Riding a bicycle is a great way to stay active and healthy. It is also an environmentally friendly form of transportation. Unfortunately, even when there are designated bike lanes, a number of people are injured in bicycle accidents in Florida and throughout the United States each year. If you or someone close to you has been injured while riding a bike in a bike lane, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our skilled Miami bicycle accident attorneys are committed to holding negligent parties accountable for the harm that they cause.
Sadly, Florida leads the country in bicycle deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida ranks first in the top 10 states for bicycle fatalities with 0.57 deaths per 100,000 people. In 2015, there were 120 people killed on bicycles in Florida, accounting for 16.5 percent of all bike deaths in the nation.
A bike lane is a lane on the road that is specifically marked for bicycle use. Under Florida Statute 316.2065, when there is a designated bike lane, cyclists must ride in that lane except for certain reasons. If there is no bike lane, a bike rider does not necessarily have to use the sidewalk even if there is one present. In Florida, a bicyclist has every right to use the street in Florida. If a bicyclist does decide to use the road, however, he or she must ride as close to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway as possible.
When a motor vehicle collides with a bicycle, it is always worse for the cyclist. Bicycle accidents involving bike lanes can happen in a number of ways, including a driver drifting or encroaching into the bike lane, a driver driving in the bike lane, a driver improperly crossing a bike lane, and a driver opening a door into the path of an oncoming cyclist.
Bike lanes are specifically designed to separate drivers and bicyclists. When a driver hits a cyclist in a bike lane, the driver may be liable for any resulting harm under the theory of negligence. Negligence is the failure of a person to exercise reasonable care, resulting in injuries or death to someone else. Reasonable care is defined as how a prudent person would act in the same or similar circumstances. For example, a driver who causes an accident by drifting into the bike lane and hitting a bicyclist would be liable for the resulting harm. This is because a prudent driver using reasonable care would have been vigilant about the bike lane, understanding the risks associated with veering into it.
If you have been injured in a bike crash in Florida, you need to speak to a seasoned Miami bicycle accident attorney who can advocate for your rights. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we will make every effort to get you full and fair compensation for your injuries. We know a lawsuit is the last thing you want to handle after a bicycle accident, which is why we will try to make the process as seamless as possible for you. For more information, do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or reach out to us online today.
More Blog Posts:
Compulsory Medical Exams in Florida Personal Injury Cases, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, July 12, 2017
Comparative Fault in Florida Slip and Fall Case, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, July 12, 2017
Lifeguard Negligence in Florida, South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg, July 12, 2017