The bicycle recently celebrated its 200-year invention anniversary and it’s an important milestone because more Americans than ever are hopping on and unfortunately, being seriously injured or passing away as a result of riding a bicycle. Many of the most common causes of bicycle accidents can be prevented.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Governor’s Highway Safety Association have released data that show that there has been the largest increase in bicycle deaths in the last two decades. In 2010, 793 cyclists were killed in accidents whereas that number jumped to 1005 in 2015. Certain people face the highest risk of being involved in an accident and particular times are more likely to lead to bicycle deaths and accidents than others.

For example, the highest number of fatal bicycle accidents occur between 6 pm and midnight and middle aged men on bikes are at the highest risks for death. Although motorists are responsible for many of the serious bicycle accidents, they are not responsible for all. In fact, up to 12% of cyclists who were killed in 2015 had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher and one out of every 10 cyclists admits to using a cellphone or similar device during practically all of their cycling trips. Being involved in a cycling accident can be catastrophic and these details are crucial for understanding because more people are choosing to cycle.

In 2015, for example, the Census Bureau identified that 860,000 people living in the U.S. cycle to work. That is a 20% increase from 2010. Being involved in a bicycle accident can raise crucial questions about liability and how to handle the situation of recovering compensation for your injuries. Do not hesitate to contact an experienced and knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible after you have identified injuries tied to a bike accident.