Miami Bicycle Accident Lawyer

When you need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Miami: It’s no secret that Miami is a car-dominated city. Getting a place to park your car be challenging and there is less way for most transit, which makes bikes the best option for traveling moderate distances. However, Miami doesn’t have many bike lanes as such, which makes the cyclists share the road with drivers. If drivers are following the rules of the road and pay close attention to their surroundings, we won’t have a lot of challenges regarding bicycle accidents. Unfortunately, we all seem not to pay close attention to our surroundings.

This may be due to the driver’s focus on the traffic lights, other cars, and things they shouldn’t even be paying attention to such as cell phones. This means they are not paying attention to the cyclist, and how you see a cyclist can be compared to the vision of the drivers. And we all know Miami for reckless drivers and roads that are not adequately maintained. This can all cause the cyclist accident. You as a cyclist could be hit by a driver making a turn without looking or making illegal turns as we know most drivers, without looking through the rear mirror. You won’t have a car in between you and the other vehicles or roads like most drivers. If you are involved in a bicycle accident at 30 or 40 mph can be extremely disastrous, painful, cause life-altering injuries or even lead to the death of the cyclist. Our Miami bicycle injury law firm has always recommended that cyclist should use their fitted bicycle helmet at all times they are on the road no matter how short the distance of the ride is to avoid a head or brain injury which can cause death in most cases. And if you have been involved in any bicycle accident, please do all your diligence to replace the helmet if not even broken. And the helmet certified by ANSI is what we will recommend you get.

Cyclists will need the service of a lawyer with a vast knowledge of the dangers of cycling in Miami and who has the perfect understanding of the law to seek justice for the injured cyclist. 

Possible Injuries from Bicycle Accidents in Miami

  • Ruptured bones, including limbs, vertebrae, jaw, and pelvis
  • Lacerations
  • Spinal cord fractures
  • Deep wounds
  • Paralysis from the accident
  • Concussions
  • Internal organs Damages
  • Road rash
  • Blindness
  • Tooth loss
  • Wrongful Death

Things to Do When Involved in a Bicycle Accident

  • Bike Accident Attorney

    Bike Accident Lawyer

    Photograph the scene with your phone or camera if you have one with you, make sure you take a look at the plate number and contact the appropriate authority.

  • Get the insurance information and contact information for a witness.
  • You should have your insurance information, accident or emergency contact, and your personal identification.
  • Then you should wait for the arrival of the police to file your report, for them to document the incident and know the witness.
  • Snap your bicycle and if possible the car that hit you. You should stay in that position until the police arrive at the scene.
  • Don’t try and negotiate with the driver.
  • Be sure not to make any statement if your lawyer is not around

 

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, Contact our Miami Bicycle Accident Attorneys.  Our team will fight and help you get the compensation and justice you deserve.

BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYERS

According to the NHSTA, in many cases, the bicyclist is not the person at fault. In 2011, the NHTSA reported that of 677 deaths and 48,000 in bicycle-related accidents in most cases, the motor vehicle operators were to blame.

Bicycle accidents happen due to the following reasons most commonly:

  • Negligence of the drivers on the road.
  • Drivers driving under the influence.
  • Drivers not stopping at stop signs.

In many instances, drivers park and open their doors to a rider lawfully using the road or bike lane. Usually, this is because they do so without looking in their rearview mirrors. Another not-uncommon incident is the infamous “Florida Stop.” This takes place when a car slows but does not stop at a stop sign.

Other cases include drivers making sharp turns into the path of an oncoming bike obscured by the sun. Some drivers brush or sideswipe riders off the road. In some instances, these cars run into another vehicle or person on foot.

BICYCLE ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY CARELESS DRIVERS

There are also cases where drivers are DUI or driving while under the influence of drugs. People in these conditions can often drive impulsively – pulling out backward and forwards, from driveways and alleys too fast, without looking both directions and putting bicyclists and others in danger.

BICYCLE INJURIES

Given the lack of protection, bicycle-related injuries can be very serious and even deadly.  Below are some of the most common bicycle-related injuries.

    • Brain and head injuries:  including severe head trauma, and permanent brain injury.
    • Lacerations to the scalp and face lead to damaged teeth.
    • Facial Fractures
    • Broken Limbs, legs, arms, hands,
    • A severing of limbs
    • spinal cord injuries, leading to quadriplegia or paraplegia
    • serious abrasions often referred to as “road rash”

BICYCLE ACCIDENT STATISTICS

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration releases data about bicycle crashes each year. For 2014, which is the latest year for which information is available, the NHTSA reported the following:

  • 726 Americans were killed in bicycle accidents in 2014.
  • The average age of bicyclists who were killed in motor vehicle collisions was 45.
  • Florida had the highest number of fatalities during the year at 139.
  • Seventy-one percent of those who were killed were in urban areas, and 88 percent of them were males.
  • Nineteen percent of those who were killed had blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 or higher, and 35 percent of the fatal bicycle accidents involved a motorist or a cyclist with BACs at 0.08 percent or higher.
  • Twenty percent of the fatal bicycle accidents happened between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m.
  • Bicycle collisions with cars accounted for one-third of all reported bicycle accident injuries.

STEPS AFTER A BICYCLE ACCIDENT

Riding your bicycle is a safe, healthy, and cherished way of life, but we have a long way to go to create a truly bicycle-friendly community.

  • Ride with a cell phone, personal identification, emergency contact, and something to write with.
  • Call the police or an ambulance immediately.  If you are unable to do so, ask someone to help.
  • Always wait for the police to arrive and file an official accident report.  A police report provides documentation detailing the incident, including the identity of witnesses.
  • Leave your bike in the same state it was after the accident, if possible. Take pictures of the bike and the scene of the accident, if possible.
  • Obtain the contact information of any witnesses.
  • Immediately seek medical attention.
  • Never negotiate with the driver of the vehicle, regardless of who may be at fault.  Get the driver’s name and his or her insurance information, along with the names of any passengers.
  • Give no written or recorded statements to anyone.

If you have been involved in such injuries and have suffered damage as a result of another person’s negligent action then compensation is your right.   Recovery for your damages may be based on compensatory damages such as medical expenses, home care, and nursing expenses, lost wages, as well as mental stress and pain and suffering, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and loss of consortium.  In some instances, due to product defects in car accidents, punitive damages may be attributable as well.  For more questions regarding compensation for your injuries contact our bicycle accident lawyers.

The Miami bicycle accident attorneys at Madalon Law are here to fight for the injured throughout the State of Florida.

 

The Miami bicycle accident lawyers at Madalon Law realize Bicycle Accident Injuries and Fatalities are too common in Florida.

As a bicyclist, you have a right to enjoy the road safely. Unfortunately, bicycle injuries and accidents happen more often than you might think. The State of Florida has the highest number of fatal bicycle accidents per state. The counties with the most bicycle fatalities are Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.

A collision with a car is the greatest fear most people have about cycling; in fact, the fear of an accident with an automobile is the single greatest impediment to getting more people on bikes – many people want to ride, but don’t feel safe when riding a bike. Those fears are well-founded considering bicycle fatalities in Florida for 2009, when Florida led the Country, were as follows by county:

Miami-Dade-12
Broward-10
Palm Beach-11
Orange-6
Hillsborough-6
Pinellas-10

The Miami bicycle accident lawyers at Madalon Law understand the different approaches these cases need and our team is ready to fight for you.

Bicycle accident injuries often occur: when drivers or riders improperly make left turn accidents, gap turn accidents, right turn accidents, side-swipe accidents, dog versus bike accidents, driver road rage, car door accidents, distracted driver accidents, rear-end collisions, and other common injuries from bike accidents.

The unique aspects of bicycle accident cases include accident reconstruction, bike design, manufacturing issues, Florida vehicle laws pertaining to bicycle riders, and roadway design as it relates to bicycle riders.

In most bicycle accidents, a negligent automobile driver is at fault. Some of the most common types of collisions may include:

  • A driver turning directly in front of a bicyclist
  • A driver entering the street from a driveway pulls into traffic in front of the bicyclist
  • A driver from a parking space pulls into traffic in front of the bicyclist
  • A driver fails to yield at an intersection
  • A driver fails to stop at a stop sign or red light
  • A driver’s inattention while driving past a bicyclist
  • A driver fails to look both ways when resuming travel after stopping at a stop sign
  • A driver impaired by drugs or alcohol

When a bicycle accident occurs with a car, the cyclist is usually left in a very bad condition. Because of this, the police are not able to take the report of the bicyclist till hours later at the hospital. This gives a huge advantage to the driver of the car who gets the opportunity to give their side of the story first. This is an unfair advantage to the motorist who may have been negligent.

If you find yourself the victim of a bicycle accident, it is imperative to speak to an attorney and understand your rights for recovery and compensation.

The Injury Attorneys at Madalon Law realize the huge battle you could be facing with the other party’s insurance company. There is no reason to fight alone. Our Miami bicycle injury Lawyers are here for you. Our firm will not charge for any services unless you are paid. Contact us today and we will gladly go over your options with you.

The Bicycle Accident Attorneys in Miami at Madalon Law serve clients in Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Orange, Pinellas, Hillsborough, and the entire State of Florida.