Florida Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Bicycles Are No Match for Cars, Big Trucks on the Road

Bicycling is a favorite form of exercise and family fun for all ages. About a third of bicyclists say that they ride for recreation and another 28% ride for exercise or health reasons. For many Americans, however, bicycles are an everyday mode of transportation to and from work or school.  The Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center estimates that there are about nine million bike trips every day in the United States. In our more than 45 years’ experience, our Florida bicycle accident lawyers have successfully represented numerous victims and families that have been involved in bicycle-related accidents.

Bicycling can cause devastating – even fatal – injuries to riders, car occupants, and pedestrians. This should not be a surprise: In many parts of the country, bicycles must compete with automobiles and large trucks, often in congested traffic on roads where there are no designated bike paths.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 726 bicyclists were killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2014.
• This was a small decrease from 2013, when 749 cyclists were killed, but a major increase since 2011, when only 682 bicycle deaths were reported.
• There were an estimated 50,000 bicycle injuries in 2014, up from 48,000 in 2013.
• According to the National Safety Council, the total cost of bicycle fatalities and injuries is more than $4 billion a year.

Here are some additional 2014 facts from the NHTSA to consider when you or family members head out for a bike ride:

• In 35% of accidents between bicycles and motor vehicles, the bicyclist or the car driver had blood alcohol concentrations of at least .08, the level at which one is considered alcohol-impaired.
• Men made up 88% of bicycle crash victims.
• 71% of bicyclist fatalities occurred in urban areas; 20% occurred between 6 and 8:59 a.m.
• The average age of bicyclists killed in crashes with motor vehicles in 2014 was 45 years old, compared to 39 in 2004, 32 in 1998, and 24 in 1988.
• Nearly a third of injuries to bicyclists are caused by collisions with cars.

In 2014, 139 bicyclists were killed in Florida, giving Florida the dubious distinction of second deadliest state for cyclists, behind California. Florida law requires children under 16 years old to wear a properly fitting bicycle helmet that meets national standards.

Decades of Experience Helping Florida Bicycle Accident Victims

Here at Searcy Denney, we understand that a “winning” case is not always a win in the holistic sense.  Whether you — the injured plaintiff — are satisfied is rather dependent on the circumstances.  If you succeed in proving that the defendant is liable for your bicycle-related injuries, but the court awards you minimal damages (due to perceived issues with your damages claim), then you may reasonably view that end-result as something of a disappointment.

We are therefore quite adamant about securing maximum compensation for our clients. It is not enough for us to simply “win” a case.  In doing so, we pursue litigation with a comprehensive and aggressive approach intended to obtain the highest possible damages on your behalf. Our reputation is well known for being willing and very able to pursue a case all the way through to trial — as such, the opposing counsel must take early settlement negotiations seriously lest they allow us to proceed with trial litigation. Our reputation as relentless advocates, therefore, gives us substantial leverage during these early settlement negotiations.

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a bike crash, contact a skilled Florida bicycle accident lawyer at Searcy Denney for assistance in obtaining the compensation you rightfully deserve.

Tips for Bicycle Safety

Here are just a few steps that you can take to make sure you and your family members ride safely:

• Always wear a helmet, regardless of whether or not your state has a helmet law.
• Light up your bike in front and back and wear bright reflective clothing.
• Signal turns with hand signals and use a bell or call out to warn pedestrians of your approach.
• Ride with traffic, not against it, and make eye contact with drivers to make sure they see you.
• Stay away from busy streets and be sure to slow down and stop at intersections.
• Don’t hug the curb on narrow roads; riding closer to the center keeps you from riding into an opening car door.
• Remember that you must follow the same rules of the road that motor vehicles must follow, so know what those rules are.

Over the years, advances in bike safety technology have helped protect cyclists from fatal injuries.  For example, recently a Swedish firm developed an airbag for bicyclists. When sensors detect an unusual movement that indicates a potential crash, in one-tenth of a second the airbag deploys out of a collar worn around the neck.

Comparative Negligence Explained by a Florida Bicycle Accident Lawyer 

In Florida — whether you are in a bicycle accident or any other accident — courts apply a modified comparative negligence standard, which means that an injured party can recover damages if they are at fault, as long their percentage of fault is less than the defendant.

Confused?  Let’s clarify with a quick example.

Suppose that you are injured in a bicycle accident in which the defendant-driver collided with you.  Further investigation reveals that you were speeding down the road at the time of the accident, and that your choice to maintain such high speeds may have contributed to the occurrence of the accident.  You and the defendant present your respective arguments (and evidence), and the court determines that the defendant-driver is 80 percent responsible for your injuries, and that you are 20 percent responsible for your own injuries.  Thus, if your damages claim is $100,000 in total, you would “lose” a percentage equivalent to your own fault contribution — your adjusted recovery would be $80,000.

Negligence Per Se

In Florida — and in other jurisdictions — injured plaintiffs may be able to use a legal shortcut known as “negligence per se” to avoid having to prove that the defendant acted negligently in causing them to sustain harm.  It’s important to understand that establishing negligence is not always a straightforward matter.  Your Florida bicycle accident lawyer will show that the defendant owed you a duty of care, that they violated the duty of care, and that in doing so they caused you to suffer the injuries at-issue.

Negligence per se, however, allows you to skip the process of having to prove that the defendant acted negligently.  Instead, the negligence of the defendant will be assumed.  In order to take advantage of negligence per se, Florida law requires that the potentially liable defendant have violated a non-traffic penal statute.

So, for example, if you are traveling on your bike and are subsequently injured by a speeding car, then you would not be able to use the negligence per se shortcut.  On the other hand, if you are traveling on your bike and are injured by a drunk driver, then that driver violated a penal statute and you could therefore automatically establish liability (so long as you can show that the defendant’s acts caused your injuries).

Important Regulations to Keep in Mind

There are a number of regulations to keep in mind as you begin the process of litigation for your bicycle accident claims.  An experienced Florida bicycle accident attorney can evaluate your case in the context of these regulations and will consider other legal ramifications.

As a bicycle claim plaintiff, your failure to adhere to these regulations could lead the court to attribute significant fault to your own actions, thus reducing your potential damage recovery (under modified comparative fault).

Let’s take a look at a few important ones.

Helmet Use

In Florida, bike riders and their passengers under the age of 16 must wear helmets that are fastened safely and securely and meet various federal regulatory requirements.  Bike riders age 16 and older do not have to wear helmets, though their failure to wear a helmet may substantially undermine their injury claim.

For example, if you are 20 years old, not wearing a helmet, and suffer a skull fracture due to a car collision while on your bike, a court is much less likely to award you significant damages given that the injury could have been prevented with the use of a helmet.

Florida Laws on Lane Splitting

In Florida, bicycles — just like motorcycles — are prohibited from lane splitting (i.e., riding between lanes, on or around the lane dividers).  Though lane splitting has been legalized in California, and many bikers believe that it is a safe practice, in Florida, if you split the lanes, the court is almost certain to find at least some fault on your behalf. This could have significant ramifications for your total damage recovery; in addition to exposing you to very serious harm or injury.

In some cases, the defendant may have injured you while you were lane splitting by failing to note your presence.  Perhaps they merged into the next lane, cutting off your path suddenly.  In such circumstances, you could still recover damages if your Florida bicycle accident lawyer can show that the defendant should have noticed that you were coming and avoided the collision.

Contact an Experienced Florida Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a bicycle accident, you will want a law firm with the experience and resources to pursue recovery for the devastating physical, emotional and financial losses. At Searcy Denney, when we are contracted to represent you, we assign an entire personal injury team to fight for you: one that includes not only an experienced personal injury attorney, but paralegals, investigators, expert witnesses and support staff.

Please complete our Contact Form or call us at 1-800-780-8607 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with an experienced Florida bicycle accident attorney at our firm. We have offices in West Palm, Tampa, and Tallahassee for your convenience.