Cyclist Critical After Crash in East Austin
Recently, a female cyclist was struck by an SUV on East Martin Luther King Boulevard, just east of I-35. The woman was immediately transported to Dell Seton Medical Center, with injuries that law enforcement called “life-threatening,” though no further details exist as of this writing. The driver of the SUV remained on the scene, and as of this writing it does not appear that any charges will be filed against them. Pedestrian and bicycle accidents can certainly be life-threatening, and if you have been involved in an accident like this, you will almost certainly have significant medical bills that need paying. Contacting an attorney is a good way to increase the odds that the person who injured you will pay them.
Bicycle Accidents on the Rise
For a variety of reasons, bicycle accidents in Texas have risen in frequency for the past few years, especially in urban counties. Statistics from Share The Road Texas show that Travis and Bexar counties rank in the top counties for both fatalities consistently, as well as in total bike crash numbers overall. Both counties also have notoriously high traffic levels, as well as more bicyclists than in past years.
Because there are so many different scenarios in which a bike accident can happen, multiple types of injuries are common. Some of the most frequently seen injuries in bicycle crashes include so-called ‘road rash’ (cuts, scrapes, and bruises, which may contain gravel or pavement), broken bones, internal bleeding, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs, in particular, will happen even if a bicyclist is wearing a helmet in some cases, just because the sheer velocity with which a bicyclist and a car often collide will cause physical trauma even with protection.
After Your Accident
If you have been injured by a driver while out on your bicycle, you have options if you decide to seek compensation. Texas’ bicycle laws are not particularly exhaustive, with some aspects of bicycle safety being notably unclear – for example, as of this writing, Texas does not have a law which either permits or prohibits sidewalk riding. Another example is that there are no safe passing laws written to specifically apply to bicycles – the general regulations for all vehicles would, in theory, apply – even though a bicycle will invariably require more distance to be left due to its slower speed.
Be advised that issues like helmet usage are irrelevant when determining issues of liability. Texas does not have a statewide helmet law, so it cannot be determined that you were somehow negligent if you did not wear one on the day of your accident. The question of whether you bear some responsibility for your own injuries will be investigated, but unless you are determined to be more than 50 percent liable, you should still be able to recover.
Call a New Braunfels Bicycle Accident Attorney
While there is no further information on the bicyclist’s status as of this writing, it goes without saying that bicycle accident injuries can be serious and even fatal. If you have been hurt in a bicycle accident, contacting an experienced New Braunfels bicycle accident lawyer can help you decide how best to handle the issues moving forward. Contact the Bettersworth Law Firm today at 888-392-0039 to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.statesman.com/news/20190328/suv-hits-critically-injures-cyclist-in-east-austin-ems-says
