A risk of cycling collisions are ultimately the trade-off that people on bicycles have to accept for an environmentally-friendly and healthy form of transportation. Sharing the road with motor vehicles creates a risk of getting injured by a driver who doesn’t monitor their surroundings or follow the law.
Cyclists involved in collisions with motor vehicles can sustain severe injuries and significant property damage losses. They may have to pursue an insurance claim against the driver who hit them or prepare for a civil lawsuit in more serious cases. Unfortunately, getting justice after a cycling crash isn’t necessarily easy.
An increasing number of bicycle enthusiasts have begun using specialty cameras attached to their helmets or their bikes to enhance their overall safety when they ride. How can a camera help to protect a cyclist from the worst kinds of legal fallout in the wake of a wreck?
Cameras can establish who is to blame
Many times, collisions involve he-said, she-said claims. Both parties want to blame the other for what occurred. A driver who ran a red light might claim that a cyclist cut them off rather than acknowledging that they performed a rolling stop. Particularly in scenarios where cyclists have to leave to seek medical care, police officers may not have the whole picture when putting together a crash report.
The cyclist may then face an uphill battle when they want to pursue compensation from insurance or by filing a lawsuit. Cameras collect footage that can prove exactly what happened before or after a crash. They can also help in scenarios where a motorist drives off after striking a cyclist. The camera might capture the license plate or other vehicle features that allow police officers to track the motorist down and hold them accountable.
What cameras work the best?
Every cyclist has different needs and preferences depending on how frequently they bike and how far they may travel on any given trip. Typically, cycling cameras are best when they provide multidirectional views.
Those with wide-angle lenses or dual-facing cameras are often the best option because they capture what is in front of and behind the cyclist. Helmet-mounted cameras can be useful in some cases, but mounting cameras on the bicycle may provide a more stable and reliable video. The most important feature of any camera is the ease with which a cyclist can download the footage and recharge or replace the batteries.
If a crash does occur, the cyclist could very well have footage that establishes they are not at fault. They could even use the video that they captured to identify the driver who hit them so that they have the option of pursuing an insurance claim or a lawsuit.
Those involved in cycling collisions often need help evaluating their options and holding dangerous drivers accountable, and that’s okay. Cyclists should not have to absorb the expenses generated by another party’s unsafe conduct in traffic. Cameras can play an important role in resolving the damages caused by cycling collisions.
