Bicycle Accidents vs. Car Accidents: A Guide for Florida Keys Cyclists
In the Florida Keys, where cyclists and motorists often share the roads, collisions can occur almost anywhere. When comparing bicycle accidents vs. car accidents, specific concerns exist for cyclists related to the potential for serious injuries.
After such injuries, the legal implications of bike accidents could lead to significant financial awards for the cyclist in an injury lawsuit. Understanding the ways that assigning fault in bike accidents and car accidents can differ can help you understand when you have the right to file an injury lawsuit.
Bicycle Accident vs. Car Accident Injury Comparison
Because bicyclists don’t have seat belts and airbags like motor vehicles, even a slow-speed collision can lead to major injuries. The bicyclist could fall off the bike and suffer head injuries or other internal injuries in a low-speed crash. The car’s safety gear protects the passengers in this type of accident.
Bicycle accident statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show Florida has the highest bicyclist fatality rate per 100,000 population among all 50 states. Even in Florida bicycle accidents where the cyclist survives, the injuries can be quite severe. Depending on the bicycle accident causes, you could seek past and future damages for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma
- Disabling or disfiguring injuries
Determining Fault in Car vs. Bicycle Crashes
Even though the bicycle rider may suffer severe injuries in an accident with a motor vehicle, this doesn’t mean the driver is automatically at fault. Cyclists must follow traffic laws to avoid causing a crash with a car.
For example, cyclists must stop at all marked intersections. They must wait to turn left until traffic clears. If a bike lane is available, cyclists are expected to remain in this lane rather than wildly weaving across lanes of traffic.
If the bicyclist does not follow required traffic laws, the motorist may be unable to avoid a collision. If the cyclist violated traffic laws before the crash, the cyclist could be fully at fault and unable to file a personal injury claim against the driver.
When trying to win a personal injury claim as the injured bicyclist, your attorney must be able to show that the motorist is at fault.
Concerns for Bicyclists in Hit-and-Run Accidents
One of the biggest concerns for cyclists in the Florida Keys is a hit-and-run bicycle accident. Even if you were following all the rules for road safety for cyclists, the driver may still hit you. The driver then could choose to flee the scene because of the fear of legal consequences or because of a lack of car insurance.
If you have injuries because of a hit-and-run driver, you still have the right to seek a personal injury lawsuit. If you have your own auto insurance that contains an uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) benefit, you can seek damages through this benefit.
Call Florida Keys Injury Today for a Free Case Review
When it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit in bicycle accidents vs. car accidents, you may want legal help. Because of the complexities that could appear in your case and the significant differences between car vs. bicycle accident rates, you may need a lawyer after a bicycle accident who has specific experience with cases involving bicyclists.
At Florida Keys Injury, our personal injury attorneys have collectively been members of The Florida Bar for over four decades. We have direct experience with bicycle accident injury cases, car accident injury cases, and several other personal injury cases.
To learn more about your options for filing a claim in bicycle accidents vs. car accidents, call Florida Keys Injury Lawyers today at 786-605-8500 for a free consultation.
