Even as Los Angeles has started adding more bike lanes as part of its city bike route plan, a disturbing trend has been taking place, one that may make many bicyclists hesitant to take advantage of the city’s new bike lanes. And who can blame them?
According to the L.A. Times, while the overall number of hit-and-run accidents involving cars, bicyclists and pedestrians has dropped by 30 percent, the statistics involving bicyclists alone tell a very different story.
From 2002 to 2012, hit-and-run collisions in Los Angeles involving bicyclists increased by 42 percent. During this time period, in accidents where the drivers failed to remain at the scene, more than 5,600 cyclists were injured. At least thirty-six of them died.
These statistics paint a grave picture regarding the state of the roads in Los Angeles from a bicyclist’s perspective. Despite the fact that the city has added more than 120 miles of bike lanes in the past five years alone, and there are now more than 200 miles of bike lanes in Los Angeles, hit-and-run collisions involving bicyclists are becoming more, rather than less, prevalent.
Who is suffering the greatest impact? And where do most of these accidents occur? According to the L.A. Times, in 40 percent of the cases, the victim was aged 18 or younger, and nearly a fifth of the accidents took place in one of five neighborhoods: Long Beach, Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, Van Nuys and North Hollywood.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a Los Angeles accident, Bradley I. Kramer and his experienced legal team are here to help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.