Have you been injured in a bicycle accident? Did the accident happen because someone else was negligent? Contact a Miami bicycle accident lawyer at Lavent Law, P.A. at (305) 257-9464 to find out how we can help you recover compensation for your injuries.
The money you recover from a lawsuit can help to defray the financial costs of your accident and compensate for the emotional toll of your injuries. You have a limited amount of time to file a claim, so do not hesitate and call today.
Causes of Miami Bicycle Accidents
What makes Florida’s roads so dangerous for bicyclists? Many point to the fact that Florida roads, particularly those in cities like Miami, are designed to encourage and facilitate high-speed traffic. Roads are built for speed and not the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians. As a result, bicyclists are at an increased risk of being involved in an accident when sharing the road with larger vehicles.
Other commonly cited causes of bicycle accidents include:
- Aggressive driving
- Failure to yield
- Distracted driving/riding
- Fatigue
- Riding at night
- Limited rider visibility
- Driving/riding under the influence
- Equipment malfunctions and defects
- Inclement weather, and
- Dangerous road conditions.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries
As a bicyclist, you have very little protecting yourself from harm. If you are involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, you are at a greater risk of suffering a life-threatening or fatal injury.
At Lavent Law, P.A., we have successfully helped Miami bicycle accident victims recover compensation for their bicycle accident injuries, including:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Lacerations
- Concussions
- Eye injury
- Degloving injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Chest injury
- Amputation
- Paralysis, and
- Wrongful death.
Have you been injured in a bicycle accident? Contact a Miami personal injury attorney at Lavent Law, P.A. to schedule a free consultation. Our bicycle accident attorneys will assess the strength of your case, explain your legal options, and answer any questions you have.
Liability for Bicycle Accidents
Who can be held financially responsible for your bicycle accident injuries? In Florida, anyone who contributed to the cause of your accident can be on the hook for damages. Each at-fault party is liable to the degree of his or her own fault.
Drivers: All drivers on the road have a duty to prevent foreseeable harm. This means that drivers must not only obey posted traffic laws, but also operate their vehicles with care. Drivers who fail to exercise a reasonable level of care can be held liable for injuries that result.
Pedestrians: In Florida, pedestrians have a responsibility to use caution and remain alert when sharing the road with bicycles and other vehicles. Pedestrians who choose to jaywalk, cross intersections against a traffic signal, or jump out into traffic can create a situation that is dangerous to anyone in the immediate area, including bicyclists.
Bicycle Manufacturers: When you buy a bike, you expect that it will work as intended and keep you safe. Unfortunately, sometimes defects in bicycles can make riding unsafe and lead to accidents. In Florida, the companies can be held liable for injuries caused by defects in the products that they manufactured or sold.
Government Agency: The city of Miami has an obligation to make sure that its roads are free from dangerous conditions and hazards. If the government knew, or should have known, about the dangerous road condition that caused your accident, it can be liable for damages you suffer as a result.
When you hire Lavent Law, P.A. to handle your Miami bicycle accident case, we will thoroughly investigate your case to identify anyone who may be to blame for the harm you have suffered. This will help to make sure that you are fully compensated for your injuries.
Damages Available to Bicycle Accident Victims
In Florida, bicycle accident victims are generally entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages help to compensate for the financial costs of an accident. Things like medical bills, lost wages, temporary disability, and reduced earning capacity are typically covered by an award of economic damages.
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are paid to compensate you for the intimate and hard-to-value injuries you’ve suffered because of your accident. Things like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress are typically covered by an award of non-economic damages. Since these injuries are so personal and subjective, an award of non-economic damages can vary significantly from case to case.
How Long Do You Have To File a Bicycle Accident Claim?
If another person’s negligence or wrongful actions have caused you to suffer a bicycle accident injury, you have the right to file a lawsuit seeking damages. However, Florida law limits the amount of time you have to file a claim.
In most cases, the statute of limitations for bicycle accident injury claims is four years from the date of your accident. If you do not file your claim within this four-year period you will not be able to recover the money you both need and deserve.
There are certain times when the amount of time you have to file a claim will be accelerated or extended. You can make sure that your claim is filed within the applicable statute of limitations by contacting an attorney immediately after your accident. Call Lavent Law, P.A. today to schedule a free consultation.
Florida Bicycle Accidents Statistics
Statistics show that Florida is the most dangerous state in the country for bicyclists. Each day, there are an average of 18 traffic accidents involving bicycles. Nearly all of these accidents result in rider injury, and approximately two percent result in death. In 2015, 7.4 percent of all fatal bike accidents in the United States occurred in Florida. No other state in the country had a larger proportion of fatal crashes.
Call Our Miami Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Were you recently involved in a cycling accident? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact Lavent Law, P.A. to find out how we can help you maximize the settlement or award you receive.
Our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to protecting your rights as an accident victim and making sure that you are properly compensated for your injuries. You have a limited amount of time to act, so do not hesitate to call us today to schedule a free consultation.
Related Articles