Our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers Discuss Negligent Driver Behavior That Results in Flagstaff Bicycle Accidents
Many residents and visitors in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona enjoy riding a bicycle for recreation and as a less expensive form of transportation. However, riding a bike can be a dangerous way to travel. If you’re hit by a negligent vehicle driver, you may suffer life-changing injuries. 
Our experienced Flagstaff personal injury lawyers at Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC can help determine the cause of your bike collision and prove that the other driver's negligence caused it. We can also advocate for your right to compensation for your injuries.
With 130 miles of dedicated bike lanes and rideable shoulders in Flagstaff, riding a bike to enjoy the scenic beauty is a popular pastime for tourists and anyone who lives in Northern Arizona. However, if you’re the victim of a negligent driver and suffer injuries due to a bicycle-vehicle accident, it’s important to obtain legal representation right away. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are here to protect your rights and assist you in obtaining fair compensation from the insurance company that may not treat you fairly.
Six Leading Causes of Northern Arizona and Flagstaff Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle riders and motorists are required to follow Arizona's bike laws. However, bicycle accidents can occur due to various factors, often involving a motorist's negligence or failure to obey traffic laws.
If you seek compensation for injuries after a bicycle-vehicle accident, you must prove that the motor vehicle driver caused your collision. Our experienced Flagstaff personal injury lawyers can thoroughly investigate your bicycle accident and help determine its cause. Here are some leading ways motorists cause bicycle accidents in Arizona:
- #1 Distracted driving. Motorists who are distracted by their cellphones, eating and drinking, adjusting the radio, or talking to passengers are less likely to notice bicyclists sharing the road before it is too late to avoid a serious accident.
- #2 Speeding. Excessive speed reduces a driver's ability to react to avoid striking a nearby bicyclist. The bike rider's injuries can be much more severe when a motorist is speeding because the force of impact will be greater.
- #3 Encroaching. Drivers who fail to leave an adequate buffer zone when passing bicyclists can cause accidents by encroaching into the bike rider’s space. This lack of space reduces the cyclist's maneuvering options and increases the likelihood of a collision.
- #4 Executing unsafe lane changes. Drivers who change lanes without first checking their blind spots or signaling properly may not see a bicyclist in an adjacent lane and may sideswipe their bike or force the bike rider off the road.
- #5 Not yielding the right of way. Bicycle riders have the same rights applicable to motorists when riding on a road under ARS §28-812. Drivers who fail to yield the right of way to bicyclists at intersections, crosswalks, or bike lanes are in violation of Arizona’s state traffic laws and put bicyclists at serious risk of injury. Failure to yield can lead to T-bone collisions, head-on accidents, or other types of crashes.
- #6 Driving while impaired. Drivers who get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs may have impaired judgment, reduced reaction times, and impaired coordination, increasing the likelihood they will cause a devastating accident involving a bicyclist.
Possible Compensation When You’re Injured in a Flagstaff Bicycle-Vehicle Accident
If you've been injured in a bicycle accident due to the negligence of another party, you may be able to recover damages from the at-fault driver. Our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers will aggressively fight with the motorist's insurance company to help obtain the settlement you deserve. Here are types of compensation we may be able to recover for you:
- Medical expenses. You can seek compensation for the cost of necessary medical treatments related to your bicycle accident injuries, including hospital bills, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and ongoing care.
- Lost wages. If your injuries keep you from working or result in a temporary or permanent disability that affects your earning capacity, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. These can include wages lost while you are recovering from your injuries as well as future income losses.
- Pain and suffering. Bicycle accidents can cause significant physical pain and emotional distress. You may be eligible for compensation for the physical pain, mental trauma, and emotional suffering you have endured as a result of the accident.
- Property damage. If your bike was destroyed or damaged in the crash, you may be entitled to compensation to pay for the cost of repairs or a replacement. Additionally, you may be able to recover compensation for any other property damage resulting from the accident, such as damage to clothing, a cellphone, or bike accessories.
- Wrongful death. If a bicycle accident tragically results in the death of a loved one, you may be entitled to compensation through pursuing a wrongful death claim. This compensation can help you pay for funeral and burial expenses, provide you with financial support, and compensate you for your pain and suffering.