What Should I Do After a Florida Bicycle Accident?

For avid bicyclists, living in South Florida, with its year-round sunshine and balmy temperatures provides endless opportunities to enjoy tropical scenery, support good health, and even commute to work. However, the joys of bike riding in Broward County and throughout South Florida can quickly turn to tragedy for various reasons, ranging from dangerous road conditions and driver error to malfunctioning traffic signals and inclement weather.

As reported by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles crash dashboard, so far in 2024, Miami-Dade has witnessed 7,326 bicycle accidents. Worse, almost 20 percent of these bicycle accidents inflicted serious injuries like broken bones and head injuries. Tragically, fatal bicycle accidents have claimed 143 lives so far this year.

We share this sobering reality not to scare South Florida bicyclists, but to urge them to take precautions to improve safety while sharing the road with vehicle drivers. While we hope you never experience a bike accident, we also know that preparation is vital. In this blog, we explain how to stay safe, and if you’ve already experienced a Florida bicycle accident, how to recover and protect your legal rights.

Do you need immediate assistance pursuing financial compensation and other damages following a bicycle accident? Contact us to schedule a free consultation at (800) 332-6436(800) 332-6436

At Cohen & Cohen Law, we are here to be the experience you need and the representation you can trust with your bicycle accident claim.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Florida

A Florida bicycle accident lawyer knows that most bicycle accidents are the result of other drivers failing to see them, whether due to distracted driving, unsafe lane changes, or disregard for traffic laws. The most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

• Distracted Driving: Drivers who text, talk on the phone, eat, or engage in other activities while driving are more likely to cause accidents.
• Making Unsafe Lane Changes: Drivers often hit bicycle riders when changing lanes without checking their blind spots or using turn signals.
• Speeding: When drivers speed, they have less time to react to obstacles like cyclists and may lose control.
• Drunk driving: Drivers operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs put themselves and others at risk by impairing their judgment and reaction time.

To reduce the chances of bicycle accidents in Florida, all road users should practice safe driving habits in accordance with applicable laws.

Steps to Take After a Florida Bicycle Accident

Prioritize Safety and Assess Injuries

• Move to safety: If you can, carefully move yourself and your bike away from vehicle traffic to a sidewalk or safe area.
• Call 911: Dial 911 asap. Calmly state your location and the nature of the accident, including specific details about the vehicle driver and the type of vehicle involved.
• Evaluate injuries: Injured cyclists should not ignore seemingly minor injuries. Note any head trauma (dizziness, nausea), limb pain, bleeding, broken bones, and neck or back pain.
• Assess property damage: Take note of any damage to your bicycle.
• Wait for help: If you have sustained injuries, move as little as possible and make yourself visible with flashing lights or reflective gear. Observe other factors like weather conditions and the behavior of the drivers involved.

Call the Police

• Remain at the accident scene: Florida law makes it illegal to leave the scene of an accident. Bicyclists who leave the scenes of accidents put their legal claims in peril. Protect your rights by waiting for the police to get there.
• Cooperate with officers: Give the police all relevant information about the accident. Explain what happened but do not speculate or lose your temper, regardless of your injuries. Answer questions candidly, but refrain from admitting fault.
• Request a copy of the accident report: Ask for the accident report number and a copy for your records. As knowledgeable personal injury lawyers know, accident reports can support insurance claims and potential legal action.

Gather Documentary Evidence

• Document the accident scene: Use your phone to take photos and videos from different points of view. Focus on critical details like skid marks, traffic signals, stop signs, damage to other vehicles and your bike, nearby landmarks, and weather conditions. Note the time of day.
• Draw a picture: Make a simple drawing to illustrate the positions of drivers and other parties involved at the time of the crash. including the direction of travel and any road markings.
• Obtain witness information: Did anyone witness the accident? If so, thank them for their time and request their full names, contact information, and brief statements. If they agree to it, record their statements with your phone. Accounts from those who witnessed the accident can corroborate your story and help you pursue a fair settlement.

Safeguard Your Rights

• Do not admit fault for the crash: Do not assign blame to yourself or anyone at the accident site. Instead, make factual statements about the accident to avoid anyone misconstruing your words later.
• Exchange contact information: Were other drivers part of the crash?  Regardless of how many drivers were involved, obtain driver’s license numbers, insurance details, and license plate number of any vehicles involved. Jot down details like the make and model of all vehicles.
• Resist posting on social media: In this day and age, it’s normal to want to share the details of the accident and your injuries online. However, anything you post about your bicycle accident can and most likely will be used against you later. Stay offline and talk privately with trusted loved ones only.

Get Medical Attention

• Get immediate care: Even if you think your injuries are minor, don’t make assumptions.  Get medical attention by going to the nearest emergency room or urgent care facility. Internal injuries like concussions or internal bleeding are often not noticeable.
• Write down all injuries: For your insurance and legal purposes, keep medical records to document the scope of your injuries and medical bills in support of your case. If you have visible wounds or damage to your clothing or helmet, take photos of them.
• Follow-up care: Schedule a follow-up appointment with your primary care physician and attend all specialist referrals. Follow your doctors’ and other medical practitioners’ directives to facilitate your recovery.

Consult a Florida Personal Injury Attorney

• Seek legal advice: A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can be your advocate. They can investigate the accident, gather evidence, explain your legal options, and engage in settlement negotiations with insurance companies as they pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• Know your rights: An attorney with profound knowledge of Florida law can clarify your legal options, including filing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party. Drawing upon previous experience with bicycle accident lawsuits, they can guide you through the legal process and protect your interests.
• Negotiate with the insurance company: Let your Florida attorney communicate with the insurance company in an effort to seek a fair settlement, while you focus on your recovery.

Have You Been in a Bike Accident in South Florida? Let Cohen & Cohen Law’s Knowledge & Experience with Personal Injury Cases, Including Bicycle Accidents, Help You Protect Your Rights & Pursue Compensation

Bicycle accidents happen more often than we would like in and around Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, West Palm Beach, and throughout South Florida, typically in urban areas. Even the most cautious bicyclists seeking to avoid collisions can experience bicycle crashes due to negligent drivers and other factors.

Have you sustained severe injuries in a bike crash? Are you seeking a dedicated legal team to represent you? At Cohen & Cohen Law, our mission is to help the injured heal physically, financially, and emotionally from devastating accidents through exceptional legal representation and compassionate care. Founded in 1970, we’re proud of our over 50 years of experience serving South Florida victims of bicycle accidents. Let a personal injury attorney from our firm pursue fair compensation so you can focus on healing. Call us at (800) 332-6436(800) 332-6436 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation.

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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.

Cohen and Cohen Law
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Hollywood, FL 33021
(800) 332-6436(800) 332-6436
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