According to a recent report released by Governing magazine, the risks that bicyclists face on the road might be a little higher in North Carolina than many other states. The state was ranked as the eighth most deadly state for bicyclists in the United States based on data collected from 2008-2012.
The state averages approximately 25 bicyclist deaths per year, with the frequency of accidents higher in the area known as the Triangle, which comprises Wake, Durham and Orange counties. Wake County ranked first in the entire state in both fatal and non-fatal car-bicycle accidents. Durham and Orange both were in the top ten most dangerous bicycling counties.
According to the study, over half of fatal North Carolina bicycle accidents included a male driver and 41 percent of the victims were cyclists ages 30-59. While visibility is often cited as a contributing factor in such accidents, 83 percent of bicycle-car crashes occurred during clear weather with only 4 percent of them happening in rainy conditions. Additionally, over 73 percent of all accidents took place during the daylight hours, with only 5 percent of them at dawn or dusk. Of the daytime accidents, 34 percent of them took place between the hours of 2 and 6 p.m.
Nationwide, bicycle injuries are on the rise as more and more people take to their bikes as a healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to driving. This is especially true in highly urbanized areas, such as Wake County. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, based on data from 2008-2012, cycling fatalities hit a three-year high in 2012, with 722 cyclists dying in traffic accidents on U.S. roads and highways.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in a North Carolina bicycle accident, speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney at Lanier Law Group, P.A.