Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean that the prime season for bicycle accidents has ended. In fact, fall bike rides are quite popular throughout the state, and local bicycling groups like MKEBKE and the Cream City Cycle Club hold regular rides throughout the year, including in the winter.
Unfortunately, according to a recent Journal Sentinel article, the ninth bicycle fatality in Wisconsin was recently recorded, which more than doubles last year’s numbers. Although the increase in fatal bicycle accidents in Wisconsin could be due to the ever-increasing popularity of bicycling in general, the unfortunate reality is that in the majority of cases, it is the driver of a vehicle and not a bicyclist who is to blame for an accident.
According to a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee traffic safety researcher quoted in the article, in a review of bicycle fatalities in Wisconsin from 2011 to 2013, 58% of the fatalities were the fault of a motor vehicle driver, whereas in only 24% of the cases were bicyclists primarily responsible. Even more compelling is that according to the same researcher, more than a third of the bicycle fatalities were caused by a motor vehicle striking a bicyclist from behind.
An interesting finding from the data was that the bicycle fatalities seemed to disproportionately impact older males, with almost nine in 10 fatalities affecting males, and half of the bicyclists being between 46 to 65 years old.
Obviously, bicyclists have a responsibility to signal properly, drive safely, and obey the rules of the road. And, as evidenced by the very low incidence of fatal bike accidents in Milwaukee, our local bicyclists take these responsibilities seriously. Unfortunately, a bicyclist who is rear-ended by a car has little to no control over the situation and cannot be expected to anticipate negligent behavior on the part of a driver.
If you or someone you know was injured in a bike accident through the negligence of someone else, you may be able to recover damages for your injuries and damage to your property. Whether an accident occurs in a parking lot, on a city street, or on private property, an injured bicyclist may be able to advance a successful case.
Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. are experienced Milwaukee Bicycle Accident Attorneys eager to help bicyclists injured through no fault of their own protect their rights and recover the damages to which they are entitled. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your case. We can advise you of your rights and options.