Bicycle death rates in the United States rank highest in Florida, Delaware, Louisiana, Arizona, California, South Carolina, New Mexico, Oregon, North Carolina and Michigan, according to a recent study of cyclist mortality rates published this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 10 worst states in the ranking had cyclist mortality rates ranging from .22 deaths per 100,000 people in Michigan to .57 deaths per 100,000 in Florida. Delaware, with .38 deaths per 100,000 and Louisiana, with .33 deaths per 100,000 were second and third behind Florida. Arizona and California were next. Among the 48 states reviewed, Vermont was the safest with .04 deaths per 100,000 people.
Bicycle wrongful death lawyers at our law firm represent cycling crash victims in Minnesota and are concerned about the CDC’s finding that the rate of deaths among adult U.S. cyclists rose between 1975 and 2012. Attorney Fred Pritzker said the firm is receiving an increasing number of calls from families who have lost love ones to the inattentive or negligent driving of cars and trucks.
“We stand with transportation safety advocates around the country who are calling on motorists to start treating bicyclists as human beings and equals, not as traffic obstructions,” Pritzker said.
The CDC report, which examined 29,711 cycling deaths involving motor vehicles, shows the fatality rate for adults aged 35 to 54 jumped nearly threefold during the 38-year study period — from 0.11 to 0.31 deaths per 100,000 people. On a per trip basis, bicyclists are twice as likely as vehicle occupants to die on U.S. roads. About 1 percent of all trips are by bicycle, and bicycling has increased recently among adults while declining among children.
Bicycle Deaths: 10 Worst States
- Florida .57
- Delaware .38
- Louisiana .33
- Arizona .32
- California .29
- S. Carolina .28
- New Mexico .27
- Oregon .26
- N. Carolina .25
- Michigan .22
Our law firm has offices in Minneapolis, MN, and represent clients throughout the state.
