Common Types of Bicycle Collisions

When cars and bicycles share the road collisions inevitably occur.

While bicycle accidents with motor vehicles can occur at any time and anywhere, some of the most common types of bicycle accidents include the following:

• Stop sign accidents. Collisions at stop signs are the most common type of intersection collisions. Most often, accidents at these locations happen when one person has a stop sign and the other does not. For example, a cyclist may be riding on a street without a stop sign when a car, after stopping at the intersection, pulls out in front of the cyclist.
• Bicycle failure to yield. This type of accident occurs when a cyclist stops at an intersection and then continues through the intersection without yielding, often because the cyclist did not see the car coming.
• Car turning left. Also known as the “left cross,” this type of accident occurs when a cyclist and motorist approach an intersection from different directions. As they both cross the intersection, the motorist turns left without yielding to the cyclist, causing a collision.
• Car turning right. Also known as the “right hook,” this type of accident happens when a car makes a right turn at an intersection and either cuts off or turns into the cyclist.

In Maryland, a bicycle is considered to a vehicle like any other. However, due to a bicycle’s decreased visibility and lack of protection, cyclists are much more vulnerable to serious injuries resulting from collisions with motor vehicles. If you have recently been injured in an accident with a vehicle resulting from the driver’s inattention or carelessness, promptly consult a knowledgeable Baltimore bike accident lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton, P.A..