In all honesty, life is dangerous. Whether you are commuting to work in a car, you are walking across the street, or riding a bicycle for pleasure; risk is everywhere. And while many individuals choose to implement the necessary measures in order to be safe, there are also many people and drivers that do not; and as a result accidents occur. In a busy world with more cars on the streets and highways than we would like, many people are choosing to find alternative methods of transportation either as a means for more efficient travels, exercise, saving money, or to help the planet. As a result, bicycling continues to become more and more popular all over the country as a means of getting to your desired destination.

While this method may be ideal for many, it is also very dangerous; often because of the careless and negligent driving of other cars who you are sharing the road with. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in the year of 2009 there were 630 cyclists killed during the year and that's not to mention the staggering number of 51,000 injuries caused by collisions with vehicles on the road. To have a more clear idea of how serious these accidents are, those numbers mean that every 10 minutes in America there is a cyclist injured. While the statistics may have fluctuates a bit over the last few years, the concerns remain the same. When drivers on the road are unaware and aggressive, people get hurt and accidents happen; when they involve cyclists it has the potential to be fatal.

When considering the severity of bicycle accidents, it is possible that many assume they are only the accidents that occur on the streets when cyclists are training for races or commuting to work, however those are not the only people who are injured. According to statistics, nearly half of all the bicycle fatal accidents are actually children under the age of 16. Whether it is a kid getting hit by a car pulling out of their driveway, or crossing the street; little children are just as in danger of accidents as adults.

In most cases, the accidents result in head injuries; many of which can have fatal results depending on the impact. So, how do these accidents occur? Apart from little kids getting hit in their residential areas, how are so many people injured and killed every day? Often time's drivers of motor vehicles are focusing on getting to their location, without considering fully their surroundings. Whether a bicyclist is next to a car or a truck, many accidents happen when they don't notice cyclists before changing lanes.

This can result in the cyclist either being hit by the vehicle or swerving and crashing on the road; either way both can result in serious injuries. These accidents can also occur when a parked car does not notice an oncoming cyclist and they open their car door, causing a painful collision. Perhaps a driver is texting in their car or fidgeting with their radio, these sorts of distractions can lead to dangerous accidents, sometimes with a cyclist who is far less protected than an individual in another car.

If you or someone you know has been injured in a cycling accident, you may be able to fight for compensation for your injuries and damages of your bicycle. If you recently lost a loved one in an accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against those who are responsible for the incident. Whatever the case may be, in the event of a wrongful injury or death, contacting an experienced and aggressive personal injury attorney in your area is the first step to take to fighting for your rights after an accident.