Every time you get into a vehicle, whether as a driver or a passenger, there is a chance that you could get into an accident. Non-fatal accidents are just as prevalant as fatal ones, and many of the same factors increase accident risk for both fatal and non-fatal crashes and accidents. Statistically speaking, there are a number of ways to tell what your chances of getting into an accident are, and, unfortunately, many of them are things you can’t change. Before you have to seek the help of an auto accidents attorney, learn more about your accident risk and what you can do to lower it.

Age and Gender

Young males between the ages of 15 and 19 are in the highest risk group for accidents of every kind. Interestingly, this group is also most likely to be pulled over for speeding. By contrast, drivers above the age of 44, both male and female, are least likely to be involved in an accident. Between the time you start driving and age 44, the odds are that you will find yourself in a fender bender at least once in your life – so if you’ve made it to 45 without ever needing to hire an accidents lawyer or file an insurance claim, you really are one in a million.

Location

While more minor accidents occur in urban areas, fatal crashes tend to occur on rural roads. This is probably because it is easier to lose focus on long stretches of open road no matter who you are. If you have to drive in the country, be sure to follow the speed limit carefully and keep a watchful eye out for deer at night. Remember, too, that many fatal and non-fatal accidents are single vehicle accidents, which may be related to the increased risk of crashes in rural areas.

Type of Vehicle

Newer vehicles are generally considered much safer than older models, because cars, trucks, and SUVs today are designed to reduce your chances of getting into an accident rather than simply keep you safe if an accident happens. Among older vehicles, cars are more likely than trucks or SUVs to be involved in a crash. In fact, the 2013 national average of fatalities involving car crashes was about 39%, compared to 25% involving pickups and SUVs.

Substance Abuse

Some 70% or more of fatal accidents involve alcohol, and a large percentage of non-fatal accidents involve alcohol as well. Alcohol isn’t the only culprit, however; even driving while under the influence of your own prescription medication can drastically increase your chances of crashing. In fact, recent studies have shown that prescription medication is more dangerous for drivers than marijuana, which may only minimally increase your chances of an accident. Avoid driving under the influence of any substance, and your chances of crashing your vehicle will always be much lower.

Understanding your chances of getting into an accident can help you take steps to avoid one. And if something happens and you do find yourself in an accident, a San Diego accidents attorney is standing by to give you the professional representation you deserve.

More and more auto accidents happen at intersections, and as recent statistics show, these are the result of collisions between cars and bikes. If you have been the victim of such a collision, you should know what liability is actually involved in such incidents.

 When is a cyclist at risk of colliding with a car?

If you have been riding a bike in the city, you know that only a small portion of a cyclist’s travel route includes intersections. Recent statistics show that basically a little over 10 percent of bicycle accidents involve a collision with a car; but of these, 45% take place in intersections.  Also, the majority of bicycle accidents -involve only the cyclist, who loses control of the bike and crashes.

Why is an intersection a dangerous place for a cyclist?

Vehicles often underestimate the speed of a bike and this is one of the most important reasons. Also, cars often don’t expect bikes to be on the road so car drivers aren’t watching for bikes, increasing the danger of auto accidents happening.

Visibility is another matter. Even if cars are on the lookout for bikes, they sometimes just don’t see them because bikes are smaller and can blend into the background.

What can a cyclist do to avoid collisions at intersections?

There are ways to minimize the risk of being hit by a car. First of all, a good cyclist would need to make everything in their power to maximize their visibility, understand the rules of the road, learn to recognize some of the most dangerous intersection hazards, and take safety precautions when approaching and riding through an intersection. Increasing the visibility of the bike and cyclist  is done by using front and rear lamps, reflective clothing, and brightly colored clothing. Also, cyclists are legally required to be on the lookout and to learn how to execute emergency maneuvers in order to avoid collision.

What are the legal liability provisions in car collisions?

It is not always easy to determine who the guilty party in such an incident is. However,  cyclists who don’t follow road rules or don’t keep a proper lookout might be deemed responsible for an accident.  In order to avoid liability for an accident after being hit by a car, cyclists must understand both the basic legal rules of liability and the rules of the road.

Legally speaking, in nearly every state a bicycle is considered to be a “vehicle” and therefore, just like motorists, cyclists must follow the rules of the road. The first and most logical thing in what regards liability is that it usually boils down to who had the right-of-way: the bike or the vehicle.

There are many legal considerations that come into play depending  in such traffic incident, and many depend on the type of intersection and overall traffic incidents. This is why, if you have been involved in an auto accident involving a vehicle collision, the first logical step would be to contact a specialized attorney who can help with your liability case.