, younger people are taking to the roads and going back and forth on a bicycle. While this is beneficial to finances and the environment, it places more people at risk.
In Pennsylvania, more than 1.3 people were killed for every million people in 2015. This is one of the safer states in the union, but there are still risks when heading out on a bike. Those who are injured or have lost a loved one in a bike crash must be aware of their rights. There could be medical bills, lost wages, funeral costs and more after the loss of a loved one in this type of accident. Having legal assistance to recover compensation is imperative to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Source: mcall.com, “Bicycle deaths on the rise nationally, study finds,” Tom Shortell, Sept. 18, 2017