In New York, bicyclists face many dangers on the road, especially when they have to ride next to cars. Even though there are rules that are supposed to protect cyclists, drivers often do things that hurt bike riders very badly. Knowing the most common ways drivers harm bikers can help bring attention to the risks they face and could lead to safer riding for everyone.

Distracted Driving and its Dangers

New York is known for having very crowded streets, and distractions are a big problem. Distracted drivers are very dangerous for bikers, whether they are eating, using their phones, or adjusting the radio. Drivers might not see a bicycle coming up behind them, causing sudden accidents.

In many places, like Manhattan and Brooklyn, there are a lot of cyclists, and even a short moment of not paying attention can have terrible consequences. As you might expect, New York bicycle accident lawyers handle a lot of cases that come up because of crashes caused by drivers who aren’t paying attention.

Failure to Yield the Right of Way

Drivers failing to yield the right of way to cyclists leads to a lot of accidents in New York. A lot of drivers don’t know that bicycles have the same rights as cars on the road. This problem is especially bad at intersections and when cars turn without looking for bicycles first.

Not yielding can cause terrible accidents, especially in crowded neighborhoods like Queens and the Bronx, where the chance of an accident is higher.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

Speeding is a bad way to drive, which makes bicycle accidents more likely. People who drive too fast have slower reaction times, which makes it harder for them to avoid riding bikes. Aggressive driving makes the problem worse in places like New York City, where the roads are already crowded with cars, people walking, and bicycles.

Drivers who weave in and out of traffic or follow too closely behind bicycles are especially dangerous. The increased speed not only makes an accident more likely but also makes the cyclist’s injuries worse if they happen.

Dooring Incidents

A regular but often forgotten reason why bicycle accidents happen is dooring. This happens when a driver or passenger opens the door of their car into the path of a bicycle coming the other way.

Dooring is a big problem in New York, which is a very busy city with lots of street parking. Cyclists can get hurt badly or even die when they are thrown off their bikes or have to turn into moving traffic. Most of the time, the person who opens the door is responsible because they need to look for riders first.

Unsafe Lane Changes

Cyclists are also hurt on New York’s roads when drivers change lanes in a way that isn’t safe or proper. If a driver changes lanes without signaling or checking their blind spots, they can easily hit or cut off a bicycle.

On busy city streets, where bicycles often share lanes with fast-moving cars, this is especially dangerous. Cars and taxis often change lanes quickly in places like Times Square and the financial district, which puts bicycles at constant risk.

Running Red Lights and Ignoring Traffic Signals

Disregarding traffic signals is a common problem among drivers in New York, and it puts cyclists at a lot of risk. People who drive through red lights or don’t pay attention to stop signs might not see a cyclist crossing an intersection properly.

Because cyclists don’t have much defense against fast-moving cars, this kind of careless behavior leads to a lot of serious injuries. The problem is made worse by the large amount of traffic in places like Midtown Manhattan, which makes crossroads especially dangerous for bicycle riders.