Bicycle Accident Injury
South Florida is home to great weather and many tourists. Regular bike riding enthusiasts who enjoy the freedom and exercise of traversing our cities by pedaling through the scenery are prone to personal injury accidents. Pedestrians and bicyclists are at risk of serious bicycle accident injury whenever a car and bicycle collision occurs.
Many bicyclists often lack any of the protective equipment such as helmets to cushion a blow or lessen the severity of an impact. With such devastating injuries as a result of an accident, it is wise to contact and schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer as soon as it is possible.
Safety tips for cyclists
It is important all cyclists, even the ones with experience on the road, protect themselves from the road unpredictability. Unfortunately, many cities in Miami are not bike-friendly and also some roads are poorly designed, which can contribute to more accidents. There isn’t sufficient bike lanes and cyclists as well as bikers fail to protect themselves and obey traffic rules.Some simple tips to boost your safety include:
- Always wear a helmet
- Avoid distractions within your surroundings
- Don’t ride against traffic
- Choose a bike that fits your needs
- Obey traffic signals and respect the law
- Protect yourself and others
- Take the roads without much traffic and with adequate bike lanes
No Win — No Fees or Costs for Our Law Services
At Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert, PA, our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented those injured in bicycle accidents for more than nine combined decades. By using a team approach and relying on consultations with trusted medical professionals, our attorneys can guide our clients through even the most complex situations. We will aggressively pursue the full and fair compensation possible by negotiating with the liable party’s insurance carrier. If a settlement is not forthcoming, we are confident in our ability to effectively represent our clients in court to win the compensation they deserve.
Pedestrian or Bicycle Accident Injury
Whether your injury occurred on the along the boardwalk or on US-1, or even in a residential neighborhood, it is important to discuss your situation with a skilled lawyer as soon as possible. We can begin to reconstruct your pedestrian or bicycle accident to determine who was at fault. Commonly, pedestrian or bicycle accidents result from numerous situations, including:
- Drivers failing to yield at a crosswalk
- Drivers failing to clear an intersection before turning right on red
- Drivers violating designated bike lanes
- Improper placement of stop signs or stop signs blocked by shrubbery or foliage.
- Drivers failing to recognize safety signs in school zones or construction zones
Bike Accident Injury That Involves Cars
Bicyclists assume all the rights and duties of a driver of a vehicle when they are on the road (F.S. 316.2065(1)), must obey all rules of the road, traffic signs, etc. When on a sidewalk, bicyclists are treated more like a pedestrian (F.S. 316.2065(10)). Vehicles have to yield to cyclists on crosswalks. What if the bike is going the wrong way down a street and someone pulls out into them without looking in that direction. And if it was a child, not held to the same standard, the adult would have a serious comparative negligence problem.
But recovery may be obtained nonetheless. Realistically, cyclists will be given more latitude when riding on a sidewalk (even though that might be inappropriate) or riding down the wrong way of a street. Even though they are treated like cars, juries understand that in reality, the scenarios differ (a car on the sidewalk is much more egregious than a bike on the sidewalk). As experienced personal injury lawyers who’ve worked on thousands of cases involving bicycle accidents, we always go to the scene where the accident occurred to collect the evidence needed to compile a strong case. If there are lots of cyclists, then any driver who regularly goes down that street needs to be more aware of his or her surroundings.
In addition, pictures of the scene, damaged bike and the injuries that occurred as a direct result of the accident are extremely helpful.If you or a loved one was injured in a bicycle accident, it is crucial that you contact an attorney to learn more about your options for monetary recovery. Often, you can receive compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. We will guide you through the car-accident legal process every step of the way.Unfortunately, we see many hits and run bicycle accidents – especially on the Rickenbacker Causeway. We are seeking more of these types of accidents because of the higher instances of texting-while-driving. But there is certainly no shortage of just plain awful drivers in South Florida.
If you have the presence of mind to get the make/model and car license, the plate you should do so. However, since cycling injuries tend to be more severe than regular auto accident cases, this information is usually gathered by your riding buddy (always ride with a buddy). It’s also important to have adequate uninsured-motorists coverage. Even if you are not in your car when the accident occurs, having valid automobile insurance will help protect you in bicycle accidents as well.Our firm will pursue all legal avenues of compensation to ensure you can remain financially stable while working to get healthy. Typically, a personal injury lawsuit will focus on recovering compensation for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Trust our firm to fight on your behalf from beginning to end.
Contact Us To Schedule A Free Consultation
If you have questions regarding bicycle and pedestrian accidents, we encourage you to contact the personal injury lawyers at Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert, PA. All cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis — if there is no recovery, you do not pay. Evening and weekend appointments are available for the convenience of our clients. If you were injured riding a bike, or injured from being hit by someone riding a bicycle, don’t hesitate to call our personal injury attorneys. They will fight for rights and do everything in their power to get you the compensation you deserve.
