Tampa, FL Bicycle Accident Attorney
Personal injury lawyer Armando Edmiston knows how to get results
According to recent data, Florida consistently ranks toward the top – if not No. 1 – for the most bicycle accident deaths in the country. At Armando Personal Injury Law, we’ve seen firsthand the serious and potentially fatal injuries a car accident involving someone riding a bike can cause.
Since a bicycle does not offer much in the form of protection, there are numerous injuries you can sustain as a bicyclist in a car vs. bicycle crash. You may see bruising after a bicycle accident. While bicyclists face many dangers, some of the most common bicycle accident injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries/Head Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries/Back Injuries
- Broken Bones/Fractured Bones
- Neck Injuries
- Facial Injuries (e.g., broken or chipped teeth/lost tooth, broken nose, broken jaw, lacerations, bruises, scars)
- Dislocated Shoulder/Torn Rotator Cuff
- Punctured Lung
- Abdominal Injuries
- Road Rash
- Leg Pain/Injury
Whether you have a broken leg or a concussion, you shouldn’t have to suffer through painful symptoms, like chest pain, and have to worry about how you’re going to pay for your medical expenses. If you got hit by a car while riding your bicycle, a lawyer may be able to help you hold the at-fault party accountable and get you appropriate compensation for your damages.
Let our law firm fight for you. Attorney Armando Edmiston will treat your problems like they’re his problems and will put in the work to get the best possible outcome in your case. We know the applicable Florida laws, including left and right turn laws, and we understand how to get to the bottom of what happened and hold negligent drivers accountable.
What to do after a bike Accident?
If you’re involved in a collision with a car while you’re cycling, you should call 911 right away to request an ambulance and a police officer. If you’re unable to make the call, ask someone nearby to do it for you. After that, you should:
- Keep calm and don’t say too much – The last thing you want to do at the scene of your bicycle accident is start arguing about who’s at fault. You’re better off not saying anything, as whatever you say at the crash scene could be misconstrued as admitting fault. Even saying something as harmless as “I didn’t see you” or “You came out of nowhere” can be interpreted as admitting fault.
- Get information from everyone involved – Be sure to take down the name, address, phone number, license plate number, driver’s license number, insurance company name, and insurance policy number of everyone involved in the crash. If you were hit by a commercial vehicle, don’t forget to get the name and contact information of the driver’s employer.
- Take pictures – You’ll want to capture an overview of the crash scene from different angles and then take detailed pictures of any damage, injuries, skid marks, street signs, traffic signals, road markings, construction, and hazards. The more pictures the better.
- Find witnesses – If anyone saw your bicycle accident happen, ask them to stay until police arrive so they can give a statement to the investigating officer. Be sure to also get their name and contact information. Eyewitness testimony can be a powerful piece of evidence and a deciding factor in your bicycle accident claim.
- Tell police what happened – When the investigating officer arrives, tell them the truth about what happened and stick to the facts. You can get a copy of the official police accident report on the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website for a fee. Police reports are crucial pieces of evidence when pursuing a car accident claim.
- Talk to an attorney – An experienced bicycle accident lawyer can guide you step by step through the claims process, handle negotiations with the insurance company, and help you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
What are my rights as a bicyclist?
Under Florida law, anyone riding a bicycle has the same rights and duties as someone driving a car, with some special regulations. Additionally, if you’re riding your bicycle on a sidewalk, across a roadway or going through a crosswalk, you have all the same rights and duties as a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
In general, drivers can safely share the road with bicyclists by:
- Yielding to bicyclists as they would other motorists
- Being aware of surroundings (e.g., when parking, making a turn, backing up, stopping, or going through a parking lot)
- Coming to a complete stop and looking both ways before turning right on red
- Following the speed limit, driving defensively, and driving for road conditions
- Giving bicyclists plenty of room and not passing too closely
If you were hit by a car while riding your bike, there’s a very good possibility that the other driver did something to cause or contribute to the crash. That’s why it’s important to know your rights and understand the law as it applies to bicyclists. If the driver is ticketed by police for the collision, that can be used to strengthen your claim.
What are the most common causes of bicycle accidents?
In a car vs. bicycle accident, some of the most common forms of driver negligence include:
- Failure to Yield, which often causes left hook accidents at intersections.
- Speeding
- Running a Red Light or Stop Sign
- Texting While Driving
- Distracted Driving
- Drunk Driving
- Fatigued Driving/Falling Asleep at the Wheel
- Dooring (opening a car door into the path of a bicyclist)
- Tailgating/Aggressive Driving
- Making Unsafe Turns, including right hook collisions at intersections.
- Improper Lane Changing or swerving into the bike lane, which can cause sideswipe accidents.
While other drivers can cause bicycle accidents, sometimes bicyclists get into crashes because of dangerous road conditions or defective bicycles. Other times, someone’s dog or another animal might run out into the path of a bicyclist and cause them to get knocked off their bike or crash.
Get the help you need from an experienced bicycle accident lawyer
At Armando Personal Injury Law, our clients are family. In other words, we think of your problems like our problems and will stand by your side when you need us the most. Attorney Armando Edmiston is caring, compassionate, accessible, and knows what it takes to build a strong case on your behalf that gets results. Serving clients in Tampa and throughout Florida, we offer legal representation on a contingency fee basis. That means there are no fees unless we win your case. To find out more, contact us to schedule a free case evaluation.