When Are Your Chances Increased For A Bicycle Injury?

After reading several articles in the Washington Post about recent bike accidents, you were extremely hesitant when your husband informed you that he wanted to decrease his carbon footprint by riding his bike to and from work every day. Although you commend him for taking the initiative for a cleaner future for your children, you’re extremely worried about his immediate future and safety.

Commuting to work on a bike can be dangerous enough, but he’s not as young as he used to be and his reflexes aren’t the best. So you can’t help but wonder: are older men more at risk for accidents than younger bicyclists?

Common Demographics For Bicycle Injuries And Fatalities

Although bike accidents can happen to anyone, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control, has established three specific groups who seem to have the highest risk of bicycle accident injuries and deaths, based on recent research. These three groups are as follows:

• Young adults, 25 to 34 years old. In 2012, out of 700 fatal bike accidents, 150 victims were between the ages of 25 and 34. Out of 49,000 bike accident injuries, this demographic made up 20 percent of those injured (approximately 9,500 victims).
• Males between the ages of 45 and 55. In 2012, 7 percent of all bicycle accidents in the United States had fatalities for middle-aged men aged 45 to 55 years, and over 6,000 accidents involve middle-aged men becoming severely injured.
• Alcohol impaired individuals. More than half of those injured in bicycle accidents who were tested had consumed alcohol prior to the incident, and over 25 percent of those killed in these accidents tested legally drunk, with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) above 0.08 percent.

If you’re a member of one of these at-risk groups, it is extremely important for you to take proper precautions to avoid accidents. Don’t operate any vehicle—bike, car, motorcycle, etc.—if you’ve been drinking. Always be aware of your surroundings. No matter what your age, obey the traffic laws and bicycle safety guidelines at all times.

Safety is the most important thing for you and your family. Help us spread the word about bicycle accident risks by sharing this page on Facebook and Twitter.

Have you or a loved one recently been injured in a bicycle accident? Need help pursuing your injury claim? Contact us for more information about your rights. We’re so confident that our experience and knowledge can work for you that the consultation is free, so don’t hesitate. Call now to ensure you get the settlement you deserve.