Bicycling Accidents and Children

Nothing is more terrifying than the serious injury of a child in an automobile accident. Unfortunately, children and teenagers are all too often victimized by Fort Lauderdale bicycle accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the number of serious and fatal bicycle accidents continues to climb – more than 600 riders are killed each year and another 50,000 are injured.

Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorney Richard Ansara knows far too many of these accidents involve children. Bicycling accidents involving children are often the fault of careless, inattentive or negligent drivers. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports 70 percent of fatal bicycle accidents occur in urban areas, and nearly three-quarters occur during daylight hours.

Each year, about 150 children are killed in bicycle accidents – and more than 17,000 are injured. Florida has consistently ranked among the deadliest states in the nation for bicycle accidents, with the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area continuing to rank among the nation’s deadliest metro areas.

• Children should wear a helmet in Florida – it’s the law.
• Teach children the ABC Check: Air, Brakes & Chain.
• Wear brightly-colored clothing, utilize proper lights and reflectors and see and be seen.
• Avoid biking at night.
• Ride to the right – with the direction of traffic.
• Always watch for traffic – especially traffic exiting from parking lots, parking spaces or private drives.
• Obey all traffic laws.
• Yield to traffic when appropriate.
• Look before turning.
• Make eye contact with a driver and make sure he sees you before proceeding.

Florida participates in the Safe Routes to School – a national movement that promotes safe walking and bicycling to school as a healthy travel alternative. The Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Education Program offers elementary, middle school and adult safety courses. And our lawyers know that parental involvement can go a long way toward preventing bicycling accidents involving children.

The NHTSA recommends children under the age of 10 should ride on the sidewalk, where special care should be taken when passing pedestrians. Check with your community for traffic laws governing riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. Also, teach your child to provide an audible warning, such as “passing on the left, excuse me” when overtaking pedestrians on a sidewalk.

The truth of the matter is that most bicycle accidents are the result of careless, inattentive, distracted or negligent drivers. Typically a driver fails to yield the right-of-way when turning at an intersection, or when exiting a private drive, parking lot or parallel parking space.

Broken bones and lacerations are among the obvious, common injuries that result from bicycling accidents involving children. However, concussions and traumatic brain injuries may be harder to diagnose. Such injuries may not be obvious for days or weeks after an accident. In some cases, future learning disabilities may never be linked to a serious bicycle accident.

As an experienced bicycle accident lawyer, Richard Ansara can assist in ensuring that your child is receiving the proper medical treatment and can document and build a case to compensate for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages. Making sure your child makes a complete recovery is always our first goal.

If you are coping with the aftermath of a bicycle accident in Fort Lauderdale, contact the attorneys at The Ansara Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call (954) 761-3641 – 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. Serving all of Broward County, including Weston, Sunrise, Miramar, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Davie and Coral Springs.

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