Were you injured in a bike accident in Clermont, FL? If so, you might be dealing with painful injuries and uncertain about your legal rights to recovery. An experienced Clermont bicycle accident lawyer from Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can stand up for your legal rights while you focus on your recovery.
Why should you choose our law firm over all the others? We have over 22 years of combined legal experience, which we have successfully leveraged to recover more than $30 million for our deserving clients. Our success has resulted in our being named a Million Dollar Advocates Forum member. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation, or call (352) 773-3866 to learn more about how we can help you.
How Our Legal Team Can Help After a Bike Accident
If you were injured in a bike accident in Florida, you are vulnerable. You could have been taken immediately away from the accident scene, leaving the negligent driver behind to tell their story, maybe even blaming you. Or worse, you could have been the victim of a hit-and-run.
A Clermont personal injury attorney from Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers can help with your claim by:
- Explaining your legal rights
- Walking you through your various options for financial recovery
- Investigating the accident and determining how it happened
- Protecting your rights against insurance companies determined to settle your case for less than you deserve
- Gathering evidence to establish fault and all your damages
- Negotiating for maximum compensation
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Florida Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to Florida transportation officials, the Sunshine State leads the nation in bicycle deaths and injuries per capita. In 2023, 7,875 people in Florida were in bike crashes, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. That equates to 18 people being involved in a bike crash per day. Two hundred people died in bike crashes in Florida in 2023.
Common Causes of Bike Accidents
Many bicycle accidents happen when motorists do not safely share the road with bicyclists or respect their presence there. Leading causes of bike accidents caused by negligent motorists include:
- Unsafe passing
- Failing to check blind spots
- Distracted driving
- Opening doors into the pathway of bicyclists
- Speeding
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Not keeping a proper lookout
Other bicyclists can sometimes cause these accidents, such as when they fail to follow traffic laws. Dangerous roads can also contribute to bike accidents.
We Help Recover Compensation After All Types of Bike Accident Injuries
Bicyclists have little protection against large vehicles weighing thousands of pounds. When these accidents are not fatal, they tend to result in catastrophic injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Amputations
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Internal organ damage
- Road rash and severe burns
If you suffered any of these injuries due to the negligence of another, you have the right to pursue compensation for the losses you experienced as a result.
Who Is Responsible for Bicycle Accidents?
Various parties can be responsible for bike accidents, including:
- Motorists who do not follow traffic rules or respect bikers
- Bicyclists who do not obey the rules of the road
- Government entities responsible for maintaining the roadway that fail to do so
To establish your right to compensation, you must show that someone was negligent. This means:
- They owed you a duty of care.
- They breached their duty of care.
- The breach caused your bike crash.
- You suffered damages as a result.
An experienced attorney can help you prove your case.
What Financial Compensation Can I Recover in a Bike Accident Case?
Bicycle accidents can result in serious injuries that cause expensive medical bills and substantial time away from work. Bike accident victims can seek compensation for the economic and non-economic damages they suffer, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future loss of income
- Costs to repair or replace your damaged bike
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of companionship and consortium
An experienced attorney can help gather documentation and other evidence to establish your damages.
What Is My Bike Accident Case Worth?
The value of your claim can be affected by various factors, including:
- The type and severity of injuries you suffered
- The extent and duration of your medical treatment
- The value of your economic damages
- The extent of your pain and suffering
- Whether the accident caused permanent injuries
- How the accident affected your life
- Insurance coverage available
- Whether you contributed to the accident
Our personal injury lawyers can carefully review the circumstances of your case to determine its value.
Bicyclist and Motorist Responsibilities
Bicyclists are treated as motor vehicles in Florida. They have the same right to the roadways as motorists and must obey the same traffic laws as vehicle drivers, according to the Florida Bicycle Association. This includes following these rules:
- Stopping at red lights and stop signs
- Riding with the flow of traffic
- Yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway
- Using lights at night
- Yielding to pedestrians
Bicyclists have some additional rules that they must follow, including:
- Riding in bike lanes, when available and traveling at speeds slower than vehicle traffic
- Riding as far to the right as is safe when no bike lane is available to avoid interrupting the flow of traffic
- Riding no more than two abreast except on bike paths
- Equipping their bikes with a front lamp and reflector if riding between sunset and sunrise
- Wearing a helmet if under the age of 16
- Giving an audible warning before overtaking and passing pedestrians
Motorists must obey all traffic laws when traveling near bicyclists and treat them as another vehicle.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed for the Accident?
It’s not uncommon for bike accidents to result in severe injuries that require victims to be immediately whisked away to the emergency room. This leaves only the motorist who caused the crash behind to tell their story, often hiding the fact that they were distracted, drunk, or violating traffic laws.
Under Florida’s modified comparative fault rule, accident victims can still recover compensation for injuries they sustained even if they are partially found at fault so long as they are not found 50% or more at fault. However, their damages are reduced in proportion to their degree of fault.
At Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we can help safeguard your interests from insurance companies that try to blame you for the accident or attribute more fault than is fair. We seek to maximize your compensation in every way possible.
What Evidence Can Help Prove Fault in a Bike Crash Case?
When liability for a bike crash is in question, objective evidence can help establish how the accident happened and who is at fault. This evidence might include:
- Accident reports
- Video footage of the accident from traffic cameras, dash cams, or surveillance cameras
- Photos of the accident scene
- The location and severity of the damage to the bike and vehicle
- Witness statements
- Skid marks and other physical evidence
- Reports from accident reconstruction experts
Our lawyers know how to gather and present this evidence skillfully.
How Are Some Ways I Can Stay Safe on the Road with Motorists?
At Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers, we want you to stay safe. Follow these guidelines to protect yourself on the road:
- Ride in bike lanes when possible.
- Avoid distractions.
- Ride with the flow of traffic.
- Wear brightly colored clothing to make yourself more noticeable to motorists.
- Always wear a helmet.
- Make sure your bike is equipped with the right type of lights.
- Carry your cell phone with you in case you need to report an accident.
If you get into a crash, our law firm can help with the next steps.
What Should I Do If I’m Involved in a Bike Accident?
Follow these steps if you are involved in a bike accident in Clermont:
- Report the accident to authorities.
- Seek medical attention immediately.
- Ask the driver for their contact and insurance information.
- Document the scene, if possible.
- Don’t agree to accept any money from the at-fault driver.
- Keep all documentation and evidence related to the accident.
Finally, contact an experienced personal injury attorney.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
The statute of limitations is the time limit you have to take certain legal action. In Florida, you have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you can forfeit your right to receive compensation through the courts. Safeguard your rights by reaching out to an experienced Clermont bicycle accident lawyer today.
Contact Us Today for a Free Legal Consultation
You should not have to pay for someone else’s mistake. If you were injured in a bike accident due to someone else’s negligence in Clermont, Florida, Workman Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers wants to help. A Clermont bicycle accident lawyer from our law firm can investigate the accident, identify all at-fault parties, and pursue maximum compensation. Call us today for a free consultation where we can discuss your case and how we can help.
