Most Common Causes Behind Bicycle Accidents

Crashes, Chaos, and the Cost of Bike Riding

You never expect a bike ride to change your life, but it can. You're just coasting to work or heading to meet a friend. Suddenly, you’re on the ground, hurting, scared, and wondering what just happened. It’s not your fault. You followed the rules. You stayed alert. But when someone else makes a bad call or when the road itself turns against you, you're the one who pays the price. That’s when having the right bicycle accident attorneys in your corner matters.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we know how heavy this moment can feel. You’ve got doctor’s appointments, insurance calls, bills stacking up, all while you're trying to heal. In New York, drivers are legally required to give cyclists space and care. Maine and Vermont follow similar principles, while New Hampshire gets even more specific, requiring a minimum three-foot buffer. But laws on paper only go so far. We help you turn those protections into action. While you take care of yourself, we’ll dig into the facts and make sure the people responsible are held accountable.

When New York Streets Turn Hostile

You’ve probably seen drivers glued to their phones, swerving across lanes like they own the road. New York law requires drivers to use “due care” around cyclists, but that doesn’t mean they always do. And when they don’t, the result isn’t always a broken bone or bruised ego. People have lost their lives in bike crashes caused by reckless decisions behind the wheel.

Distracted driving is everywhere. A quick text. A fast scroll. That’s all it takes to send a car into a bike lane. And it happens far too often. Then there’s speeding, especially on those main arteries where drivers think the limit doesn’t apply to them. Cyclists get squeezed, brushed, or worse.

And don’t get us started on the streets themselves. One moment you’re in a bike lane, the next you’re forced into traffic with zero warning. It’s not just frustrating. It’s dangerous. Poor infrastructure turns an already risky ride into a gamble.

When Your Bike Betrays You

You check your brakes. Your tires look good. You maintain your ride. But what if the danger is something you can’t see? Federal regulations set standards for bike safety, but that doesn’t stop defective parts from slipping through. And when they fail, you’re the one left dealing with the crash and the consequences.

Manufacturing flaws aren’t always obvious. A faulty fork, a cracked frame, or a defective gear system could be hiding under the surface. You might not know anything’s wrong until you’re face-down on the pavement.

Most people never hear about recalls until it’s too late. If your bike or a part of it malfunctions, you deserve to know if someone cut corners. Because you shouldn’t have to pay the price for a manufacturer’s mistake.

Watch out for these signs of mechanical failure:

• Brakes that suddenly lock or won’t respond
• Chains or gears that seize without warning
• Frames that snap, bend, or collapse unexpectedly

If any of that sounds familiar, it’s time to ask the hard questions.

Invisible Traps: Hazards Lurking on Streets

Not every danger comes from a driver. Sometimes it’s the street itself that turns on you. Potholes, cracked pavement, and slippery leaves are hazards that hide in plain sight, especially at night or in bad weather. And when the city doesn’t fix them, you’re left dodging danger just to get from A to B. These are the kinds of conditions behind many fatal injury claims tied to unsafe property conditions.

Bad weather only makes it worse. Rain turns painted lanes into ice rinks. Snow piles up in bike lanes long after it’s cleared from the roads. Even experienced riders struggle when the path gets slick.

Then there’s construction. Barriers suddenly appear. Lanes disappear. Signs go missing. You’re forced into traffic with zero guidance. It’s both inconvenient and dangerous. That’s why knowing how to document visual evidence effectively right after an incident can protect your case.

Here’s what can ruin your ride fast:

• Deep potholes and broken pavement
• Wet leaves, snow, or black ice
• Random construction detours and missing signs

It’s not just a rough ride. It’s a legal hazard.

Bad Choices, Worse Consequences

A split-second decision. That’s all it takes. Maybe it’s a driver opening a door without looking. Maybe it’s someone flying through a light. One bad move and you’re in the hospital. Sometimes, the person behind the wheel isn’t the only one at fault. Thanks to liability rules that hold third parties responsible, others like employers or vehicle owners might also be held accountable.

Now add pressure to the mix. Honking. Tailgating. Drivers boxing you in. It’s enough to make anyone panic. You’re forced to react, to swerve, speed up, or take a risk just to stay safe. But if a move like that ends in disaster, you shouldn’t carry the blame. Especially not when fatal crash litigation involving vehicles shows how often it’s the driver who crossed the line.

These actions put you at serious risk:

• Drivers failing to yield or drifting too close
• Abrupt stops or reckless turns
• Passing too fast or too tight

You didn’t cause the crash. But now you’re stuck with the outcome.

Uncovering the Truth Before It Disappears

The moment after a crash is chaos. But the details you gather, or miss, can make or break your case. Skid marks fade. Weather clears. Cameras record over. Witnesses move on. And when it comes to litigation outcomes, juries and judges lean heavily on the strength of that early evidence.

Photos. Videos. Names. Street layout. It all matters. These little things build the big picture, the one that tells your side of the story. Talk to nearby businesses. Check for cameras. And above all, don’t wait.

Experts can help too. Accident reconstruction teams look at vehicle damage, road layout, even physics. They break down what happened when everything went wrong. That kind of analysis can be a turning point, especially if you’re thinking about filing a lawsuit and want to know what kind of evidence might support your claim.

Key ways to protect your case:

• Take photos and video as soon as you can
• Get witness names and details
• Note the road conditions and lighting

Because proving what happened shouldn’t fall on guesswork.

Your Recovery Deserves a Real Advocate

A crash doesn’t just leave you with bruises. It rattles your peace of mind. The bills, the pain, the stress, it piles up fast. Whether it happened on your usual commute or a weekend ride, you’re probably feeling lost right now. That’s okay.

The good news is you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. When you’re ready to take back control, reach out to bicycle accident attorneys at Horn Wright, LLP. Let’s talk about what happened and what comes next.