07 December 2021
Bike Wrecks Kill Many in Houston Texas In 2020
In 2015 in the United States, over 1,000 bicyclists died and there were almost 467,000 bicycle-related injuries. 2020 was the year Houstonians took to roads by grabbing a bike. Auto wrecks which occur between a vehicle and a bike, most often leave the cyclist injured. A record 34 people died in 2020, in Houston alone. With distracted drivers, often using phones, speeding and failing to pay attention, pedestrians and cyclists are at extra risk of serious personal injury
Though in 2020, bicyclists, represented a fraction of road users, they suffered a disproportionate percentage of those killed on Texas roads. Last year 31 men and three women died on area roads. The annual total of 34 exceeds that of 2019, which also was a record at 27 for the region in a single year.
“More than 800 people lost their lives last year in pedestrian and bicycle-related crashes on Texas roads. One death is too many,” TxDOT Executive Director said in a press release. “Whether you’re behind the wheel, on foot or riding a bicycle, we’re reminding all Texans that they need to be safe and smart, and that starts with obeying traffic laws.” According to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Texas had the third most bicyclist and pedestrian deaths in 2019, behind Florida and California. The same study found it had the most overall road deaths in 2019 at 3,294.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries while riding a bike, call our office at 713LAW-FOR-T and get the legal help you deserve and the justice you require.
Bicycle safety facts:
- Regardless of the season, bicyclist deaths occurred most often between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
- Bicyclist deaths occur most often in urban areas (78%) compared to rural areas (22%) in 2019.
- Bicyclist deaths were 6 times higher for males than females in 2019.