Who Is at Fault for Right Hook Accidents?

April 4, 2017 | Bicycle Accidents

Thousands of bicyclists are injured each year in serious accidents, many of which could have been avoided. While bicycle accidents can occur in any number of ways, one of the most common is known as the “right hook.”

These accidents occur when a car or truck that is sharing a lane with a bicyclist passes the cyclist on the left and then takes a right turn across the path of the cyclist. In many cases, a cyclist who is involved in a right hook accident ends up being thrown over the car that he or she struck, potentially resulting in extremely serious injuries.

Who Is at Fault for Right Hook Accidents?

Right hook accidents can be the fault of either the driver or the bicyclist, and there are a number of factors that could be relevant in determining who was negligent. Important issues to consider after a right hook accident include the following:

• Did the car signal its intention to turn?
• How much time elapsed between the time the car passed the cyclist and turned?
• Was the bicyclist distracted?
• Did the driver of the vehicle check his or her blind spot before turning?

Importantly, even if a bicyclist was partially at fault for a right hook accident, he or she may still be able to recover compensation under Indiana’s comparative fault statute. This law provides that a person who is partially at fault for an accident in which he or she was involved can still recover compensation, but his or her award will be diminished by his or her degree of fault.

Protecting Yourself from Right Hook Accidents

There are certain steps bicyclists can take to minimize their risk of involvement in a right hook accident. These include the following:

-Making yourself as visible as possible.
-Always paying attention to vehicles as they pass you and approach an intersection.
-If a driver indicates his or her intention to turn, move left and provide the vehicle with the right part of the lane.
-Practice evasive maneuvers, including making an “emergency right turn” in order to avoid a collision with a right-turning vehicle.

Call Merry Fountain Today to Discuss Your Case

At the Fountain Law Firm, P.C., we have successfully helped many bicycle accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve for their injuries and related losses. To make sure that you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled, it is important to have an experienced bicycle accident attorney handling your case. Injury Attorney Merry Fountain can help you today by meeting in her office or by meeting in your home. Call Merry Fountain anytime at 1-888-242-HURT (4878) for a free consultation.