Jacksonville Bicycle Accident Lawyer Committed to Relentlessly Pursuing Justice

Jacksonville Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Ready to Help You Today

When you are severely injured on your bicycle, do not hesitate to reach out to our office for a free case evaluation. Our Jacksonville bicycle accident attorneys will go over the details of your case to determine what is the best step for you to take legally to get the most possible compensation for your injuries and damages. We are dedicated, experienced, and eager to take on this case for you.

Call (904) 295-1050 or contact us online today to learn more about our firm and how we can help.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, and understanding the common causes can help in preventing them. Here are some of the most frequent ones:

Distracted Riding or Driving: Cyclists or drivers not paying attention to their surroundings can lead to collisions. This includes texting, talking on the phone, or other distractions.
Failure to Yield: Many accidents occur at intersections when either the cyclist or the driver fails to yield the right of way.
Dooring Accidents: This happens when a parked car's door is opened into the path of an oncoming cyclist.
Poor Visibility: Riding at night or in low-light conditions without proper lights or reflective gear can make cyclists hard to see.
Speeding: Both cyclists and drivers traveling at excessive speeds can reduce reaction time and increase the severity of accidents.
Road Hazards: Potholes, debris, uneven surfaces, or wet roads can cause cyclists to lose control.
Improper Lane Usage: Cyclists riding against traffic, weaving between cars, or not staying in designated bike lanes can lead to accidents.
Impaired Riding or Driving: Alcohol or drug use by either the cyclist or driver can impair judgment and reaction times.
Mechanical Failures: Issues like brake failure, chain problems, or tire blowouts can lead to loss of control.
Aggressive Driving or Riding: Tailgating, cutting off, or other forms of aggressive behavior can escalate into accidents.

Florida Bicycle Laws

Florida's bicycle laws. These laws are designed to ensure the safety of both cyclists and other road users. Here are the key points:

Bicycles Are Vehicles: In Florida, bicycles are legally considered vehicles. This means cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers.
Riding on the Road: Cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic. They are required to use a bike lane if one is available. If no bike lane exists, they should ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when passing another vehicle, preparing for a left turn, or avoiding hazards or unsafe conditions.
Riding Two Abreast: Cyclists can ride two abreast (side by side) in a single lane, but they must not impede traffic when doing so. If the road is narrow, they should ride single file.
Helmet Requirements: Cyclists under the age of 16 are required to wear a properly fitted helmet that meets federal safety standards.
Lights and Reflectors: When riding between sunset and sunrise, bicycles must have a white light on the front, visible from at least 500 feet, and/or a red light and reflector on the rear, visible from 600 feet.
Signaling: Cyclists must use hand signals to indicate turns or stops: left arm straight out for a left turn, right arm straight out (or left arm bent upward) for a right turn, and left arm bent downward to signal stopping or slowing down.
Crosswalks and Sidewalks: Cyclists are allowed to ride on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinances. When on a sidewalk or crosswalk, cyclists have the same rights and duties as pedestrians and must yield to pedestrians.
Prohibited Actions: Cyclists cannot attach themselves to a moving vehicle. They must not carry more passengers than the bike is designed for. Wearing headphones or earbuds in both ears while riding is prohibited.
DUI Laws: Florida’s DUI laws apply to cyclists. Riding a bike under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal.
Passing Laws: Motorists must give cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing.

Filing a Bike Accident Claim

If you have been struck by a vehicle while riding a bike in Florida, it’s only right that you seek compensation from the negligent party. You deserve to be reimbursed for the damages you’ve suffered, and our personal injury attorneys would be happy to take on your case. There are a few statutes and guidelines that you should be aware of when filing a bike accident claim in Florida, so read this article first before calling our office for a free consultation.

Get Our Free Bicycle Accident Guide

Florida Comparative Negligence Law

On crowded city streets, you always have to keep your head on a swivel. Everyone has somewhere to be, and everyone wants to get there as quickly as possible. There are a lot of people out there who don’t believe the rules of the road apply to them. Cyclists might treat red lights as stop signs, and bike lanes are optional. This situation came up not too long ago when a cyclist who coasted through a red light was struck by a vehicle. He came to our office and wanted to know if he was eligible to recover partial fault bike accident compensation for his injuries. This is what we told him.

Florida follows the rules of pure comparative negligence which has to do with shared fault in an accident. If for some reason you are deemed to be at fault, know that you are allowed to collect your compensation award if you are 0-99% at fault for your accident. If you are 100% at fault, then you would be barred from receiving compensation. If you are less than 100% at fault, you will have your award reduce to account for that fault. For example, if you have been awarded $100,000 for your injuries and damages, but you have also been deemed 20% liable for the accident for something you did wrong, then you would be able to collect $80,000.

Even though our client had blown through a red light on his bicycle, the driver of the vehicle did not have their headlights on. The accident happened at night. Both parties were deemed to be at fault. We were still able to make a recovery on behalf of our client.

First Steps After a Bicycle Accident

Right after your accident, there is one thing that is more important than anything else, and that is your health. You want to prioritize yourself and your well-being over anything else. There will be other things to do on the scene, but if you are physically unable to, it is best advised for you to get on the ambulance and be taken to the emergency room. There is no benefit to waiting to get medical attention. You have a huge chance of worsening your injuries if you are not getting it treated. You also run the risk of having the insurance company claim you are not badly enough injured to receive compensation because you waited to get your treatment. They also might try to throw out your case by claiming that your injuries came from something after your bicycle accident.

Do Not Talk to the Liable Party’s Insurance Company

The very worst thing you can do for your bicycle accident case would be taking a call from the liable party’s insurance company and giving them a recorded statement. You have no legal obligation to answer questions from the insurance company of the person who caused your accident. They will call you shortly after your accident and try to convince you to give them a recorded statement in which they will ask you questions that will back you into a corner and force you to answer in ways that would negatively affect your case. We highly suggest not answering their calls. As your team of Jacksonville bicycle accident attorneys, we will take over the job of talking to the insurance company for you so that you can avoid saying the wrong thing.

When you are severely injured on your bicycle, do not hesitate to call our office for a free case evaluation. Our Jacksonville bicycle accident attorneys will go over the details of your case to determine what is the best step for you to take legally to get the most possible compensation for your injuries and damages. We are dedicated, experienced, and eager to take on this case for you.

Please contact us today at (904) 295-1050 and we will get working for you right away.

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