Attorney
A string of recent bicyclist/vehicle accidents and deaths in the Washington, D.C. metro area underlines the increasing dangers faced by bicyclists’ sharing roads with vehicles. Nationwide, nearly 1,000 bicyclists die each year in traffic accidents and over 40,000 are injured. Washington, D.C. is one of a handful of areas in the country experiencing an increase in bicyclist deaths. If you have been involved in a car accident while on foot or bike, a Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyer can help you obtain compensation for your injuries.
Earlier in the month, a bicyclist died when two different cars in DC struck him. The 42-year-old man was riding in the 1400 block of Southern Avenue, SE when a Chevrolet Suburban hit him. The driver told police that he did not realize he had hit anyone, but he later returned to the scene. Another passing vehicle struck the bicyclist before bystanders were able to help him. People called 911. When the paramedics arrived, the second driver took off from the scene, and police are still looking for the dark blue compact Toyota or Nissan. Paramedics took the bicyclist to a hospital where he later died.
There are many factors involved in the increase of bicyclist accidents in the DC area, but one of the most important ones is that drivers are simply unaccustomed to sharing roads with bicyclists. As we enter summer, more and more people will take to walking and bicycling. Drivers need to be more vigilant in urban areas. They need to be aware of their blind spots, and they should always use turn signals to give pedestrians and bicyclists advance warning. Bicyclists should follow normal traffic laws, avoid staying in vehicles’ blind spots, and be particularly vigilant in intersections and when making turns.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a bicyclist or pedestrian-related accident, contact David M. Schloss, a Washington, D.C. personal injury attorney, at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P to learn how you can obtain compensation for your injuries.