Woman on bicycle hit by car door: Injuries after accident in Havelberg

Woman on bicycle hit by car door: Injuries after accident in Havelberg

On August 26, 2025, there was an accident on Wilsnacker Straße in Havelberg between a VW van and a cyclist. The driver of the van, a 53-year-old, stopped on the right side of the road when the 51-year-old cyclist overtook him. The driver opened the driver's door, which led to a collision. The cyclist subsequently crashed into another vehicle in oncoming traffic. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The incident shows once again what dangers lurk on the roads and how important mindfulness is in traffic. Overall, there was material damage to all three vehicles, which underlines the need for careful traffic education.

In Germany, the risk for cyclists should not be underestimated. According to a comprehensive study by the Federal Statistical Office in 2021, alarming figures emerged: 28.3% of bicycle accidents occurred without external influence, which points to the potential dangers posed by the infrastructure and riding behavior itself. What is particularly worrying is that almost 70% of accidents involve at least two people involved, with 71.9% of those involved in the accident being cars. Interestingly, speed plays a crucial role: a 29.7% increase in accidents due to improper speed is alarming, putting the safety of all road users at risk. This is also confirmed by current statistics, which show not only an increase in cyclists, but also an increase in serious accidents.

The role of cyclists in accidents

In addition to the facts already mentioned, it is noteworthy that in many cases cyclists are responsible for their own accidents. Almost half of bicycle accidents were caused by errors made by cyclists. This means that only 24.8% of serious car accidents can be identified as the culprit. The most common causes include driving errors, failure to yield right of way and technical problems. The current dynamics of accidents have led to an increase in single-occupancy accidents, which has more than doubled in the last 15 years. What is particularly striking is that a third of these accidents are caused by inadequate infrastructure, an issue that needs to be urgently addressed in many places.

The issues of safety and equipment are also expensive negligence. Experience shows that only 26% of cyclists wore a helmet in 2020, despite evidence that helmets can prevent up to 80% of serious head injuries. This presents another insurance risk that many cyclists ignore. The increasing number of electric bicycles - the number of Pedelecs has increased eightfold since 2014 - poses additional risks because they are heavier and faster than conventional bikes.

Demands and future outlook

Insurers' accident research has called for the infrastructural conditions to be improved. This includes creating separate cycle paths and adapting right-of-way regulations. The challenge of optimizing the traffic situation for cyclists arises throughout Germany. The awareness of cyclists themselves is equally important: many say their driving style contributed to the accident. One in three solo accidents ended with the conclusion that the cyclist was driving too fast. So it is clear that both structural and personal factors play a key role in preventing accidents.

The recent events in Havelberg remind us how quickly an accident can occur and how important it is to be alert and careful on the road. The statistics that provide information about increasing accidents involving cyclists are alarming and require a rethink in how we deal with the traffic infrastructure and our own driving behavior. Safety should always come first – for cyclists and drivers alike.