Randy W. Ferguson
HUNTSVILLE BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER
Ferguson & Ferguson
Attorneys at Law
Bicycle riders suffer a staggering number of serious injuries and fatalities in accidents involving motor vehicles, and those accidents are usually the fault of the motor vehicle drivers. Randy W. Ferguson is a Huntsville, Alabama based personal injury lawyer who specializes in protecting the rights of injured cyclists. If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Huntsville or Decatur, Alabama, you need answers about who will be paying your medical bills, who will help you recover from the injuries you have sustained, and who will pay for damage to your bicycle. We are experts at handling bicycle accident cases, and can help you with every aspect of the difficulties you face after a serious bicycle accident. Call now for your FREE CONSULTATION. Call 256-534-3435 or 256-350-7200. We are here to help you with your bicycle accident case.
Over the past 10 years, bicycling has become extremely popular in Alabama and all over the United States. It is a convenient and inexpensive method of travel, especially in large cities where traffic is congested and parking spaces are difficult to find. In the past ten years, interest in cycling has grown exponentially and as a result more communities have increased their efforts to encourage car drivers to “Share the Road” with bicyclists by widening streets and establishing designated bike lanes to help keep cyclists safe. Many cities now recognize the increase in bike traffic and have constructed special bike lanes. Unfortunately, North Alabama does not have bike lanes in many locations. Parks have now made trails accessible to bicycles. Even some vehicle manufacturers are now offering bike racks as standard equipment. Sadly, however, many automobile and truck drivers do not respect the bicyclists’ rights to share the roads and, more importantly, young bike riders haven’t been educated on how to legally and safely share the roads with automobiles.
Bike Accident Injuries
Although mandatory helmet laws and the use of other safety equipment such as lights, flashers and proper clothing can reduce the chance of a bike crash, if one does occur, it usually results in significant personal injury. The most common injuries are:
- Concussions and closed head injuries
- Fractures of arms, legs and ribs
- Spinal injuries including herniated discs
- Contusions and severe abrasions often called road rash
- Internal bleeding and injuries to vital organs
Causes of bicycle accidents:
- Car and Bike Driver negligence
- Automobile Drunk driving
- Car and Bike Drivers failing to yield
- Defective maintenance of bike paths
- Defective bicycle
- Left Turning Vehicle at an Intersection
- Left Turning Vehicle Through a Gap in Traffic
- Right Turning Vehicle Traveling Ahead of a Cyclist
- Right Turning Vehicle Overtaking a Cyclist
- Doored on the Driver’s Side
- Doored on the Passenger’s Side
- Rear-Ended by a Vehicle When Merging Across Lanes to Turn Left
- Side-swiped by a Passing Vehicle
- Rear-Ended by a Passing Vehicle
- Dog attack
- Potholes
- Malfunctioning traffic lights
- Improper placement of utility poles or trees near the roadway
- Foliage obstructing stop signs or other signs
- Lack of a properly designed shoulder
- Improper design or placement of median barriers
- Improper lane width
- Improperly designed intersections
- Narrow bridge abutments
- Uncovered ditches or obstructions or poor drainage
- Construction site violations
- Eating, texting or talking on a phone
Our Huntsville bicycle accident attorneys have been advocates for bikers for many years. The bicycle accident lawyers of Ferguson & Ferguson are advocates for bicycle safety, and we stand up for bicycles rights on the roads and in court. Our trial litigation experience sets our firm apart, we have dealt with bicycle accident cases on federal and state courts as well as a business level in Decatur, Huntsville, and across the United States. If it is in your best interest, we are willing to take your bicycle accident case to court to earn you what you deserve.
BICYCLE ACCIDENT STATISTICS
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Safety Administration, in 2010, there were 618 cyclists killed and 52,000 seriously injured in traffic accidents. This accounts for 2% of all people injured in traffic accidents. This includes cyclists on unicycles, tricycles and any other non-motorized pedal-powered vehicle. This is shows an improvement over the 628 people who died in bicycle related accidents in 2009.
Did you know that a bicyclist is fatally injured every 6 hours, and nearly one million children are injured each year in bicycle related accidents. Forty-nine % of all bicycle fatalities occur to children under the age of 16. Head injuries account for 75% of all serious injuries and deaths. Many of the bicycle accidents are caused by negligent drivers talking on phones, texting and eating. Motor vehicle operators must be attentive to bicycle riders. They must equate a bicycle with a motor vehicle and observe the same laws. You may not drive in a designated bike lane unless you have immediate intentions to turn off the road. There are many “new” traffic laws concerning bicycles and ignorance of the laws will not protect you against negligence if you injure a bicyclist.
What Bicycle Riders Need To Know in Alabama
Bicycle riders are also subject to the same traffic laws as motorists. If you are riding a bicycle, you are also required to obey the traffic laws. You should follow these rules:
- Many states require that all young riders wear an approved helmet. Even if your state does not have a bicycle helmet law, young riders should consider a helmet as part of their gear and wear one whenever they ride.
- Parents have a duty to teach their children about traffic laws and road safety. A “young drivers'” handbook is an ideal resource for information. Children should know the appropriate hand signals for making turns, etc. (Parents: remember to teach only hand
signals – not hand gestures!) - It is never advisable to ride a bicycle after dark but, if you must, make sure your bicycle is equipped with headlights, taillights, reflective tape and always wear clothing that can be easily seen.
- Wear bright-colored clothing.
- Use hand signals for turns.
- Do not run red lights or stop signs
- Always wear an ID tag. All cyclists should wear or carry some form of identification while riding.
- Whenever possible, ride with one or more people. This increases visibility and can be helpful in the case of an accident or bicycle malfunction.
- Make sure that clothing, backpacks, accessories, etc., cannot get tangled in the spokes or chain.
- Always ride with the flow of traffic (on the right side of the road) and not against the traffic. Motorists are trained to react to other “drivers” who are following the same rules and may not respond quickly enough to avoid an accident if your presence isn’t anticipated.
- Always perform a pre-ride safety check before getting on your bicycle. Check the brakes, check the alignment of the frame, and, if you have “quick release” wheels, make sure you have your lock in place.While collisions with automobiles only account for 1/3 of the accidents, they account for the majority of the catastrophic injuries.
Alabama Bicycle Laws
Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycle. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
(Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-102.)
Free Consultation/No Fee Unless We Win!
We have extensive experience handling personal injury claims and lawsuits on behalf of injured bicyclists. We only represent the injured parties and do not represent insurance companies or business in defending harm they have caused. We are also committed to the bicycling community. We don’t just help injured cyclists; we are devoted to the promotion of bicycle safety for children and bicycling advocacy for adults. Mr. Ferguson offers a complimentary personal telephone consultation to any cyclist involved in an accident. Following a bicycle accident, it is very important to consult with a qualified bicycle accident attorney as soon as possible. Our attorneys understand that no amount of money can make up for your loss after a fatal bike accident. However, we can help you seek justice and hold the negligent driver accountable through a wrongful death action.
At Ferguson & Ferguson, all of our legal services are handled on a contingency fee basis. Fees are not charged for the initial consultation or subsequent work unless we recover money for your injuries or loss. In the event we are unable to recover damages for your costs, you will not be charged for our time or costs associated with your case. The attorneys and staff at the Ferguson & Ferguson Law Firm have extensive skill and experience in handling cases involving bicycling accidents. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury while riding a bicycle because of the negligent or faulty acts of another in Huntsville, Birmingham or Decatur, Alabama, contact us today at 1-800-752-1998 or 256-534-3435 for your free consultation. We are here to help.
Huntsville Office Location:
303 Williams Avenue Southwest
Suite 321
Huntsville, AL 35801
Decatur Office Location:
211 Oak Street Northeast
Decatur, AL 35601
For more information regarding bicycle accidents, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.gov.
Our bicycle accident attorneys serve every city and town in the State of Alabama.
