When you live somewhere with weather as beautiful as Fort Myers, Florida – especially if you’re an eco-conscious person – there are few transport options more attractive than the bicycle. They’re fun, keep you in shape and save you a lot of money compared to motor vehicles.
However, there are, unfortunately, some natural downsides. For all the health and leisure benefits of riding a bicycle, they can be an extremely risky vehicle in terms of accident potential. The bicycle accident rate in Florida is over double the average for other states in America, and a bicycle is the second most likely vehicle to leave you with a grievous injury following an accident.
Not that this information should put you off taking your bike for a ride in Fort Myers, Florida, but it is important to know the laws which protect you and what actions to take in order to protect yourself fully.
If you have been involved in a bike accident in Fort Myers, Florida, in the past four years, you could be entitled to compensation for any personal injury you may have incurred. Bike accidents can be serious enough to leave someone with lasting physical disabilities or even cognitive impairments due to the risk of brain damage in a bike accident case. At The Law Place, our law firm takes your accident case seriously and will fight for your compensation so that you can focus fully on your recovery.
Contact a Fort Myers bicycle accident lawyer at The Law Place today. We offer free consultation on every case, with phone lines that are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All of our consultations are no obligation, and we operate a no-win-no-fee billing model, so seeking the compensation you deserve through an accident attorney has never been easier or more risk-free. Contact one of our experienced accident attorneys on (941) 444-4444 today!
What Are My Legal Rights as a Bicyclist in Fort Myers, Florida?
Florida statute 316.2065 is the set of statutes which covers the laws for bicyclists, including the specifics of responsibility for bicycle accidents.
These laws state that a Fort Myers bicycle rider has all of the same rights and duties which are applicable to the driver of any other vehicle, with a few additional responsibilities. These responsibilities mainly concern additional safety considerations, such as the requirement of wearing a bicycle helmet when under age sixteen or the special rules when riding a bicycle with a child under age four.
While bike riders are meant to utilize the bike lane where possible, many Fort Myers roads have no such lane available. In this case, the law requires them to ride as far right as possible. With this considered, they are still entitled to a fair share of the road by law.
For a free legal consultation with a bicycle accidents lawyer serving Fort Myers, call 941-444-4444
What Are My Legal Responsibilities as a Florida Bicycle Rider?
To ensure that you achieve the best compensation possible with the help of a personal injury accident attorney, you must ensure that you follow the additional responsibilities necessary for a bicyclist in Florida.
These rules and regulations are as follows:
- You must obey all of the usual traffic laws and signals.
- Your bicycle must utilize a regular, fixed seat. You must be seated at this seat while riding.
- You must not exceed the maximum number of passengers your bicycle was designed for.
- Children under four (or weighing less than 40 pounds) must be seated in an appropriate carrier or seat, which protects that child from the bike’s moving parts.
- You must have at least one hand upon the handlebars while riding.
- Your brakes must allow you to stop within 25 feet of their application.
- You must ride reasonably close to the curb of the right-hand side of the road. Exceptions for this rule include considerations for narrow roads and one-way streets.
- If riding next to a fellow cyclist, you must stay in a single lane.
- Do not use any listening device, such as headphones, while riding. The obvious exception here is for riders who require hearing aids.
- You must employ the use of bicycle lights or reflectors when riding after dark.
- Children under sixteen years old must use a helmet that meets the federal standards of safety set forth by the Code of Federal Regulations.
If you were involved in a bike accident in the last four years and were following all of these regulations, it is likely that you will be owed compensation for an injury you incurred as a result. An accident attorney from our law firm can help you win the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve.
Fort Myers Bicycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 941-444-4444
What Are the Most Common Causes of a Fort Myers Bicycle Accident?
Unfortunately, even with the same legal protections as any other vehicle, bicycle accidents are still disproportionately common and all too often catastrophic.
This is due to the small size and the lack of protective barriers involved in bicycle accidents.
Common causes of a Fort Myers bicycle accident are as follows:
- Distraction – Being smaller and lacking the same headlights as a car makes a bike rider even more susceptible to injury by a distracted driver. Distracted driving is most likely to be caused by a mobile phone, although there are many other possible causes. One way for a bicyclist to mitigate this risk is to ensure the presence of lights and reflectors on their vehicle.
- Night riding – As with the above, it is often the case that a bicyclist is more difficult to see than a car. The risk of this nature of injury increases greatly at night-time when visibility is generally poorer.
- Adverse weather – The poorer the weather, the lower the visibility. Combine this with the potential for slippery roads, and the risk of bicycle accidents increases greatly.
- Failing to yield – Another common cause of a bicycle accident is a driver’s failure to yield correctly. Sometimes it may be the case that drivers are unaware of their responsibility to yield to bicycle riders at all.
- Door collision – A serious bicycle accident can be caused by something as simple as a car driver or passenger failing to check before they open their door. A collision of this nature can cause serious injury or cause the rider to roll into the road and into the path of further oncoming hazards.
- Common driving failures – The rider of a bicycle is at risk of all of the usual causes for a road traffic accident. These include common accident causes such as intoxicated driving, reckless driving, and speeding.
If you have been involved in a Fort Myers bicycle accident due to one of these circumstances, get in touch with one of our accident attorneys today. Our law firm has the knowledge and experience to give you the best chance at reaching the maximum amount of compensation to make a recovery from your injury as smooth as possible.
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What Are Some Examples of Common Injuries Sustained in a Fort Myers Bicycle Accident?
Unfortunately, the injuries sustained in a bicycle accident are much more likely to be catastrophic for the cyclist than the driver of the motor vehicle. Due to their lack of protection and the possibility of a bicyclist not wearing a helmet, fatal crashes and permanent injuries are not uncommon.
Common injuries incurred in a Fort Myers bicycle accident include:
- Head injuries, with the risk of brain damage they carry. Brain injuries of this nature can lead to lifelong problems not limited to impaired motor function, cognitive and emotional difficulties.
- Broken bones. These may range from simple a fracture recovery to complex fractures, which can leave the victim with lifelong complications.
- Internal injuries, such as organ damage and internal bleeding.
- Injuries the spinal column.
- Soft tissue injuries.
- Abrasions and lacerations.
- Damage to the face, especially the eyes and dental injuries.
- Disfigurement through permanent scarring.
- Dismemberment and amputation.
This is not an exhaustive list of potential injuries. If you have suffered from any of the above or other injuries as the result of a bicycle accident in the last four years, then get in touch with a Florida personal injury attorney from The Law Place today. Our legal guidance can help you to achieve the compensation and justice you deserve following your accident.
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What Damages Can an Attorney Help Me Claim for Following a Fort Myers Bike accident?
With a personal injury attorney from the correct law firm, there are many different types of damages available to you following your accident, depending on the specifics of your situation.
These damages include, but are not limited to:
- Medical bills – Your medical expenses following a physical injury as a result of an accident anywhere in America can often be astronomically high. The right attorney can help you seek compensation for these financial damages.
- Lost wages – Time off work to recover from injuries incurred in an accident is a natural part of the recovery process. A personal injury attorney could assist you in recovering wages that you could have earned if you were not involved in an accident.
- Property damage – Due to the destructive bulk of a motor vehicle in comparison to a bicycle, it is common that your property may become damaged as well as your person. Damages may be sought to recover compensation for this property damage.
- Additional costs – After a catastrophic accident, you may be shocked to discover many additional costs that wouldn’t have occurred to you. These may be the cost of additional childcare or transport assistance during your recovery process.
- Pain and suffering – Pain and suffering is the legal terminology which deals with additional complications from your injuries. These damages will consider the length and pain level of your recovery process, as well as additional complicating factors such as your levels of emotional distress and the presence of any lifelong complications you may have suffered as a result of your accident.
- Lost life – If you or your loved one loses their life in an accident, then the remaining family members may be entitled to raise a wrongful death case. This type of case allows the recovery of compensation for lost wages, lost companionship, and other levels of family disruption.
If you feel that your accident falls into any of the above categories, then you are likely to be entitled to compensation. The best way to identify which damages suit your particular case is to get in touch with an experienced accident lawyer from The Law Place for a free consultation and case evaluation. We will be able to identify which damages apply to you and give you impartial advice on the best legal avenues available to you.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you have been involved in a bike accident in Fort Myers in the last four years, you could be entitled to compensation for the injuries you sustained and any additional impacts that your accident had on your lifestyle.
Here at The Law Place, our team of personal injury lawyers have over 75 years of combined experience. Unlike your average law firm, our lawyers operate each case as a team. We do this so that you can benefit from the knowledge, experience, and wisdom accumulated by each individual member of our handpicked team over the years. You deserve the very best in legal representation following the trauma of a serious accident, and our law firm is experienced in providing this level of service.
Navigating the complexities of Florida’s laws can be a daunting and overwhelming process, although it doesn’t have to be. With representation from The Law Place, we can guide you through the entire process with compassion and professional excellence. Our no-win-no-fee payment model means that all your legal fees will only be recovered once you have been awarded your final settlement. It will not cost you a cent upfront, nor will an unsuccessful case cost you anything at all.
Our telephone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so that we can work around your busy schedule. If you have been involved in a bike accident in the last four years, don’t hesitate, get in touch with us today. Each day that passes from your accident increases the risk of evidence essential to your compensation becoming unavailable. Insurance companies often rely on the intimidating complexities of the law in order to reduce your maximum compensation amount. Don’t be intimidated out of the justice you deserve. Contact us on (941) 444-4444 today for a completely free consultation.
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