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Providing Valuable Legal Guidance to Bicycle Accident Victims
Bicycles are a popular form of transportation and recreation. However, being that bikes share the roads with much larger and more powerful motor vehicles, it is not uncommon for accidents to happen. When a cyclist is in an accident with a car or truck, the cyclist invariably suffers worse injuries than any drivers or passengers of motor vehicles. Bicyclists can help protect and prepare themselves for the possibility of injuries by wearing protective clothing and safety equipment, but these safety measures only matter so much. In the end, many who are in bicycle accidents suffer serious injuries and are left with costly medical expenses, looming lost wages, and other concerns.
If you have been injured in a bicycle accident in Florida, it is imperative that you take legal action to defend your legal rights in and out of the courtroom. Because of the severity of your injuries, the cost of a fair settlement may be considerable, which may lead an insurance company to balk at the price tag. Do not settle for less when you should be awarded much more. Contact experienced Florida personal injury attorneys to represent your personal injury case for a better chance of recovering the maximum compensation for your injuries and economic losses.
At Bozanic Law, our highly skilled legal team prides itself on providing our clients with compassionate legal services while in pursuit of financial recovery. No cyclist asks for these types of things to happen or these injuries to befall them, so compassion and respect are the least that any law firm should offer. Led by personal injury attorney Zeljka Bozanic, our personal injury law firm will help you seek justice and financial compensation for your unfortunate accident. We offer a free initial consultation to all prospective new clients. The consultation comes with no obligations, so you can decide what to do after the consultation. But we believe that you will feel confident that you have chosen the right bike accident lawyer for you and your case.
What Are Florida’s Bicycle Laws?
Under Florida law, bicycles are commonly defined as vehicles the same as cars, trucks, vans, and motorcycles. As vehicles, they have most of the same rules and regulations when on the road. However, according to Florida’s laws, when a bicycle rides on the sidewalk, it will be considered a pedestrian and not a vehicle. As a pedestrian, it may be held to other rules. For example, a bicyclist on the sidewalk or crosswalk must yield to the right of way of pedestrians on foot.
If there is no bike lane available, bicyclists are required to ride on the far-right side of the roadway. There are exceptions to this rule, however, such as when preparing for a turn, passing another vehicle, avoiding hazards, and traveling on one-way streets.
No bicycle is allowed to carry more people at any given time than the number of people that the bike was designed and equipped to carry.
When operating a bike between the hours of sunset and sunrise, adequate lighting and reflectors must be affixed to the bike and the bicycle rider.
As a bicyclist intends to turn, they must provide the proper signals to do so.
Florida bicyclists are not allowed to wear headphones, earbuds, headsets, or other listening devices while riding their bikes.
All cyclists and passengers under the age of 16 must wear safety helmets when writing on sidewalks or public roads. Wearing helmets is not legally required for those older than 16, but bicycle safety tips still recommend helmets for all.
What Should You Do if You’re Ever in a Bicycle Accident?
If you’re ever in a Florida bicycle accident, it’s important that you attempt to remain calm. Hopefully you were wearing a helmet and other safety equipment to help prevent more severe injury in the crash. Regardless of your safety equipment, though, bicyclists injured in accidents often suffer severe and sometimes life-threatening injuries. The severity of the injury may depend upon the equipment the bicyclist was wearing as well as the speed at which the motor vehicle was moving when it collided with the cyclist.
Before you do anything else, assess the nature of your injuries. If you are not badly injured, attempt to move off the road to avoid oncoming traffic. Then, check on the injuries of others involved in the bike accident, such as perhaps your passenger or the other drivers of the other vehicles that struck you.
Contact emergency services like law enforcement and paramedics. While you wait for the police and ambulances to arrive at the scene of the bike accident, take the time to document the scene by taking photographic evidence of debris, your injuries, the state of your bike, and the automobile that hit you. If there were any eyewitnesses to the accident, get their witness statements. Gather as much evidence as you can because this could be the deciding factor in determining the outcome of your bike accident lawsuit.
If the motorist who struck you flees the scene of the accident, do not attempt to chase them. Instead, attempt to record their license plate and photograph their vehicle with your cell phone. Should the driver elect to stay at the accident scene (as they should), exchange contact and insurance provider information with the motorist. Attempt to remain polite and respectful in your communication with the drivers involved in the accident. However, do not go so far as to dismiss the severity of your injuries or volunteer any accountability for the cause of the accident. Anything you say at the accident scene could be used against you and diminish the potential of recovering full compensation for your injuries.
When first responders arrive, speak to law enforcement and provide them with your police report of the accident. Also, make sure to seek medical attention right away following the accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries will not announce themselves to you until much later, and it is important that you get checked by a medical professional. Failure to seek medical aid following a bicycle accident could also hurt your personal injury case. Insurance companies may deem your failure to get medical care as an admission that your injuries were not severe enough to warrant it. Your Florida bicycle accident attorneys will be able to use the medical records and police report as valuable evidence to support your bicycle accident lawsuit.
After you get medical attention, contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with dedicated bicycle accident lawyer Zeljka Bozanic. It is important to retain professional legal representation for any personal injury case, especially those where you suffered serious injuries, like in a bicycle crash. Led by experienced attorney Bozanic, our highly skilled legal representatives would be proud to take on your bike accident case and help you pursue the maximum compensation for your injuries.
What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?
Like any accident involving motor vehicles, bicycle accidents can occur in many ways. Oftentimes, bicycle accidents happen due to negligence or recklessness on the part of either the cyclist or the other motorists involved in the accident.
Common causes of bicycle accidents include the following:
- Cars driving in designated bike lanes
- Disobeying the rules of the road
- Distracted driving
- Dooring
- Driving or riding under the influence of marijuana, stimulants, or other drugs
- Drunk riding or drunk driving
- Equipment failure
- Failure to yield to the right of way
- Inexperienced motorists and bicyclists
- Night driving
- Right turns into a bike lane
- Running through red lights or stop signs
- Speeding
- Tailgating and driving too close to a cyclist
- Talking on a cell phone while driving or biking
- Texting while driving or biking
- Unsafe lane changes
- Vehicle or bike defects
Depending on the cause of the bike accident, an injury may be minor or severe. Whatever the cause and however bad the injury may or may not be, the wronged party should not be responsible for settling costly medical bills, property damage, and more. Talk to our experienced legal staff about your case, and we will do what we can to see to it that you get the compensation you require for your economic and noneconomic damages.
What Are Common Bike Accident Injuries?
If a cyclist follows the safety tips for wearing a helmet, reflective gear, bright clothing, and other safety equipment, they may potentially reduce their chances of sustaining serious injuries in an accident. However, in some cases, the number of protection and safety precautions a cyclist takes doesn’t matter because an accident will end up being severe and life-threatening anyway. In far too many instances, a bicycle accident can have fatal consequences.
Common bicycle accident injuries include the following:
- Back, neck, and head injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Complete or partial paralysis
- Crushing injuries
- Dental injuries
- Disability
- Dislocated limbs and joints
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Loss of hearing or sight
- Loss of limbs and amputations
- Road rash
- Soft tissue injuries like deep cuts, abrasions, lacerations, bruises, and torn ligaments
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Wrongful death
Those who escape a bike accident with injuries they can survive and later recover from should count themselves lucky. Far too many personal injury clients cannot say the same. Regardless of the severity of your injury, be it minor or severe (or if you lost a loved one in a bike accident), we would be proud to take your case and help you recover the damages you deserve. There is no settlement too small, no case too complex, and no challenge too great for us to face together.
Who is to Blame in a Bicycle Accident Case?
Bike accidents are treated similarly to other traffic accident cases. A bicyclist, like a motorist, is expected to adhere to the rules of the road and not violate those rules. Bike rider negligence can result in the bicyclist being considered at fault for an accident, even if they were the only injured person.
Every bicycle accident case is unique. As your Florida bicycle accident attorneys, we will examine the facts surrounding your case to determine who holds liability, who is the driver responsible, and who has the potential to recover fair compensation for losses.
To help your Florida bicycle accident lawyer, it is important that you contact us soon after the bicycle accident. The sooner we have a chance to review your case and the unique facts therein, the better we will be able to represent your interests as you seek justice for your pain and suffering.
Should I Settle My Injury Case or Take It To Court?
Deciding whether to settle your bicycle accident injury case or proceed to court is a pivotal decision. Settling often offers a faster resolution, sparing you the stress of a prolonged trial and ensuring timely compensation. However, if your case has strong evidence, pursuing a court trial could yield a significantly higher payout. Consulting with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Broward County can help you navigate this decision. We will assess your case, handle negotiations with insurance companies, and provide robust representation in court if necessary. Seeking experienced legal advice and guidance is essential to making an informed choice and securing the best possible outcome for your situation.
Can Florida Bicycle Accident Attorneys Help You Seek Compensation?
With a solid case, your bike accident lawyers can help you pursue compensation for your injuries and other losses. This compensation may come in the form of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages may help compensate you for:
- Funeral expenses and burial costs
- Lost wages and lost income earning capacity
- Medical bills and future medical expenses
- Physical therapy expenses
- Property damage
Non-economic damages can help compensate you for:
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Emotional distress
- Lost companionship
- Lost quality of life
- Mental anguish
- Wrongful death
Do You Need Legal Representation from Bicycle Accident Lawyers?
While you are not required to retain legal representation for your personal injury claim, you’re nonetheless highly recommended to do so. Those who opt to go without legal counsel often find themselves overwhelmed by the insurance companies, lawyers for the defense, and the legal process. Additionally, those who decide to retain legal representation for their personal injury claims often recover larger settlements than those who do not.
Our law firm offers a free, no-obligation case evaluation to all new clients. Contact us today to discuss your case in more detail.
What is the Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accident Cases?
If you’ve been injured in a Florida bike accident, you should take legal action right away by contacting our law firm. There is a strict statute of limitations for personal injury cases, and if you do not file your claim within that time window, your bike accident claim could be dismissed.
In Florida, injured riders have up to two years to file a personal injury claim and two years to file a wrongful death claim. However, those statutes of limitations may be shorter if government entities were involved in the case.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with an Experienced Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
Avoiding life-endangering bicycle crashes isn’t always as simple as wearing a helmet and stopping at the stop sign. Many bicycle accident cases happen because of the other vehicles involved. If you are facing the legal issues of filing bike accident claims, we recommend that you first seek legal counsel from our law firm. We have extensive experience representing injured victims of bicycle crashes, and we would be proud to represent your interests both in and out of the courtroom.
To learn more about our legal services, please contact our Broward County law offices for a free consultation today. 954-800-2864.