Bicycle Accident
Riding your bike is a great way to stay in shape, travel in an eco-friendly way, and see new sights at the same time. In Florida, biking is even more popular due to our amazing year-round weather. Unfortunately, most of the modern world was constructed in a way that makes riding your bike difficult—or more dangerous.
Chances are, your city doesn’t have established bike lanes in all commonly traveled areas, and if it does, those bike lanes may not be well-protected from the threat of motor vehicles. There may be a lack of bike trails, or traffic patterns that make it difficult to see or respond to bikers. The fact that there were over 6,000 bicycle accidents in Florida alone prove this!
Fortunately, if you’re ever involved in a bicycle accident, you can work with a lawyer to get compensation for your injuries, your property damage, and the pain and suffering you experienced along the way.
The Danger of Bicycle Accidents
There are several precautionary measures that bicyclists can take to maximize their safety on the road, including wearing a helmet, wearing protective gear, wearing bright clothing, staying visible, and obeying all traffic laws as they pertain to bikes. Even so, bicyclists are vulnerable to motor vehicle operators in several unique ways:
- Failure to give space - Bicycles are entitled to the road like any vehicle, and cars are typically required to give 3 feet of space when passing. However, many drivers underestimate this distance or don’t take this law seriously, cutting too close to the bike and resulting in a dangerous situation.
- Blind spots - Bikes are much smaller than motor vehicles, and in many conditions are much harder to see. If a driver doesn’t see a bike in the blind spot of their mirrors, they may change lanes and cut the bike off, or hit the bike directly. Similarly, if a bike isn’t well-lit at night, it can be difficult to see.
- Failure to turn appropriately - Bicyclists are often the victims of wide turns and other inappropriate turning patterns; a car can easily clip a bike at a red light without seeing it.
- Failure to yield right of way - In most cases, bicycles are treated the same as vehicles for determining right of way. However, not all drivers on the road recognize this.
Bicyclists can also be involved in an accident due to any factor that could be responsible for a traditional car accident. For example, they can be the victim of a drunk driver, a speeding driver, or a driver who fails to take adequate precautions during inclement weather.
Additionally, bicyclists are often more vulnerable than people in motor vehicles. There’s no enclosure to protect you from a direct impact, and there’s no seatbelt to keep you from being flung from the bike. As a result, being involved in an accident on a bicycle is typically much more damaging than being involved in any other vehicular accident.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident
If you’ve been the victim of a bicycle accident, the most important thing to do is remain calm in the moments following the accident. Try to gather as much information as possible, including photos and video of the damage that was done during the accident, the other car(s) and driver(s) involved, and the events leading up to the accident. If you can find any eyewitnesses, talk to them and get a statement. Then, file a police report.
If you need immediate medical attention, get it right away. Then, make sure you get any and all medical treatment you need moving forward—and save your records. If you pursue legal action, you will likely receive compensation for these costs. If you do not know how to get the right medical attention, the Law Offices of Manny Arce can also help.
Once your medical needs have been taken care of, your next priority should be contacting a lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer will work with you to help you understand your case, and your possibilities for compensation.
Reach out to Manny Arce today to learn more about how you can get compensation for your bicycle accident!