Are Bicycle Accidents Common in Tourist Areas?

Known for its coastal boardwalk, restaurants, and live music, many tourists choose to explore Myrtle Beach on two wheels. While convenient and cost-effective, bicycle accidents are more prevalent in cities that cater to tourists. A bicycle accident can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other serious injuries. These injuries can be debilitating, forcing a person to exchange their surfboard for a backboard. If you have questions surrounding bike accidents in tourist areas, our Myrtle Beach bike accident lawyers are here to address your concerns.

Roads are Designed for Cars, Not Bicycles

It may come as no shock that popular destinations are going to have busy roads. A road’s wide lanes are meant to accommodate cars, with cyclists often going unseen. Although the citywide speed limit in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is 30 miles per hour, motorists often go much faster. Even if a driver does spot a cyclist, they may not maintain a safe passing distance. In some cases, a motorist may miscalculate a cyclist’s speed, leading to severe injury.

Distracted Drivers Abound

An estimated 1.6 million crashes are caused by distracted drivers each year, killing over 3,000 people. In tourist areas, drivers are more likely to be distracted, either using their cell phone, programming a GPS navigational system, or eating and drinking. Additionally, tourists are unfamiliar with traffic patterns, speed changes, and the presence of bike lanes, making them more likely to make sudden maneuvers. Given that a bicycle sits low to the ground, cyclists are more likely to be struck by distracted drivers.

Drivers are More Likely to Be Impaired

Metropolises that have various tourist attractions are more likely to have impaired drivers. While most of us think of impairment as relating to drug or alcohol use, another type of impairment exists with fatigued drivers. Driving without sleep for 20 hours is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%. 0.08% is the legal alcohol limit in most states, including South Carolina. Some drivers may be so tired that they experience micro-sleep, short bursts of sleep that happen without the driver realizing that they have fallen asleep. Devastatingly, a motorist who takes their eyes off the road for a few seconds can result in fatal consequences.

Scenic Routes are Plagued by Aggressive Drivers

Myrtle Beach’s scenic routes offer breathtaking views while allowing you to move at a slower pace. Unfortunately, aggressive drivers may access these routes in hopes of bypassing traffic to get to their destination faster. These routes become no less safe than riding through dense traffic.

Inconsistent Bike Infrastructure

Although it is relatively easy to get around Myrtle Beach on a bicycle, poor infrastructure can make it hazardous for cyclists. This may include narrow, unmarked, or nonexistent bike lanes, leaving a cyclist to fend for themselves. Given the city’s prevalent speeding problems, cyclists place their lives at risk each time they mount their bikes.

Gathering Evidence to Prove Liability

With so many moving parts, it can be challenging to prove which party is liable for your physical and emotional suffering. You deserve to be compensated fully for injuries caused by another person’s carelessness. At Kinon Law Firm, our legal team is prepared to collect photos, video recordings, eyewitness statements, and other evidence regarding your accident. Whether it be contacting a local business for surveillance footage or subpoenaing the at-fault driver’s phone records (showing that they were on their cell phone at the time of the crash), we are prepared to go the extra mile to gather the necessary information.

Tenacious Representation from Our Myrtle Beach Bike Accident Lawyers

A bicycle accident can have a severe impact on your physical and emotional health. Between lost wages, medical bills, and mental anguish, you may be unsure of what legal options are available to you. At Kinon Law Firm, our Myrtle Beach bike accident attorneys pride ourselves on fighting for the little guy. To learn the true worth of your bike accident case, do not hesitate to contact us online or by calling (843) 488-9191 today.