Are San Francisco Bicycle Accidents Common?
San Francisco is known as one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the entire country. However, that doesn’t mean that bike accidents don’t happen in the Bay Area. Medical costs from bicycle accidents are rising, even though there have been fewer biking fatalities in the area. That could mean more cyclists are finding themselves injured in accidents, which means it could be important for you to know what to do if you are involved in a bicycle crash.
Are Bicycle Accidents Common in San Francisco?
A 34-year-old woman from Mission recently shared her bike accident experience with StreetsBlog. She was riding down Valencia between 14th and 15th street, when something struck her from the left. An SUV took a right turn, and the driver failed to notice the woman riding right beside the vehicle. The rider was taken to the hospital, where they concluded that she only had soft tissue damage, but it could have been worse.
Advocacy groups are now pushing for physical barriers between cars and riders along Valencia street. Efforts like these could go a long way toward reducing cyclist injuries and fatalities, but a recent report warns that medical costs resulting from bike accidents are going up. A study published in June said that annual costs for bike injuries rose 137 percent between 1999-2013 study period. Which means you could end up with a stack of medical bills if you find yourself in a collision while riding your bike.
What Do I Need to Do If I Get into a Bicycle Accident in San Francisco?
So, what should you do if you have a bicycle accident in the Bay Area?
- Call and wait for the authorities. A police report can be critical evidence in any claim you make related to a bike accident.
- Make sure police get your side of the story, even if you think you might not be injured. Adrenaline does crazy things to the body, and you may have been hurt worse than you think.
- Get contact info from the vehicle driver and witnesses to the accident. If you are too injured to do so, ask a bystander if they can help.
- Take pictures and document your experience in writing. Smartphones allow us to do so much now, so take advantage of this technology.
- Don’t talk to the other party’s insurer, they are not looking out for you.
- Get medical attention! This is the most important thing you can do, because your personal safety in a crash situation is what matters the most.
- Contact an experienced professional. A Bay Area bike accident attorney has the experience you need to make sure you aren’t overwhelmed by medical expenses.
Brought to you by the personal injury attorneys at Mary Alexander & Associates, P.C.—we are dedicated to helping you when catastrophe strikes.
