El Paso, TX
Bicycling is becoming more popular in the El Paso region. With this growing popularity comes a growing risk of bicycle injuries and accidents.
According to Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, in 2012, 726 lost their lives in bicycle/motor vehicle crashes nationally, just under two people every day of the year in the U.S. The death rate from bicycle crashes is high due to the relative lack of protection bicyclists have in an impact with a motor vehicle.
Texas traffic-safety laws are designed to allow bicyclists to share the road safely with motor vehicles in an increasingly crowded space.
According to the State of Texas Department of Transportation:
The El Paso Police Department offers information on accidents. The El Paso County Sheriff's Department is also a useful resource for information.
The Texas Highway Patrol provides information on crashes investigated within its jurisdiction.
These departments are good resources after a bicycle crash.
While helmets and proper reflective gear make bicycling safer, riding a bicycle is riskier than driving a car. Maintaining control is more difficult on two wheels, and when collisions happen, bicyclists are at greater risk of serious injury or death because they don't have an enclosed vehicle for protection.
Common causes of El Paso bicycle crashes include:
Motorist turning across path of cyclist;
Cyclist riding into the path of a motor vehicle;
Cyclist turning right from a major road and from a minor road;
Child cyclist playing or riding too fast.
In an injury bike crash, it is crucial to get appropriate medical treatment, regardless of the financial cost. The major hospitals in the area include:
As soon as possible, an injured person should contact their insurance company to find out how medical treatment is covered under their insurance policy. Since insurance policies often have unique provisions to deal with bicycle-accident injuries, it is important to review the policy and speak with the insurance adjuster to get clarification on coverage.
When a bicycle accident, caused by the negligence of a motorist, results in serious injury or death, the next step is to find an experienced El Paso bicycle accident attorney to start the financial recovery process by launching an insurance claim. Major injury or wrongful death claims are complicated and can be hard to manage without legal help. Having an El Paso personal injury lawyer on board is a great relief to injured bicyclists, or to the family left behind when an accident proves fatal.
Since most personal injury lawyers offer a free initial consultation and work on a contingency basis, meaning that there are no up-front costs and all fees are paid when the claim is settled, there is no downside to speaking with a great El Paso personal injury lawyer right away, to get help for an injured bicyclist.
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