Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

Florida has the unenviable distinction of consistently having more reported bicycle deaths than anywhere else in America. It’s important to understand that if you’re injured or a loved one is killed in a bike-car crash that Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawsuits differ from other types of injury/wrongful death cases in a number of ways. Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorney

For starters, cyclist injuries tend to be far more serious than what you’d typically see in a car crash. No matter who was at-fault, in a bicycle-car crash, it’s always going to be the bicyclist who suffers the most. As noted in the medical journal American Family Physician, the most common bike accident injuries are to the arms and legs (soft tissue injuries like road rash, bruises, and cuts, as well as strains, fractures, and dislocations). However, traumatic head and neck injuries – including skull fractures, intracranial hemorrhaging, and concussions – are cited in most serious bicycle accident cases.

Why does this matter for claims/litigation purposes? Because it raises the stakes. If you are pressured by an insurance adjuster into signing off on a claim settlement right away, you might do so before realizing your claim is worth a whole lot more. This is why it’s really important to talk to a Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorney before you sign anything. Even if you think you were at-fault, getting a professional opinion is important when so much is at stake.

Secondly, the laws governing bicycles is slightly different than the laws governing motor vehicles. True, bicyclists have many of the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers, but not exactly the same. Bicycles aren’t allowed to be operated on certain roadways. Drivers passing bicyclists on the road must do so only when it’s safe and give them at least three feet of distance.

Another issue that can complicate bicycle accident claims is that cyclists aren’t required to carry insurance the way drivers are. Florida is a no-fault state for car insurance. That means that no matter who is at-fault, both parties are supposed to filer a claim with their own personal injury protection (PIP) insurer. This covers a portion of medical bills and lost wages, up to $10,000. One must sustain serious/permanent injuries to file a claim for bodily injury liability coverage against the other driver. If you are injured in a bicycle accident with a car and you have PIP coverage for the car you normally drive, you can likely file a PIP claim with your own insurer. Even though you weren’t driving, you were still in an auto accident. However, cyclists aren’t required to carry insurance, so not all have PIP. In that case, they can file a PIP claim with the other driver’s insurance company. Insurance filing deadlines for no-fault coverage tend to be short, so you need to take action immediately. An attorney can help you file all the correct paperwork – completely and on time.

If the other driver was at-fault (or at least, more at-fault than you) AND you suffered serious injuries, you can file an injury claim and/or lawsuit against them. If they do not have insurance, you may be able to collect damages from your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage carrier.

As an aside, if you are injured in a bicycle accident that did NOT involve a motor vehicle – you might still be entitled to collect damages. If there was a condition of the road, sidewalk, commercial property, or private home that caused/contributed to the severity of the crash, you might be able to file a claim with:

  • The local/state government agency responsible for road maintenance.
  • The commercial property owner/manager.
  • The homeowner/homeowners’ insurance.

 Florida Bicycle Accident Statistics 

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No matter how you dice the statistics, Florida has the highest rate – and number – of bicycle accidents in the entire U.S., a fact that has remained fairly consistent for years, illustrated by the growing number of white-painted “ghost bikes” dotting the urban landscapes and intersections. Florida bicycle accidents lawyer

Bicyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users on South Florida streets. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports in its latest analysis of the issue that of the 856 bicyclists who died in the U.S., 161 of them lost their lives on Florida roads. The only other state that even comes close is California, a state with nearly double our population that reported 131 fatal bike crashes. Of the 3,183 total traffic deaths reported in the Sunshine State in a single recent year (third only to California and Texas), 5.1% of those were bicyclists. The national rate is 0.26%. Delaware technically has a higher percentage rate in this regard, but had 7 total bicyclist deaths that year, compared to our 161. Plus when factoring population, our rate is higher.

This is not a badge we wear proudly by any means, and of course every preventable crash death is one too many – no matter where it is. But our Fort Lauderdale injury lawyers know that this recurring fact does beg the question: What is Florida doing wrong? This question is particularly poignant in areas like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Orlando, and Jacksonville, where rates are the highest. Continue reading

South Florida leads the nation in bicycle accidents. Of the more than 780 bicyclists killed nationally in a single recent year, 125 of them died on Florida roads. Where bike crashes account for 2 percent of total traffic fatalities nationally, they’re double that in Florida. Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyer

As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports, three-fourths of deadly bicycle accidents occur in urban areas, oftentimes in broad daylight. And while the average age of bike crash victims has slowly climbed in recent years (from 41 to 47), health officials are reporting an uptick in child bike crash injuries in 2020, attributed largely to the pandemic-fueled increase in ridership.

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers are committed to helping those injured in these cases. Claims for damages require proof that another person or business (car driver, manufacturer of bicycle/safety equipment, city transportation officials) failed in their duty of care to keep you safe. This is called negligence. Continue reading

Florida’s new texting-and-driving law, in effect July 1st, broadens the circumstances under which police can initiate a traffic stop for texting drivers and increases the penalty for a violation.Broward bicycle accident attorney

If it’s well-enforced, it may also help in the goal of reducing Florida bicycle accident and pedestrian accident fatalities, which our Broward wrongful death attorneys have long known to be a serious problem.

Why Is Distracted Driving Such a Big Problem These Days?

The driving factor in the uptick of distracted motorist deaths is undeniably: Cellphones. The lure of constant connectivity has proven quite powerful, and many are still under the mistaken assumption people have the ability to multi-task (they don’t, not with high-level functions like reading, writing and driving).

Technically though, distraction can be anything that takes a driver’s full attention from the road. Examples include:

  • Turning to scold a child in the backseat
  • Personal grooming
  • Eating/drinking
  • Talking on a cell phone
  • Having an unsecured pet in the car
  • Adjusting music or other in-stereo dials

Still, Florida lawmakers shied away from expressly naming any of these in the new statute. As our Broward injury lawyers can explain, individuals who engage in these behaviors may or may not be cited for a traffic infraction if they cause a crash. From a civil case standpoint though, any of these could represent a breach of a driver’s duty of care, the foundation for establishing negligence compelling compensation.

The biggest change that will come from Florida’s new distracted driving law will be to bump it from a secondary to a primary offense. That means an officer’s observation or reasonable suspicion that a driver is texting behind the wheel will be cause  enough in its own right to prompt a traffic stop. Previously, police had to have another reason to initiate a traffic stop before they could also issue a citation for texting/driving.

Fines under the new law will still be $30 for a first-time offense, $60 for a second offense, etc. Additional fines are added when offenses take place in certain areas, like school zones.

Cyclists Face Out-Sized Injury Risk From Distracted Drivers

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Numerous studies have established that bicyclists who wear a helmet are less likely to suffer serious head trauma. However, this is in comparison to those who wear no helmets. Truth is, you can sustain a traumatic brain injury if you’re involved in a crash while wearing one. bicycle accident lawyer

Recently, a group of four bicyclists traveling together in Port St. Richey were seriously injured when the wheelchair lift gate of a mobile PET scan vehicle somehow became dislodged and struck the riders one-by-one, FOX 13 News. Two of the bicyclists had to undergo emergency surgery.

Although the particular circumstances of this bicycle accident are somewhat unusual, trucks pose a serious threat to bicyclists, and so do cars, vans and sport utility vehicles. In many of these instances, especially if the vehicle is traveling fast, a helmet may help reduce the risk of serious injury, but it doesn’t eliminate it. Even the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute notes there is “no such thing as a concussion-proof helmet.” Roughly three-fourths of all fatal bicycle accidents involve a head injury. Although very few bicyclists who wear helmets die in crashes, nearly 15 percent of those who suffer serious injury were wearing one. Continue reading

A number of recent reports of injury caused by bicycle defects have led manufacturers and distributors to recall their products, alerting consumers to possible hazards. bicycle

For example, in January, bike manufacturer Trek recalled approximately 800 bicycles and 300 wheels (not including another 160 bikes and 40 wheels sold in Canada) for issues with the front brake caliper. For those who may be unfamiliar, a caliper is the component of the bike that allows for a single pivot side-pull, allowing the bike to reduce speed or stop. In Trek’s case, the front brake caliper can come in contact with a broken spoke, which puts the rider at risk of falling.

More recently, Advanced Sport International recalled 650 bicycles for an issue with the rear wheel freehub, which can reportedly slip while the rider is pedaling, putting the cyclist at risk for falling. A hub is the body at the center of the bike wheel, where the axle is located. A freehub is a kind of bicycle hub that incorporates a ratcheting mechanism.  Continue reading

A cyclist injured upon encountering a defective sidewalk has been awarded $4.85 million to settle a personal injury lawsuit against the settle with the city of San Diego.sidewalk and shadow

According to Bicycling.com, the bicycle accident occurred in 2014, when he struck an uneven sidewalk, resulting in a “ramp-like effect” that launched him 28 feet over the handlebars of his bicycle.

Apparently, a tree root had grown up through the concrete, raised it seven inches and cracked it, a condition the city was reportedly aware of the condition and failed to address it.

This is reportedly not the first time the city has paid out damages for bicycle accident injuries, though it is the largest amount the city has paid for this type of incident. Just last year, council members for the city agreed to pay $235,000 to a woman who was seriously injured after hitting a pothole while cycling in 2014. She was thrown from the bicycle, and suffered injuries to her head, pelvis and lower back, according to the San Diego Tribune.

That was one of several pothole-related lawsuits filed against the city in the last few years, each alleging city officials were aware of the dangerous condition, yet failed to address it. Continue reading

There several dozen valet services in downtown Fort Lauderdale that offer assistance to motorists who need help parking their vehicles in the crowded urban streetscape. Often, these vehicles are parked off-site of where they are dropped off. The valet driver must drive the car to the off-site location and then return them. carandbike

For the most part, these workers are diligent in doing their job safely. However, there have been some cases reported where the drivers are careless with property or in abiding basic traffic laws.

One such case was recently chronicled before a trial court in Seattle, where a bicyclist was awarded $38 million by a jury in a claim against a valet company whose drivers routinely took illegal shortcuts in dropping off and picking up vehicles. Continue reading

Just a handful of months ago, a 5-year-old boy on a bicycle in Boise, ID was seriously injured when he was struck and dragged by a minivan as he crossed at an intersection. The boy was wearing a helmet, but his injuries were life-threatening. testing

That prompted the Idaho Department of Transportation to take decisive action on the issue of bicycle safety in that state. Now, new drivers are going to have to educate themselves on proper interactions with bicyclists as they navigate roads throughout the state. Driver’s education curriculum will be updated to meet the criteria that will ask new motorists on license exams about things like right of way, minimum distance and blind spots.

While bicycle-related questions were always within the pool of possible queries motorists could be asked, it wasn’t a given and a fair number of tests lacked any bicycle safety questions at all. Then this little boy was nearly killed.  Continue reading

The Florida Supreme Court recently took on the issue of collateral source evidence in Joerg v. State Farm, a case stemming from a serious bicycle accident injury. bicyclenight

The collateral source rule, also sometimes referred to as the collateral source doctrine, prohibits the admission of evidence that a plaintiff or victim has received compensation from some source other than defendant. The idea is a defendant shouldn’t have to pay less for a tortious act just because a plaintiff had health insurance or collected workers’ compensation.

Still, since 1984, the court had allowed a limited admission of evidence regarding certain kinds of free or low-cost future collateral source benefits. But that has now changed. In the Joerg case, the court ruled all defendants are barred from introducing evidence of collateral source benefits plaintiffs may receive in the future. These include Medicare and Medicaid. Given that almost all Americans will at least collect on Medicare at some point in their lives, the decision has widespread implications in personal injury law. Continue reading

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