Motor vehicles help protect people when collisions occur. The vehicle itself absorbs a significant amount of the collision’s force. There are also safety systems integrated into vehicles that help protect people from getting ejected from the vehicle or sustaining blunt force trauma injuries.
Unfortunately, no such systems exist for the protection of cyclists. If people in motor vehicles hit cyclists in traffic, the person on the bike is likely to sustain major injuries even at relatively low speeds. People who bike for work, who ride occasionally for fun and who are passionate hobbyists may do their best to stay as safe as possible. They may follow all traffic laws, wear a helmet every time they ride and even wear brightly-colored visibility gear.
Despite all of those efforts, the drivers who hit them in traffic may claim that they didn’t see the bicycle. Even when the bike is clearly obvious in broad daylight and the cyclist has brightly colored clothes on, drivers may insist that they did not see the bike before the crash occurred. Why is it so difficult for drivers to notice cyclists on the street?
Drivers don’t watch for cyclists
Typically, every driver makes at least a cursory effort to monitor their surroundings. Some are more diligent than others. Even the most attentive motorist could potentially fail to spot a cyclist because of how the human brain functions.
Processing visual information requires a lot of the brain’s effort. Drivers have more incoming visual information than their brains can readily analyze. The brain prioritizes focusing on information that seems important for safety. Drivers almost never overlook semi-trucks or school buses. They’re so large that the brain recognizes them as threats. It is much easier for drivers to overlook motorcycles, pedestrians and cyclists.
The only way for drivers to counter this issue is to mentally make a point of watching for smaller vehicles and pedestrians in traffic. When motorists don’t make the safety of others their top priority, they may be legally and financially liable for any harm that they cause. Cyclists injured by drivers who insist they couldn’t see them may be able to file insurance claims or even personal injury lawsuits.
Holding irresponsible drivers accountable for property damage, medical expenses and lost wages can help the people injured in bicycle collisions. Cyclists may need help pursuing the compensation that they require after a crash caused by a motor vehicle, and that’s okay.