Do You Need a Lawyer After a Florida Bicycle Accident?

Some people may tell you not to hire an attorney, claiming it will slow down your case or cost you a lot of money. Do not let anyone tell you how to manage your legal case. The decision to hire our Florida bicycle accident lawyers is yours to make. As you consider this, keep in mind that:

Our Law Firm Has Decades of Personal Injury Experience

Rosenberg & Rosenberg is a family-owned firm with one goal at the heart of all we do: to serve the community by helping people recover from devastating accidents, including bike crashes. We have grown into one of the larger law firms in the area and are able to:

• • Provide free consultations to prospective clients
  • Quickly respond to any and all questions from our clients
  • Handle all communications with the liable party, their attorneys, and their insurance company
  • Investigate the crash and gather evidence to strengthen our clients’ case files
  • Identify the at-fault party or parties
  • Help you figure out what kinds of compensation you should ask for based on past and estimated future losses
  • Negotiate hard for a fair settlement that helps our clients get medical care, replace a damaged bike, and more
  • Represent our clients in court, if we feel that is the best way to seek fair compensation
  • Charge you no attorneys’ fees unless and until we win

We realize that bike collisions all too often result in severe, catastrophic injuries that make it difficult to concentrate on anything else. By advocating on your behalf, our legal team gives you more time to focus on recovering from your injuries and figuring out what you want to do next.

Our Bike Accident Clients Receive Personalized Attention

Even when two collisions seem similar on the surface, they are distinct events and require customized legal solutions—and the people involved have their own needs that are different from anyone else’s.

Our lawyers treat each of our clients as the unique individuals they are. When you hire our legal team, you will receive personalized advice and a strategy that is tailor-made to deal with the challenges and goals of your case.

Bicycle Insurance and Your Florida Claim

Dealing with insurers after a bike accident can be very complicated. Car insurance is required for everyone in Florida who drives a four-wheeled motor vehicle, but bicyclists are not required to purchase coverage. This means figuring out whose personal injury protection (PIP) coverage applies—and encouraging that insurer to step up—may require some work.

Our bicycle accident attorneys in Florida can take on the heavy lifting to determine whose insurer should pay your damages.

The Insurer Is Not on the Side of Bike Accident Victims

Some insurance adjusters may try to reduce what they have to pay you by:

• Insinuating you were not following the rules of the road
• Denying that their client was in any way negligent
• Downplaying the severity of your injuries and your need for compensation

Do not fall for these tactics. Bicyclists have just as much right to use the road as a motorist, and you have just as much right to expect compensation from negligent drivers. Call Rosenberg & Rosenberg today to find out how we can help you get that money.

Compensation for Bike Accident Victims in Florida

Rosenberg & Rosenberg’s detail-oriented approach has allowed us to recover millions for clients who have suffered losses like the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Reduced quality of life
• Loss of wages and benefits
• Disability
• Loss of earning capacity
• Scarring
• Property damage
• Loss of consortium

These and other damages compensate you for the needless physical, emotional, and financial suffering you have endured because of the liable party’s negligence. They allow you to get the care you need, fix or replace damaged items, and start to rebuild following a devastating crash.

What if the Bike Accident Injury Is Catastrophic?

Since Florida only requires $10,000 in PIP insurance, that is the amount many people have. However, your medical bills and other losses may be much higher if you suffer catastrophic injuries like:

• Amputation or loss of use
• Disfigurement
• Head injury or traumatic brain injury
• Spine or spinal cord injury

Since bicyclists, even those who wear safety gear, have minimal protection against a crash with a motor vehicle, they may be more likely to sustain such life-altering injuries. That means it is all the more important to get the compensation you need as soon as possible.

Working with the Florida catastrophic injury lawyers at Rosenberg & Rosenberg can help you recover a settlement for the extensive damages related to these types of injuries.

What if the Bike Accident Injury Is Fatal?

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reports that, in 2022 alone, 220 Floridians died as a result of a bike crash.

If you lost a loved one in a deadly bicycle collision, our Florida wrongful death lawyers are here to pursue compensation for loss of companionship, loss of financial support, and funeral expenses. We are deeply sorry for your loss and want to help give you the means to make a fresh start after this tragedy.

The Risks That Florida Bicyclists Face

Under Florida Statutes § 316.2065, cyclists have “all of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle.” They are therefore expected to adhere to the same rules of the road as other motorists. At the same time, motorists must be prepared to share the road—something many of them do not do.

While it is possible for bicyclists’ bad practices to cause or contribute to accidents, our Florida law firm has found that motorists often put bike riders in danger by:

• Failing to yield to bicyclists
• Encroaching on bicycle lanes
• Engaging in unsafe passing or turning behavior
• Driving while distracted
• Operating their vehicles in a reckless manner
• Speeding or driving too fast for the conditions
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Opening their doors into the path of a bicyclist
• Losing control of their vehicles

Driver error is a very common cause of bike accidents, but it is not the only cause. In some cases, government agencies, property owners, or mechanics fail to address obvious dangers that ultimately contribute to traffic collisions.

You may already know which specific act of negligence led to your accident—or you might be unsure of what happened or if multiple parties played a role in causing your injuries. Either way, the legal team at Rosenberg & Rosenberg is prepared to gather the evidence you need to hold every negligent party accountable.

Where Is it Safe to Ride a Bike in Florida?

Many communities throughout Florida maintain parks and bike trails where cyclists can safely enjoy the state’s natural beauty and year-round good weather.

However, many people who ride bicycles do so for more than recreation: bikes are a healthy, eco-friendly mode of transportation that residents use on regular streets when going to work, school, or the store. That means bike riders and motorists must learn to share the road safely—or they can turn to our bike accident lawyers for assistance after being injured by a negligent party.

Where possible, stay in a designated bike lane. If no bike lanes are available, following the rules listed below can help keep you safe when you ride.

Traffic Laws That Apply to Bicycles

According to Page 8 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) 2023 report on bike accidents, there were more bike crash fatalities in Florida than in any other state. It is therefore critical that you protect yourself by:

• Staying in the correct lane. Generally, cyclists who are not riding as fast as the main flow of traffic are required to stay in the far-right lane or, if available, use the bike lane. Cyclists are permitted to leave the side of the road only in specific circumstances, such as when they are passing.
• Keeping your bike in good condition. If you ever need to take swift action to avoid a crash, you want to make sure your bicycle will respond to your movements. Check your bike before every ride, and do not ride it if there is a problem or something feels “off.”
• Wearing bright and reflective clothing. All too many crashes happen because a motorist failed to notice a nearby biker. Make yourself as visible as possible by wearing brightly colored clothes and placing reflectors on your bike, especially if you plan to ride at night or in poorly lit areas.
• Signaling your intentions. Always indicate to others around you what you plan to do so they have time to get out of your way. For example, riding a little more to the left than usual should indicate you plan on taking the right of way and give the motorist a better chance of seeing you.

If, despite all of your best efforts, you still end up suffering injuries because of someone else’s negligence, the personal injury attorneys at Rosenberg & Rosenberg are here to protect the rights of people like you.

What to Do After a Florida Bike Crash

When the worst happens and you get hit by a car, there are steps you can take to protect both your health and your right to financial compensation. Our bike accident attorneys recommend the following:

• Look after your safety. This is the first thing you should do after any accident. If possible, move yourself and your bike to the side of the road so you do not get hit again. Get prompt medical care by calling for an ambulance or making an appointment with your doctor.
• Call 911. You want an official police record of your accident to prove it really happened the way you say it did. Wait at the scene until the police arrive and answer their questions honestly and succinctly.
• Collect evidence. Take photos or video of your injuries, your bike, the other vehicle, and the general environment. Get the name and contact information of the liable driver and of any witnesses.
• Speak to our attorneys. Many people may want to ask you about your accident, from the insurance company to reporters. Say as little as possible until you consult with us. We can tell you how to interact with others without jeopardizing your legal case.

Rosenberg & Rosenberg can help you with your bicycle accident claim or lawsuit even if you did not follow all of the steps as outlined above. We understand how chaotic and confusing a bike accident can be and strive to build the strongest case possible based on your circumstances.

Our Bike Accident Lawyers Have a Legacy of Success in Florida

Rosenberg & Rosenberg has long been dedicated to helping injury victims recover fair compensation and find justice after accidents. We have recovered millions for our clients with our compassionate and personalized representation. We go the extra mile to help every client because we know how much is riding on your claim’s success. Whatever your needs are, we want to help you meet them.

Injured bicyclists should be fully compensated for both economic and non-economic losses incurred in the accident. Unfortunately, the legal process is rarely as easy as it should be. Do not hesitate to call our Florida bicycle accident lawyers for assistance. We will start with a free case review.