Florida One of the Most Dangerous States to Ride a Bicycle
Every Saturday afternoon you and your family go for a bike ride. You make sure your kids all have their helmets on and your baby is strapped safely into their safety seat before heading out. It was supposed to be like any other afternoon bicycle ride your family has taken before. Little did you know that within minutes of leaving the house tragedy would strike.
An impaired driver would leave the street, jump the curb, and strike you and your family as you rode down the bike path at your nearby park. Your wife is in a coma, your four-year-old was killed in the accident, and your baby is barely hanging on. Your legs are both broken.
This is a scenario that nightmares are made of. But the unfortunate reality is that Florida is one of the least safe places to ride a bicycle in the U.S. In 2017, nearly 800 Florida cyclists were killed in accidents according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. Most of Florida’s roadways are built with speed in mind and not with bicycle safety at the forefront. This coupled with a dense population, of which many opt for bicycles as their main means of travel, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Recovering Damages After a Bicycle Accident
Bicycles aren’t required to carry insurance, although most policies allow the injured cyclist to file a claim with either their own insurance plan or the negligent driver’s personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage. If the driver who was at fault for the accident doesn’t have the insurance required by Florida state laws, they may be able to file a claim through uninsured motorist coverage through their own insurance policy.
Of course, nothing will bring your family back together again and money can’t change that. However, filing a claim can sometimes be a matter of financial necessity. If you are unable to work and facing extensive medical expenses, filing a claim with your insurance and filing a lawsuit against the negligent party may not be an option that you can afford to ignore.
Child Accident Risk
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that some 470,000 people are injured each year on bicycles and those that are not fatal result in roughly $10 billion lost in productivity. This includes not just situations where the adults are unable to work due to their own injuries, but due to taking off time for their child who has been seriously injured. Florida laws require that children under the age of 16 must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, but even with a helmet, there is very little to protect a child if they are struck by a vehicle.
Contact an Experienced Attorney Today
If you or your child has suffered injuries in a bicycling accident, contact the West Palm Beach bicycle accident attorneys at Pike & Lustig, LLP today to schedule a consultation. We will advise you of your legal options and help you get the compensation that you are entitled to.
Resource:
orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/05/29/florida-still-has-the-most-bicycle-deaths-in-the-us-survey-finds
https://www.turnpikelaw.com/causes-of-bicycle-accidents-and-how-to-protect-yourself/
