FORT LAUDERDALE BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS
Fort Lauderdale is one of the most dangerous states in the country for bicycle accidents. As of 2011, bicycle accidents in Fort Lauderdale resulted in 129 fatalities accounting which is about 1 out of 6 accidents in the country, based on National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. As the local and state are considering cycling as a way of reducing traffic congestion, it’s important that the right infrastructures are put in place to accommodate this influx of the cyclists. We are bicycle accident lawyers in Fort Lauderdale, and we are dedicated to winning justice and compensation for victims involved in a bicycle accident. If you or a loved one is involved in a bike accident in Fort Lauderdale, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your rights as a cyclist. Tourists make more than a million trips a year on rented bicycles.
The increasing popularity of cycling is leading to an increase in the number of bicycle accidents in Fort Lauderdale. Today, young people are most likely to be seriously injured or killed in a bike accident. A national statistic has recorded an increase in the number of bicycle-related collisions in that area. In the last decade, the average cycler killed has ranged from 36-40 years old, Riders ages 45-54 have the highest accident rate. In most cases, those victims are salary earners which adds to their financial consequences.
BICYCLE ACCIDENTS IN FORT LAUDERDALE – PERSONAL INJURIES AND FATALITIES
Fort Lauderdale is more than twice as likely to have an accident involving a cyclist than in any other state. Nothing less than 20 riders are killed annually, based on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. And nothing less than 50,000 riders are injured nationwide. Cycling accidents in Fort Lauderdale lead to amputation injuries, ruptured bones, and brain injuries. Even by merely involving in leisure bicycle rides in Fort Lauderdale accidents occur. While some can be avoided, the negligence on the part of the riders is the contributing factor. You should be riding your bicycle at the edge of the road. And motorists don’t always look out for the bike as they have their attention on the traffic light and other vehicles.
Many bicycle accident victims are entitled to benefits and compensation under their auto insurance policies. This insurance can also be available for toddlers involved in a bicycle accident or those injured by vehicles under their parents’ car insurance policies. All of this compensation can be used to pay the medical bill and treat other pain from the accident. Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers understand car accident laws, various insurance policies, and how to help you get those benefits. You should also know that Fort Lauderdale law provides cyclists the same legal protections applicable to vehicles. This means that cyclists must follow the rules of the road.
Based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data nothing less than 500,000 bicycle accident victims are treated for injuries sustained from bicycle accidents annually. And the data shows that kids less than 15 years of age make up half of this data.
BIKE ACCIDENT TIPS FOR BICYCLISTS IN FORT LAUDERDALE TO STAY SAFE
We have handled a variety of bicycle accident cases that resulted in injuries and sometimes death. We have created a list of tips for a cyclist to stay safe on the road.:
- Dawn and dusk are the times that riding is not recommended. During the rising and the setting of the sun, most riders vision gets dim which can cause a fatal accident. Riding during these hours should be avoided as much as possible. Unless you have a lane for the bike in that area.
- Your bike should have Headlights, red reflectors, and light-colored clothing should be put on by the rider to make them more visible to the drivers.
- Your bicycle should be equipped with a rear mirror and loud horns to make the drivers around you to notice you.
- When you are riding in a group, most drivers are always aware or conscious, so the more riders, the better.
- Always give way to the vehicle even if the lane is yours; because it’s not preferable to walk into an accident when you can avoid it.
- A helmet is a must for bicycle riders; this prevents your head from brain injuries.
CONTACT A FORT LAUDERDALE BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER
If you or a loved one is involved in a bicycle accident due to the negligence of the rider, we are here to help you get maximum compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with the Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorneys of Madalon Law.
HIT BY A CAR ON YOUR BIKE. NOW WHAT?
Bicycle accidents occur more regularly than you might think. In the State of Florida, it often involves being hit by a car, truck or some other vehicle. In fact, the State of Florida has led the country in the past for fatal accidents involving a cyclist.
It is definitely not what you had in mind when getting on your bike, but it happens all too often. It is not supposed to be planned, could have probably been prevented, and was not even your fault, but it happened. What now?
Getting the next few steps right is crucial and may have a big impact on your ability to get the health care you need and the amount you are able to recover from the accident and injuries you’ve suffered.
WAIT FOR THE POLICE
Many drivers will be very quick to apologize and even downplay the event to the point where calling the police to make a report would seem over-the-top. There are a couple of things to remember here. If contacted later, the apologetic driver can often change their story – even to the point of denying it ever happened. You must also keep your injuries in mind. It is common for the body to suffer an impact during an accident and feel minimal discomfort shortly after the event, only to wake up the next day to a much more severe type of injury. This pain can be delayed due to the type of injury or even the amount of adrenaline running through the body when the accident occurred.
GIVE YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY
Many Florida cyclists who are involved in an accident with a car end up in a hospital or worse. If you are lucky enough to be present after being hit by a car, make sure you give your side of the story. Don’t leave any details out about how the accident happened, road conditions, time of day, and injuries. Sometimes the officer may even give a ticket to the driver – this will help greatly when dealing with the driver’s insurance company.
TAKE NOTES AND INFORMATION
Even though there is a police report, it does not hurt to take your own notes of the accident. This includes taking the information of eyewitnesses if possible. You need to also document your injuries. Taking photos and seeking medical attention prove that there were in fact injuries.
PRESERVE YOUR DAMAGED PROPERTY – IT’S EVIDENCE NOW
The bike, the clothing, and anything else that was damaged or bloodied. Don’t clean, wash, or try to repair it. It is evidence now. Also, take photos of your damaged equipment.
THIS IS NO TIME TO BE SOCIAL
Stay off of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or any other Social Network about what happened. This can and will be used against you. Some things are worth sharing. This is not one of them.
Contact an Attorney who understands the unique approach needed for a Bicycle Injury Case.
The Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Fort Lauderdale at Madalon Law know how to handle these types of cases and are ready to fight for you. Madalon Law handles bicycle accident cases in Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Orange, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and all other Florida Counties. There will be no attorney fees unless we are able to recover compensation for your bicycle accident and bicycle injuries. Contact us now to get answers.
DISTRACTED DRIVERS CAUSE BICYCLE ACCIDENTS
When a distracted driver causes a car accident, their negligence affects all parties involved. However, cyclists are impacted the most when an accident like this happens. A bike is clearly no match for a car, but there is something else to this. A bicyclist has to follow the same laws as a driver and in fact shares the road with them. This gives new meaning to being in harm’s way. It is unfortunate that the same things that make bicycles attractive – they are fun, out in the open, lightweight and portable – also make them incredibly dangerous when sharing the road with negligent drivers.
Studies in the past have shown that approximately 80% of all bike accidents with cars could have been avoided. A cyclist can be doing everything right and still find themselves the victim of a bicycle accident due to a collision with an automobile. This is truer than ever, now that the roads are filled with distracted drivers.
We are in a new age of technology. Back in the good old days of 2007 when the first iPhone was released, we were introduced to the new generation of smartphones that not everyone could afford. Fast forward to today and it seems everyone now has a smartphone.
We have turned into a society of multitasking. It is no longer about texting and driving. We now check and respond to emails, review and add to our schedules, look up our playlists, upload photos to Instagram, respond to our friends on Facebook, etc. It takes an average of 5 seconds with eyes off the road to read a simple text message. At 60 MPH a car will cover 450 ft. of distance. Let’s look at a best-case scenario and say the driver is only traveling 30 miles an hour or even 10 MPH. The differences between a distracted driver rear-ending another car and rear-ending a cyclist are two very different things with two very different outcomes.
The State of Florida usually competes for the top spot of bicycle fatality per state and “wins” many years – even though California has twice the population. Many states now have either a no-cellphone or a no-text law for drivers. Florida is one of the few remaining states with no Distracted Driving laws whatsoever.
Car accidents caused by the negligence of a distracted driver will obviously affect any victim, but none more than a victim of a bicycle accident.
Despite a cyclist’s best efforts to avoid a collision, there will always be distracted drivers and the odds of a cyclist being struck by a car will only increase as smartphone use while driving becomes the norm.
If you or a loved one are involved in an accident with a distracted driver and are injured due to being struck by a car while riding your bicycle in Fort Lauderdale, then it is important to find a firm that understands the unique approach this type of case needs for a successful outcome. With our firm, there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation from your accident. The Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers at Madalon Law will fight for you. Contact us today for your free consultation.
Madalon Law helps clients in Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and other Counties in the State of Florida.
