Bicycle Accidents

Bicycle Accidents in Florida

Our state of Florida has the highest number of bicycle deaths in the country, with thousands of bicycle accidents reported every year. These collisions can cause severe consequences for the victims, including physical injuries, high medical costs, and loss of work for those who survive. 

If a vehicle has struck you while on a bike, you need a bicycle accident lawyer to help you pursue compensation. Our personal injury lawyers at Zweben Law Group regularly help victims of bike accidents and their families. Call us today at 772-223-5454 for a free legal consultation.

Florida Bicycle Accident Lawyer

At Zweben Law Group, our personal injury law firm serves the following Florida counties: Martin, St. Lucie, Palm Beach, Okeechobee, Indian River, and throughout the State of Florida. When you trust us with your bicycle accident claim, we will handle every aspect of your case. We’ll aggressively seek the maximum possible financial compensation for you or your loved one. 

Bicycle Accident Claims

Your Zweben Law Group attorney will investigate your accident to understand the circumstances and factors involved. Negligent drivers cause many bicycle accidents in Florida’s urban areas, but proving fault can be tricky, especially if the cyclist does not obey traffic laws.

Factors of Bike Accidents

Several factors commonly cause bicycle accidents, mainly relating to motor vehicle driver negligence. These include:

  • Reckless or distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence
  • Failure to yield at stop signs and traffic lights
  • Illegal turns
  • Speeding

Our personal injury legal team will investigate all factors related to your accident to build the strongest case possible. 

Bicycle Accident Compensation

The consequences of bike accidents can be very serious. You give yourself the best chance at recovering maximum monetary compensation by hiring a personal injury lawyer. If you trust us with your claim, we will pursue compensation for all of your physical injuries and any intangible losses, such as pain and suffering.

Common Physical Injuries

Physical injuries resulting from bike accidents range from minor to catastrophic. Common injuries include:

  • Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
  • Concussions and other head traumas
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Broken bones and dislocations
  • Neck trauma
  • Facial injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Permanent disability

Let our team at Zweben Law Group fight for you following a bicycle accident.

Other Compensation Claims

Our experienced law team will also pursue compensation for other aspects of your claim as well. Besides your physical injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for the following:

  • Lost wages, past and future
  • Medical costs
  • Mental hardship
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Wrongful death

Our personal injury lawyers can help you determine if you have a strong case. We have more than 20 years of experience helping the victims of bicycle accidents and their families.

What to Do After a Florida Bike Accident

Knowing what to do right after a bicycle accident can be challenging when you are caught up in the moment. If you are involved in a bike accident, follow these steps to ensure the best chance at compensation if a driver is at fault:

  • Check yourself and others involved for injuries.
  • Call 911.
  • If injured, seek medical treatment.
  • Collect the driver’s name, phone number, driver’s license number, and insurance information.
  • Collect the names and phone numbers of other victims and any witnesses.
  • If possible, take photos of the scene, including your bike and all vehicles involved. Try to get as many angles as possible.
  • If possible, take photos of your injuries.

If you or a loved one has been in a bicycle accident, contact our law firm immediately to start working on your bicycle accident case.  

Tips for Staying Safe On Your Bike

Keep the following tips in mind to help you stay safe while riding your bicycle:

  • Wear a bicycle helmet and light, reflective clothing.
  • Ride with the flow of traffic, not toward oncoming vehicles.
  • Light up your bike in the front and back when riding at night and even during the day.
  • Take special care at intersections and when turning.
  • Always follow the proper rules of the road, as bicycles are considered the same as cars on the road.

We hope these tips help you stay safe on your bicycle.

FAQs – Bicycle Accidents

Do you have to report an accident with a cyclist?

Florida crash report laws require law enforcement officials to submit a crash report if an accident involves any injuries or fatalities. In addition, police must take a report if there appears to be damage worth at least $500. Because bicyclists are unprotected in crashes with heavy motor vehicles, these accidents usually involve injuries. After an accident, someone should alert the authorities and everyone involved should stay on the scene until the police collect the information they need. Failure to stay on the scene could cause a driver to be considered guilty of a hit and run.

If police fail to respond after you call in a bicycle accident, a cyclist can self-report the claim. Before allowing a motorist to leave, it is best to make sure you collect contact and insurance information. This should include their driver’s license number and license plate number. 

Does car insurance cover bicycle accidents?

Florida personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which is mandatory for motorists, should cover an insured bicyclist’s injuries in an accident regardless of who was at fault. If you are hurt in a bicycle accident, you would first file a claim with your own auto insurer even if you weren’t driving your car.

If a bicyclist does not own a vehicle and does not have their own PIP coverage, then the driver’s insurance would cover the accident if the bicyclist can prove that the driver was at fault. An injured bicyclist who can prove fault on the part of a motorist may also be able to receive compensation for pain, suffering, emotional anguish, and other losses not covered under PIP.

How long do I have to file a lawsuit?

If you are filing a claim for coverage under PIP, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days or your insurer could deny coverage. The deadline to file a lawsuit is much longer—an injured cyclist can wait up to four years before filing a lawsuit for damages. However, it is best to consult an attorney as soon as possible after an accident to get help collecting evidence while it is most readily available. An attorney can also answer questions from insurance companies and investigators, which prevents the accident victim from inadvertently saying something that could be used to deny liability later. Because bicycle accident attorneys usually work on a contingent fee system, it will not cost any more to hire an attorney right after an accident than it would to wait until close to the deadline, and it can give you a better chance of succeeding with your claim.

Contact a Florida Bike Accident Lawyer

At Zweben Law Group, we help victims of bicycle accidents pursue legal compensation for their injuries. We work on a contingency basis, so you will only need to pay us when we win money for you. 

Contact us today at 772-223-5454 to schedule a free consultation. Based in Stuart, Florida, Zweben Law Group serves you across all of Florida.

Personal Injury Practice Areas

Schedule Your Free Consultation

Your first consultation is always free. We will keep your information confidential.

Start Your Free Consultation Today

We will keep your information confidential. You can call us or complete the form below.