Question of Safety for Milwaukee Bicyclists
Urban or rural roads: Where are fatal bike accidents most common?
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Wrongful Death on Saturday, September 14, 2013.
Most Milwaukee bicyclists on the road know that they are at risk of becoming involved in an accident with a motor vehicle. Unfortunately, the relative size and speed of vehicles generally puts bicyclists involved a collision in position to suffer a severe or fatal injury. As a result, cyclists might wonder: Where is the safest place to bike?
One would think that the congested city streets of Milwaukee would be a more likely site for a fatal car-bicycle accident than less-traveled rural roads. However, a recent fatal accident involving a cyclist in rural Wisconsin has some observers questioning this idea.
A report published by the Bike Federation of Wisconsin takes a look at the risks of biking on urban roads compared to rural roads. Based on numbers provided by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, busy urban streets have a high rate of car-bike accidents, yet bicycle accidents outside the city are more likely to be fatal.
The Bike Federation suggests that drivers in an urban are more accustomed to bikes on the road, which reduces the overall risk of fatal crashes. If a person knows they should be looking out cyclists, then they are less inclined to get into a serious crash.
In addition to being less aware of bicyclists, drivers in rural areas typically drive at higher speeds. City traffic generally moves slower than highway traffic in the country. As such, the force involved in a collision with a car traveling at highway speeds is more likely to cause fatal injuries.
Regardless of whether drivers are used to the city or country, they share a responsibility to drive with caution in order to protect the safety of others on the road. If a driver fails to uphold their duty and causes a fatal crash, then a wrongful death suit may be in line.
Source: Bike Federation of Wisconsin, “Is Safety on Rural Roads a Problem?” Dave Schlabowske, Sept. 6, 2013
If you were injured in a bike accident, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C.