In 2008, two bicyclists who were riding on a two-lane road in Brentwood were injured when Christopher Thomas supposedly pulled out in front of them in his car.  This resulted in one of the riders going through Thompson’s windshield, and the other being slammed into the ground after being tossed several feet into the air.  The cyclists claim that Thompson yelled at them, then proceeded to pull out in their path and slam on his brakes.  Thompson’s attorney alleges that the accident was caused because the bicyclists yelled profanities at the doctor, who faces four felony charges.

With an increase in the number of bicyclists over the last several years, it seems that conflicts between motorists and those who ride bikes is increasing.  More people are riding bicycles all over the United States, including California.  Between 2000 and 2008, according to statistics, bicycling across the country has risen by 43 percent.  The increased awareness of the environment has also contributed to this rise, as more people view bicycling as a “green” method to travel.  Not only that, bicycling is cheap, and is a very effective activity for better fitness.

Many cities in California have experienced an increase in those who ride bicycles, but have not seen a rise in accidents that involve bicyclists.  This is thought to be due to the fact that because so many people are riding, motorists have become more aware of them and drive safely.  In fact, bicycling increased by 66% in Marin County between 1998 and 2008, but accidents between motorists and bicyclists in this county decreased by 34%.

Although many people are using bicycles as a mode of transportation, the accident rates still haven’t risen nearly at the rate that fatal motorcycle accidents have.  In 2008, the NHTSA showed that 716 fatal bicycle accidents occurred, which was a drop of 6% when compared to 1998.  While this is good news, Los Angeles personal injury lawyers are still concerned about bicycle accidents, and the rising number of severe injuries that result when a crash occurs.

The Reeves Law Group has offices across California, and is dedicated to representing Los Angeles bicycle accident victims, including victims of bicycle accidents.  Please contact us for a free consultation at (800) 644-8000.