Articles Posted in Bicycle Accidents

“Alert today, alive tomorrow.” That was the theme for the downtown Fort Lauderdale bike safety event.

City officials closed NE 3rd Avenue to hold the event and to help to raise awareness about the risks faced by bicyclists in our area, especially our young ones. According to the Examiner, the event was a part of the Florida Department of Highway Transportation’s (FDOT) effort to teach bikers safe traveling habits.

The event logo featured a pedestrian about to cross a dangerous intersection as an irresponsible driver approached. The slogan for this campaign was “Safety doesn’t happen by accident” and it seemed fitting as the state of Florida has continuously been ranked as the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrian and bicyclist accidents.

When talking specifically about pedestrian accidents, areas in the state of Florida hold the top four spots in the nation. Included in these dangerous metro areas are Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater and Orlando, according to Transportation for America.

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers understand that more than a quarter of all residents over the age of 16 are riding bicycles to get some exercise. Another 40 percent of them are riding for health reasons and more than 35 percent are riding for recreational purposes, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Regardless of the reason for your riding, it’s important that you’re riding safely.

By law, drivers are required to keep their vehicles at least 3 feet away from bicyclists and pedestrians at all times. Unfortunately, not many drivers in the area even know about this rule. That’s why it’s up to us, as bicyclists and pedestrians and as eco-friendly travelers, ti protect ourselves out there.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 620 bicyclists killed in traffic accidents across the country in 2010. In addition to these deaths, there were another 50,000 who were injured in traffic accidents. These fatalities accounted for about 2 percent of all of the fatalities that were recorded throughout the year.

Bicyclists and pedestrians are reminded to make sure they’re visible to passing motorists. Make sure you’re always crossing the street at crosswalks or at street corners. When crossing the street, make sure you make eye contact with drivers beforehand. You want to make sure that they know you’re there and that they’re going to stop.

In the state of Florida, there were close to 100 bicyclists killed in 2010. These accidents accounted for more than 3 percent of all of the traffic fatalities recorded throughout the year. Many of these accidents could have been prevented — and that’s what the City of Fort Lauderdale is doing — raising awareness to help to ensure the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians.
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As our Fort Lauderale injury attorneys have recently reported, the overall number of traffic accidents may be down in the state of Florida but there are a few important categories that actually saw some serious increases over the last year. These categories include pedestrian, bicyclist and motorcycle accidents, injuries and fatalities.

We are now going to focus in on the increase in the number of bicyclist accidents and the injuries and fatalities, as they continue to be critical concern in Broward County and through South Florida. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), there were 76 bicyclists killed in the state of Florida in 2010. That number increased by close to 60 percent to 120 fatalities in 2011.

About one out of every seven bicyclists who are killed in accidents are killed in the state of Florida. Even though California has about twice the population of the Sunshine State, Florida has more bicyclist fatalities, according to recent statistics.

Nearly half of all bicyclists who are killed in traffic accidents are killed in broard daylight. About a third of these cyclists die when it’s nighttime but the street is illuminated and the remainder of these fatalities happen when it’s completely dark out.

Bicyclists are also warned when riding during the weekend. As a matter of fact, Saturday has been recorded as the most dangerous day of the week, observing roughly 16 percent of all fatal bicycling accidents. Accidents on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday tied for being the second most dangerous — all seeing 15 percent.

Broward County is the second most dangerous county in the entire state for these kinds of accidents, only following Miami-Dade County. Unfortunately, many of our roadways are designed with only motor-vehicle traffic in mind. We need more sidewalks, more crosswalks and more amenities for bicyclists and pedestrians. These are measures that have been proven across the country to help to reduce the number of these kinds of accidents.

So why are these kinds of accidents on the rise? Well, officials credit a number of factors for the increase. One of the most frequently mentioned of these factors is the population growth. Florida has more than 5 times as many residents as it did back in the 50s, going from less than 3 million to more than 18 million.

Another factor commonly attributed to these accidents is tourism. As we celebrate the holiday season, we’re seeing some of the highest numbers of tourists out of the entire year. Officials estimate that more than 80 million people visited Florida in 2009. Lastly, officials say that the climate has something to do with it. Because we’re provided with nearly 365 days of ideal biking weather, people spend more time outside and on two wheels. With more bicyclists on our roadways, accident risks are higher.
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A woman who was riding her mountain bike through Quiet Waters Park is now getting close to $18,000 from the Broward County Commission, according to the Sun Sentinel. What happened was she flew over the handlebars of her bike and nearly landed head-first on the trail below, seriously injuring her spine.

The woman now has to pay more than $80,000 in medical bills because she fractured a cervical vertebrae in the accident. Officials are saying that they’re not dishing out the total costs because the woman was trespassing at the time of the accident. They add that she didn’t sign the proper waiver or watch the safety video before going out riding.

Our Broward County bicycle accident lawyers understand that there are trails for riders of all experience levels. There are some for more experienced riders, and those like the DNA trail for beginners. We also understand the popularity of biking in the area. Flat locale has been the dominate way for most of these cyclists to travel in recent years, but the trends seems to be shifting to path riding, with close to 23,000 riders registering for these paths in the last 2 years.

In many cases, the dangers occur when a path or trail (whether paved, or unpaved), intersects a road, railroad crossing, or other traffic point.

When riding on a mountain bike or riding along a trail, there are a few simple rules you should follow to help ensure that you have an enjoyable trip. Please review these tips and share them with your fellow riders to make sure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable ride!

Trail Biking Safety Tips:

-Only ride trails that meet your skill level. Never ride on a trail that’s too advanced for you. This is going to largely determine your risks for an accident!

-Only ride on open trails. Trails can close from time to time. If you’re ever uncertain of a trail’s status, ask a land manager. Avoid the risks and do not trespass on private land.

-Don’t leave a trace. Be aware of the dirt you’re riding on. If the trails are muddy and wet, you might want to give up on biking that day. These conditions also make it more dangerous for you to ride!

-Keep your bicycle under control. Inattention can put you and the cyclists around you in danger. Make sure you’re riding a bicycle that you’re familiar with and one that meets your skill level.

-Yield when necessary. Let your fellow bikers know when you’re coming. Try to anticipate other riders as you ride around corners. Make yourself as visible as possible!

-Always plan ahead. Know your equipment. Know where you’re riding. Know your schedule. Know what to do in the event of a weather change or an emergency.
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For a state that has an abundant population of bicyclists and pedestrians, you’d think our roadways would be a little better equipped for the traffic.

Unfortunately, the utter lack of accomodations is a daily problem that many of these vulnerable travelers face. The Broward-Palm Beach New Times wanted to illustrate just how difficult it is to bike through the area. In a recent article, “Bike to the Everglades! An Illustrated Beginner’s Guide to Not Dying,” the difficulties are clearly illustrated, throughout text and pictures. There are a number of problems that bikers have to deal with, including blocked access, shoddy infrastructure, tiny and unmarked bike lanes and even concrete barriers.

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers understand that biking through our city can be as risky as it is inviting. Walking, biking and even driving in the area can be a difficult, and dangerous, task — especially for bikers. Take Davie Boulevard for example. Heading west, there’s absolutely no bike lane for a majority of the ride. When a bike lane finally appears, you might miss it if you’re not paying attention as it’s hardly wide enough to fit one biker. Some don’t even call it a bike lane as there’s no bike painting on the cement.

Once you make it past Davie Boulevard, you can jump on University Boulevard. You might breath a sigh of relief as there’s a bike lane there. You’re only going to get a couple hundred feet though, as the path is blocked by a couple fences!

If the fences aren’t bad enough, when you hit Markham Park along 595 you’re going to run into some construction. Good luck getting through that mess!

If you’re lucky enough to make it passed there, you’re not off the hook. Every time you get to a north-south road that shoots off of 84, you’re not going to be able to cross. That’s right. They’re completely blocked by guard rails. You’re going to see signs that will tell you to “USE PED SIGNAL.”

Sounds easy, huh? Think again! At almost every pedestrian crossing in the area, you’ll find a mess of construction. These crossings have no buttons. They’re only equipped with a sign showing you where to cross, if you’re lucky enough to find a break in traffic.

If you make it this far, you’re coming up to Markham Park. When you get here, there’s a gavel path you can take. You don’t have to worry about traffic anymore, but you’ve got alligators to deal with, which you might be relieved to see after dealing with all of the problems while heading through the city.

This is a trip that many bicyclists take every day. The problems that they face are not much different than the obstacles that are faced all around the city. It makes you wonder — where are your tax dollars going?
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The state of Florida is known for having the deadliest roads in the country. A number of bicyclists who have experienced the dangers of these roadways firsthand have decided to launch a campaign to raise awareness about the vulnerable travelers, bicyclists and pedestrians, in the state.

The campaign is also working to get government officials to better plan street design, to create more bike paths and to get more enforcement from law enforcement officials, according to the Sun Sentinel. It’s all about changing the travel mindset of the area. We’ve all got to be more aware of one another on our roads. We’re all one big Florida family and we all need to respect fellow travelers.

“We’re trying to change the habits of the drivers as well as bicyclists and pedestrians,” said Eric Carr with the Florida DOT.

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorneys understand that the number of overall traffic fatalities has decreased in recent years, but not the number of pedestrian fatalities. With the year-round warm weather that we have throughout the state, pedestrian and bicyclists are at increased risk. In all areas, more pedestrians and bicyclists means more accidents, more injuries and more fatalities.

The new campaign is funded by nearly $8 million in both state and federal grants. Through it, there are four Es to get the message across: Engineering. Education. Enforcement. Emergency Services.

Bicycle Accident Stats, 2010:

-Broward County: 554 injured and 5 killed.

-Palm Beach County: 367 injured and 4 killed.

Bicycle Accident Characteristics, 2010:

-Bicycles were most likely hit in the front. Very rarely were bicycles struck from the back.

-About half of all reported bicycle accidents happened at intersections or were influenced by intersections.

-More than 25 percent of the vehicles that were involved in bicycle accidents were turning right at the time of the accident. About 10 percent involved were making a left-hand turn and about 45 percent were heading straight.

-Nearly 80 percent of the bicyclists that were involved in accidents were heading straight.

-Careless driving and neglecting to yield on the part of the vehicle driver was listed as the cause of accident in about a quarter of all fatalities.

-Careless driving and neglecting to yield on the part of the bicyclist was listed as the cause of the accident in more than 15 percent of accidents.

The campaign consists of billboards, TV ads and bus stop ads in four targeted areas that consistently place among the top 10 in pedestrian and bicycle deaths in the country: South Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg, Orlando and Jacksonville. The message is simple: “Alert today, alive tomorrow.”

You’re asked to join in on the spirit of the campaign and to stay alert when traveling, regardless of how you get around. We all need to pay attention to one another to keep our Florida roads safe and our Florida family safer.
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Each and every day, bicyclists and pedestrians are hit by irresponsible drivers. Unfortunately, many of these accidents forever change the life of the rider.

There are those cases though, in which a victim is lucky enough to survive. Take the case of Christopher McConnell for example. According to the Sun Sentinel, he was hit by a passing van while he was riding his bicycle down Sheridan Road. The collision left him with various injuries to his shoulder and his pelvis, with a number of broken ribs and with a gash in his head that needed 30 stitches. McConnell wasn’t going to let the accident stop him. He’s pushed through rehab and made it back onto a bicycle in just a matter of weeks.

“He was lucky to be alive,” said John Jones, McConnell’s long-time friend. “But he loved bicycling and he loved the guys he rode with. It was a big part of his life.”

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorneys understand that McConnell wasn’t done facing the risks of bicycling in the area though. Unfortunately, encounters with motor-vehicle traffic aren’t a one-time experience for cyclists in the area. McConnell’s life was taken when he was hit a second time on Sheridan Road. This time he was hit by a car that was being driven by a burglary suspect. According to Broward Sheriff’s homicide investigators, the driver of the fleeing car was driving at speeds near 110 miles per hour.

McConnell wasn’t the only victim in this accident. One of his riding friends, Dean Amelkin from Coral Springs, was killed in the collision as well. These gentlemen rode their bikes every weekend and pedaled to the beach for breakfast.

The fatal bicycle accident happened just after 7:00 a.m. when the fleeing driver sped through a red light at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Sheridan road. The car slammed into another vehicle, sending it right into the path of the cyclists.

The two killed in the accident died on impact. The other two bicyclists that they were with were not injured.

The runaway driver jumped out of his car after the collision and was later found by officials. He is currently facing two counts of first-degree murder along with charges from the burglary that started the whole chase.

The entire community is feeling the loss of these beloved residents. Both of the men were owners of small business in the area. To recognize their lives and their contributions to the community, friends and family members help a memorial service for the two.

Drivers give riders too little respect, often with deadly results. The truth of the matter is that cyclists need to fend for themselves on our roadways. Make your presence known and steer clear of vehicular traffic whenever possible.
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There’s going to be a new bicycle-sharing program here in Miami. According to the Miami Herald, the city’s commissioners voted 3-0 to give preliminary approval to a new ordinance that would allow for advertising on the side of these bicycle rental stations. Under the current city code, ads are prohibited from being displayed on most of the public right-of-way or city-owned fixtures.

The advertising will help to fund the project, says the director of capital improvements, Albert Sosa. Unfortunately, many safety officials believe that the project will be increasing the risks of bicycle accidents in Miami and elsewhere.

“Our program is intended to be revenue generating for the city and to be self-sustaining,” said Sosa.

Our Miami bicycle accident lawyers understand the Miami-Broward area is among the most dangerous in the nation when it comes to cycling accidents. Our areas continue to be the most dangerous spots for both pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in the entire state year after year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Officials are working to get more bicyclists on our roadways, which safety advocates are predicting will increase the risks for these kinds of accidents. Now, all officials have to do is finalize the details. The city of Miami has also solicited a number of proposals from bike-sharing companies. There’s one company that has the lead spot for the job, but officials are not releasing the name of the bidder until the process is done.

Sosa says that this program will be setting up nearly 50 bicycle-sharing racks throughout the area. They will first be placed in the most populated areas. These bikes will help to get residents and visitors to their destinations while helping to reduce vehicular congestion on our roadways.

With more bikers along our streets, we’re warning everyone about the increased risks for accidents. We’re reminding bicyclists to be on their best behavior when traveling near motor vehicle traffic. Sosa says that the goal of the program is to get vehicles off of the road and to help residents to get healthy. One of the best ways to stay healthy is to stay safe. Make sure that you make yourself as visible as possible when riding in the area. Motor vehicle traffic and bicyclists travel in close quarters with one another. Travel harmoniously and help to keep everyone safe.

Bicycle-sharing programs have been successful in other South Florida area. This includes in both Palm Beach and Broward counties in addition to Miami Beach. With these programs comes a heavy focus on traveler safety, accompanying bike safety advertisements and awareness campaigns. Help to make our area safe for all travelers. Be safe and alert regardless of how you choose to get around.
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For the first time in 100 years, the cities in the United States are growing at a faster rate than the surrounding suburbs. According to MSNBC, the growth can be credited to the young adults who are looking for work in a struggling job market. Nowadays, they’re shifting away from purchasing homes and staying in their urban areas.

Today, young adults are putting off getting married, creating families and launching their careers all because of our country’s alarmingly high unemployment rates. They’re now being referred to as “generation rent.” The growth of these young lives is at a standstill and they’re looking for every way possible to cut corners and to cut expenses.

By staying in our country’s cities, they’re hanging up their keys and looking for a less expensive and more eco-friendly way to get to where they need to be. Many of our young adults have turned to bicycles. Unfortunately, with more bicycle riders along our city’s roadways we’re also facing higher risks for bicycling accidents in Fort Lauderdale and in other large cities across the country.

The youth today is putting off suburban home ownership and they’re looking for less commitment in their living situations. They want cheaper rent. They want less commitment. They want better location. They’re also relying on public transportation and bicycles in search of potential jobs in larger cities. Our Fort Lauderdale accident attorneys understand that with more people staying in the city we’ve got higher volumes of traffic and higher risks for accidents. Drivers are asked to be cautious of bicyclists of all ages. During this time of the year, our young adults are on summer break from school and are hopping on their bikes and pedaling their way to a brighter future.

The last time that the population growth of big cities was greater than their surrounding suburban areas was before 1920. This was also before automobiles were mass produced.

“I just like being connected to everything down here – concerts, work, restaurants, all of it. This is where everything’s at,” said Jaclyn King, a city resident who bikes six miles to her job every day.

Most large cities saw a growth of more than 1 percent in 2011, while suburban areas nearby saw much less. In all, city growth in 2011 equaled or surpassed that of suburbs in roughly 33 of the nation’s 51 large metro areas. That’s in comparison to only five during the last 10 years.

With the growth in large city populations, we’re seeing more congestion on our roadways. With that we’re seeing more and more fatal traffic accidents. While we’re all sharing the same areas we might as well do our part to make them safer. Motorists are asked to be cautious of one another and to keep an eye out for our more vulnerable travelers, including bicyclists and pedestrians. Safer roadways and a safer neighborhood start with you.
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State Road A1A is a tough road to travel down with everyone driving around thinking it’s their own. It’s a scenic route through both Broward and Palm Beach counties. Llined with swanky restaurants, public beaches, tall condominium towers and sprawling mansions, it’s a hot spot for pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists and tourists. Unfortunately, this beautiful area is a common place for pedestrian and bicycle accidents in Broward County.

Fort Lauderdale accident lawyers understand that police agencies in the area are trying to make A1A a little safer for everyone and they’re reaching out for help. There was a meeting that was recently held among nonprofit groups, government transportation agencies and law enforcement officials to just to determine ways to calm travelers in this roadway and help to prevent some of the accidents. Bicycle clubs will be invited to the meetings soon then residents will be called in. According to Lt. Hal Hutchins with the Ocean Ridge police, the goal of these meetings is to enforce safe traveling education from Jacksonville to Miami.

The task force, the Broward-Palm Beach Coastal Community Traffic Coalition, is bringing in reps from the state Department of Transportation, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach, the Broward Sheriff’s office and nonprofit groups to work on these making our roadways issues.

Right now, the speed limit on that two-lane road is 35 miles per hour. Each city along the roadway has its own safety features and they vary from area to area. Some have a plethora of crosswalks for bicyclists and pedestrians and others even offer limited beach access to residents and visitors. Some have designated bike lanes, other don’t. In the state of Florida, motorists are required to give bicyclists three feet of room between their vehicle and a bike to help prevent accidents. Unfortunately, this is a law that many drivers fail to obey.

With all of these changes along A1A, accidents are a commonality. From just 2006 to 2010, there were more than 300 pedestrians and cyclists who were involved in traffic accidents along this road in just Palm Beach and Broward counties.

This is a number that’s scaring a lot of these travelers as well as law enforcement officials as the number of people biking to work recent increased by nearly 60 percent just from 2000 to 2009.

According to Bret Baronak, coordinator for the Palm Beach County Metropolitan Planning Organization, this roadway brings out more bicyclists than any other roadway in Palm Beach or Broward counties. He is hoping that the task force keeps on going and becomes an important and permanent group that meets regularly to update residents, visitors, motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians on laws regarding all travelers on our roadways.

He says that throwing up signs in the areas is not the answer. Motorists oftentimes disregard signs. He suggests that more education and awareness efforts kickoff this program and help to increase safe along A1A.
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A 9-year-old boy was sent to the hospital with serious injuries to his head after a recent Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident. According to local police, the accident happened just before 4:00 p.m. as the young bicyclist was crossing over Northwest 6th Street. A motorist in an early-80s corvette hit the child as he crossed the street.

According to the Sun Sentinel, the driver of the Corvette remained at the scene of the accident. The 68-year-old driver is not currently facing any citations, pending the outcome of the investigation. The young bicyclist was transported to the Broward General Medical Center. His condition remains unknown.

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers understand that there’s nothing more terrifying than the serious injury of a young bicyclist involved in an automobile accident. Unfortunately, the state of Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for these kinds of accidents. Our busy roadways and bike-worthy weather creates that recipe for disaster, but we can help with a little awareness and compassion.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, more than 900 bicyclists are killed and more than 500,000 are injured each year in bicycling accidents nationwide each year. About three quarters of these accidents happen in urban areas and during the daylight hours. As the school year winds down, more and more school-aged children will be hitting our roadways on two wheels. Motorists are asked to keep a look out because every year, nearly 200 kids are killed and another 17,000 are injured in these kinds of accidents.

Fort Lauderdale not only sits in the most dangerous state for bicycle accidents, but it also ranks as one of the deadliest metro areas as well!

It’s important to help keep our kids safe on our roadways and one of the most beneficial ways to do that is to make sure our young cyclists are wearing the right safety helmets. As a matter of fact, a properly-fitting bike helmet can reduce the risks of injuries to the head by nearly 90 percent. In the state of Florida, riders who are under the age of 16 are required to wear a helmet while riding a bike or acting as a passenger on a bike.

Safe Bicycling Tips, from the Broward Sheriff’s Office:

-Always wear a helmet that meets one of the helmet standards, including ANSI, Snell or ASTM.

-Be sure that the helmet fits properly. It should be level on the head and should not tilt back or sit over the forehead.

-Check out your bike before every ride. Make sure everything’s properly adjusted and in good-working order.

-Wear brightly-colored clothing to help make sure that drivers can see you.

-Make sure your bike has reflectors on it to make you more easily seen by motorists.

-Ride in safe areas along marked paths whenever you can.

-Ride with the flow of traffic.

-Be on the lookout for pedestrians, vehicles, road debris, potholes, etc.

-Never ride, or allow someone to ride, on the handlebars.

-At least one hand should be on the handlebars at all times.
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