Bicycle-related deaths peak in the summer months, starting in June, and they remain high through September. In 2019, the most deaths occurred in August (125) and the fewest in January (63).
Of the 1,089 bike re-lated deaths in 2019, 712 died in motor-vehicle crashes and 377 in other incidents, according to National Center for Health Statistics. Males accounted for 88% of all bicycle deaths, over seven times the fatalities for females. Bicycle advocates attribute this to the fact that more men are out on bicycles than women, and are more likely to ride on dangerous streets.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 849 bike-related deaths in 2019, a 3% decrease from 871 in 2018. Bicyclists’ deaths accounted for 2% of all motor-vehicle traffic fatalities. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports 417,485 emergency department-treated injuries associated with bicycles and bicycle accessories in 2019. This estimate includes both preventable and intentional injuries.
Helmets Decrease Risk of Bike-Related Death
If you’re in a bike accident, a helmet could reduce odds of a head injury by about 51 percent, and reduce your odds of a fatal head injury by 65 percent.
Alarmingly, more than half of adults in the U.S. report never wearing a helmet, and more than half of cyclists killed in crashes in 2016 were not wearing one. A bike helmet is a cyclist’s best line of defense, reducing risk of head injury by more than 50%. For severe head injuries, the protective benefit is even higher. As of March 2021, 22 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 201 localities had bicycle helmet-use laws, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.
Contact Dispart Law Group
Have you been injured in a bike accident? With over $1 Billion in recoveries for our clients, Larry Disparti and the entire team at the Disparti Law Group know how to win! Contact our Chicago or Tampa Personal Injury lawyers today and find out why thousands of our clients say, Larry Wins!
Call the Chicago Bike Accident Attorneys at (312) 600-6000 or the Tampa Bike Accident Attorneys at (727) 600-6000
