Embracing Transportation Choices in Phoenix

As Phoenix expands our community needs to be open to all forms of transportation. From bicycling to walking to taking public transport, our community needs to embrace the choice people make to move around our beautiful city. Unfortunately, our Phoenix Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Lorona Mead don't get to see the pleasant side of our city. It is our job to hear the horror stories of bicyclists trying to make it home or to their job only to get hit by a distracted driver. Our Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Phoenix hear stories of victims whose lives are forever changed. They are stories of recovery and suffering. We know that we cannot erase what happened to you, but we can bring justice to you.

Bicycle Accident Statistics

Since 2015, the city of Phoenix has upped its game when it comes to making room for bicyclists. After Proposition 104 was passed, higher sales taxes are being used to create 1,080 miles of bike path throughout the city. The money will also be used for road maintenance and improved light-rail service. Investing in our city's infrastructure is the first step in ensuring the safety of our community. Yet, every year bicyclists are still getting hurt and at times die due to collisions with other vehicles.

According to the 2017 Bicyclist Collision Summary created by the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department, stated that a total of 30,801 crashes resulting in 14,389 injuries and 207 fatalities. This means that almost every day a bicyclist died due to a collision. Around 82% of the accidents, the crashes were categorized as rear-end, angle, Sideswipe, or left turns. Unfortunately, the trend for bicycle accidents is only increasing. Phoenix's bicycle collisions are trending upward which is against the state's statistic for bicycle accidents. This tells us that as a community we need to work on increasing our education and visibility of our bicycle riders.

Shared Responsibilities between Bicyclists and Motorists on the Road

So whose fault is it? It depends on what happened. If you are using the roadway then all traffic regulations and laws apply to you. Bicyclists are expected to use bike lanes, follow traffic signals, and respect stop signs. Cars are also supposed to follow those rules. They are required to watch while they open doors, not cross into bike lanes, and respect bike riders. Just because cars are bigger doesn't mean they are always at fault. However, just because bicyclists are smaller doesn't mean that their lives don't matter.

What To Do

If you or a loved one is suffering from an accident while on your bike you need to seek legal assistance. Police reports do not always depict the whole story. Sometimes reports lack detail or the police do not do the proper job in obtaining witness statements. A police report is not the final say of who is at fault. Our Phoenix Bicycle Accident Attorneys are ready to fight for you because your life matters. Call (602) 385-6825 or click here to start your journey to success with our professional attorneys at Lorona Mead in Phoenix today.