Cyclist against car: Injury after riding on the sidewalk in violation of the law!

Cyclist against car: Injury after riding on the sidewalk in violation of the law!

On August 10, 2025, an accident occurred in Donauwörth that draws attention to the risks in road traffic. A 30-year-old cyclist who was traveling illegally on the sidewalk and in the opposite direction of travel collided with the vehicle of a 36-year-old car driver at around 11:45 a.m. According to donau-ries-aktuell.de, the cyclist was thrown headfirst onto the asphalt after the impact. Tragically, the cyclist was not wearing a helmet, resulting in head injuries. He was immediately taken to the Donau-Ries Clinic, while the property damage is estimated at around 3,000 euros.

This specific incident shows once again how dangerous road traffic can be for cyclists. This issue is also reflected in current statistics: According to the Federal Statistical Office, a total of 441 cyclists died in traffic in 2024, which represents a worrying increase in a ten-year comparison. This is 33 fewer than in 2023, but every sixth traffic fatality was a cyclist, as the Tagesschau reports.

Legal Responsibility and Damages

The legal aspects of such accidents are often complex. According to the road traffic regulations, cyclists are only allowed to ride on roadways or cycle paths. Riding on the sidewalk is only permitted for children under 10 or if there is appropriate signage. In this case, the cyclist was clearly traveling in the wrong direction, which could have legal consequences. As a ruling by the Schleswig Higher Regional Court shows, the cyclist is primarily to blame in such cases. In a similar collision, a cyclist traveling on the sidewalk was given 75% responsibility, while the driver was only liable for 25% ra-vw.de.

This information is particularly relevant considering that 70.7 percent of the 92,882 bicycle accidents resulting in personal injury involved collisions with cars. This often leads to greater liability for cyclists who are involved in an accident, even if they were not seen in time by another road user. This highlights the importance for cyclists to be aware of traffic rules and take appropriate precautions.

Statistical insights

The risk for cyclists should not be underestimated, especially for older people. Almost two thirds of the fatally injured cyclists were older than 65 years. This demographic group is particularly vulnerable because they often travel without electric power. Developments in recent years show that the number of fatal cyclist accidents has increased by 11.4 percent since 2014.

Given these circumstances, both cyclists and drivers should pay particular attention and inform themselves about the applicable regulations. Safety on our roads is a shared concern that can only be guaranteed through mutual consideration and compliance with traffic rules. With this in mind, the city hopes to raise awareness of the dangers that lurk in daily traffic.