Detroit’s streets are becoming more bike-friendly, but cycling in the city still comes with risks. According to the League of American Bicyclists, there was an average of four fatal bicycle accidents for every million Detroit residents between 2017 and 2021. There were also hundreds of injuries, some of them catastrophic.
While dedicated bike lanes and awareness campaigns have helped, motor vehicle accidents involving cyclists remain all too common. Drivers, road conditions, and even traffic laws that don’t always favor cyclists can turn a routine ride into a dangerous situation. If you ride in Detroit, knowing the most common causes of bicycle accidents – and how to stay safe – can help reduce your risk and protect your rights if a crash happens.
Why Bicycle Accidents Are a Growing Concern in Detroit
Detroit’s cycling community is growing as more people turn to bikes for commuting, exercise, and recreation. The city’s efforts to promote biking through dedicated bike lanes, protected paths, and awareness campaigns have made riding safer in some areas. But with more bike riders on the road, the number of collisions with motor vehicles has also increased.
According to Michigan State Police crash data, hundreds of bicycle accidents happen in Detroit every year, many leading to severe injuries or fatalities. Cyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, with little protection against speeding cars, distracted drivers, and reckless behavior. Even a low-speed crash can result in broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and long-term disabilities.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Detroit
While Detroit has made progress in improving bike safety, serious risks remain. Negligent drivers, poorly maintained roads, and inconsistent enforcement of cycling laws continue to put riders in danger. In some areas, bike lanes are frequently blocked by parked cars or ignored by careless drivers, forcing cyclists into fast-moving traffic. In others, potholes and crumbling pavement create hazardous conditions that can lead to crashes.
Driver Negligence: The Leading Cause of Bicycle Crashes
Most bicycle accidents in Detroit involve motor vehicles, and in many cases, the driver is at fault. Whether due to distraction, impatience, or a simple failure to notice cyclists, reckless drivers often create dangerous situations that lead to serious injuries. Some of the most common driver-related causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Failure to Yield: Many drivers don’t realize that cyclists have the same legal rights as motor vehicles. This leads to cutting off riders at intersections, ignoring bike lanes, or turning without checking for cyclists. These mistakes are especially dangerous when drivers make left turns into an oncoming cyclist’s path.
- Distracted Driving: Texting, talking on the phone, using in-car technology, or even eating while driving can take a driver’s attention away from the road. A momentary distraction is all it takes to miss a cyclist, leading to devastating consequences.
- Speeding and Aggressive Driving: Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to stop or swerve in time to avoid a cyclist. Some drivers also engage in aggressive behaviors like tailgating, unsafe passing, or honking at cyclists to intimidate them. These reckless actions can force riders off the road or into dangerous traffic situations.
- Dooring: One of the most common and preventable urban cycling accidents happens when a parked driver opens their car door directly into a cyclist’s path. With little time to stop or swerve, the rider collides with the door at full speed, often resulting in broken bones, concussions, or worse.
Many of these accidents happen because drivers fail to respect or notice cyclists. By staying alert, riding defensively, and knowing how to react in dangerous situations, riders can reduce their risk, but they shouldn’t have to ride in constant fear. Holding negligent drivers accountable is key to making the city safer for everyone on the road.
Poor Road Conditions and Lack of Infrastructure
Detroit’s roads are notorious for being rough, unpredictable, and full of hazards that make cycling dangerous. Potholes, cracked pavement, loose gravel, and debris can all cause a cyclist to lose control in an instant, leading to crashes that result in serious injuries. Unlike cars, which can absorb the impact of uneven roads, bicycles have thin tires and no suspension, making them far more vulnerable to dangerous road defects.
But the problem isn’t just poor pavement: Detroit’s cycling infrastructure is incomplete and inconsistent. While the city has added bike lanes and protected paths in some areas, many streets still lack designated spaces for cyclists. This forces riders to share busy roads with fast-moving cars and trucks, leaving little room for error.
Even in areas where bike lanes exist, they’re often blocked by parked cars, delivery trucks, or even construction debris. Some drivers fail to recognize bike lanes altogether, drifting into them or using them as personal passing lanes. This forces cyclists to weave into traffic unexpectedly, increasing the risk of collisions.
For cyclists, these infrastructure failures are more than just an inconvenience; they can be life-threatening. When roads are poorly maintained and cycling lanes are ignored, riders are left with no safe place to travel. Until Detroit fully commits to safer bike infrastructure and road maintenance, cyclists will continue to face unnecessary dangers every time they ride.
Left- and Right-Turn Accidents at Intersections
Intersections are among the most dangerous places for cyclists. The combination of fast-moving vehicles, distracted drivers, and poorly designed bike lanes creates a perfect storm for collisions. Many drivers fail to check for cyclists before turning, while others simply don’t understand the rules of the road when it comes to sharing intersections with bikes.
One of the most common and deadly scenarios occurs when a driver makes a left turn into an oncoming cyclist. This happens because many drivers only look for cars before turning, failing to notice a bike moving straight through the intersection. When a cyclist has the right of way but a driver turns directly into their path, the results can be catastrophic.
Right-turn accidents are just as dangerous. A driver making a right turn may cut across a bike lane without checking their blind spot, trapping the cyclist between their vehicle and the curb. This type of crash sometimes called a “right hook” accident, is especially common when drivers underestimate a cyclist’s speed or assume they’ll stop.
To make matters worse, many intersections in Detroit are poorly designed for cyclists. In some areas, bike lanes suddenly disappear at intersections, leaving riders without a clear or protected path to cross. This forces cyclists to merge into traffic at one of the riskiest points on the road, making them even more vulnerable to turning vehicles.
How Cyclists Can Stay Safe in Detroit
While you can’t control how drivers behave, you can take steps to protect yourself and lower your risk of a serious crash.
- Always wear a helmet. It won’t prevent an accident, but it can reduce the severity of head injuries if one happens.
- Use front and rear bike lights, even during the day. Lights help increase visibility, especially in low-light conditions.
- Follow traffic laws. Ride with traffic, obey signals, and use hand signals to let drivers know your next move.
- Be extra cautious at intersections. Look for turning vehicles, make eye contact with drivers when possible, and never assume they see you.
- Stay out of the “door zone.” Ride at least three feet away from parked cars to avoid getting hit by an opening door.
- Avoid distractions. Just like drivers, cyclists need to stay focused, so skip the headphones and stay aware of your surroundings.
What to Do If You’re in a Bicycle Accident in Detroit
Even the safest cyclists can’t control the actions of drivers or the condition of Detroit’s roads. A crash can happen in an instant, and in the shock of the moment, it’s easy to forget what steps to take next. Nonetheless, what you do immediately after an accident can make a big difference in the success of your personal injury claim.
Call 911 and Get Medical Assistance
Even if you feel okay, don’t assume you’re uninjured. Adrenaline can mask pain and symptoms, and some injuries, like concussions, internal injuries, or soft tissue damage, don’t show up right away. Getting checked by paramedics and going to the hospital ensures your injuries are properly diagnosed and documented, which is critical for both your recovery and any future bicycle accident claim. The police will also make an accident report that can serve as key evidence in a personal injury lawsuit.
Get the Driver’s Information
Treat the accident like a car crash. Get the following information from the at-fault driver:
- Full name and contact details
- Insurance company and policy number
- License plate number and vehicle description
If the responsible party flees the accident scene, try to remember as many details as possible, such as the car’s make, model, color, or partial plate number. Hit-and-run accidents happen too often in Detroit, but witnesses and security cameras may help identify the at-fault party
Take Photos of the Accident Scene
Pictures tell the story of what happened and serve as valuable evidence if you file an injury claim. Use your phone to capture:
- Your bike and any visible damage
- The driver’s car, including license plate and damage
- Any injuries you sustained
- Skid marks, broken glass, or road hazards that may have contributed to the crash
If you’re too injured to take photos or video, ask a bystander for help.
Talk to Witnesses
If anyone saw the crash, get their contact information. Witnesses can confirm what happened and how the driver was at fault. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto bicycle riders, but an objective witness statement can help prove the truth.
Don’t Negotiate with the Driver
Some drivers apologize at the scene, admitting fault and offering to pay out of pocket. But once they leave, they may change their story or deny responsibility altogether. Avoid arguing, accepting blame, or making informal agreements. Let the police, insurance companies and your personal injury attorney handle the legal process.
Contact an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Insurance companies aren’t on your side: their goal is to pay as little as possible. They may downplay your injuries, blame you for the bike accident, or pressure you into a less-than-fair settlement. Having a skilled bicycle accident attorney ensures you:
- Don’t settle for less than you deserve
- Have legal protection against unfair insurance tactics
- Get maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering
Injured in a Detroit Bicycle Accident? We Can Help.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Detroit, don’t try to handle the insurance companies alone. At Lee Steinberg Law Firm, our experienced attorneys fight for injured cyclists and work to get them the fair compensation they deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Call us today at 1-800-LEE-FREE for a free consultation, or fill out our online contact form. You don’t pay a dime unless we win your case. Your recovery is our priority.