Bicycle Accident

Why You Need a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Florida

Florida law requires drivers to share the road safely with bicyclists and maintain a safe distance when passing. A good bicycle accident lawyer will fight to get you the money you deserve, deal with complicated legal issues, and stop insurance companies from treating you unfairly. Drivers and their insurance companies often try to blame bicyclists for accidents. They’ll say you weren’t visible enough or that you weren’t following traffic laws. You especially need a lawyer when you’re badly hurt, when it’s not clear who’s at fault, or when insurance companies won’t treat you fairly. Studies show that people with lawyers get much more money in settlements than people without lawyers.

We offer free consultations for bicycle accident victims, and you don’t pay us anything unless we win money for your case.

How Insurance Works for Florida Bicyclists

Unlike car drivers, Florida bicyclists are not required to carry their own insurance. However, if you’re hit by a car, you can pursue money from the at-fault driver’s insurance without meeting a “serious injury threshold” that car accident victims face. If you have car insurance yourself, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage may help pay for some of your medical bills after a bike accident. Our lawyers can help you understand these complicated insurance rules and find all possible ways to get you money, including the driver’s insurance, your own insurance policies, and other responsible parties.

What Money Can You Get After a Florida Bicycle Accident?

After a bicycle accident in Florida, you may be able to get money for all your medical bills (now and in the future), all the wages you lost and money you won’t be able to earn, pain and suffering (which can be a lot for serious injuries), emotional distress, damage to your bicycle and gear, and more. Bicycle accidents often cause very serious injuries because bikes don’t protect riders like cars do, which can mean getting a lot of money. Insurance companies often offer too little money for bicycle accident claims. They act like bicyclists are reckless or hard to see. But our experienced lawyers know how to figure out what your case is really worth and fight to get you the most money possible.

How Do They Decide Who’s at Fault in a Florida Bicycle Accident?

Florida uses something called comparative negligence. This means if you were partly at fault, the money you get will be reduced by your percentage of blame. Insurance companies work hard to blame bicycle accident victims using negative stereotypes about cyclists. They’ll say you weren’t visible, weren’t wearing a helmet, or weren’t following the rules. Our team fights back by doing complete investigations, talking to accident reconstruction experts, reviewing police reports, interviewing people who saw what happened, and looking at any traffic camera videos. We build strong cases that prove who’s really at fault and protect you from unfair blame.

How Do I File an Insurance Claim After a Florida Bicycle Accident?

After making sure you’re safe and the police have been called, you should tell your own insurance company quickly. You must also contact the at-fault driver’s insurance company to make a claim. But be very careful when talking to insurance adjusters because their job is to pay you as little as possible. Before you tell them anything, contact our office for free help. We can talk to all the insurance companies for you while you focus on getting better, making sure your rights are protected the whole time.

What to Do When Hit by an Uninsured Driver in Florida

About 20% of Florida drivers don’t have insurance, which puts bicyclists at serious risk. If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, getting money becomes more complicated. Our lawyers can look at all your options, including your own uninsured motorist coverage (if you have it), finding other people or companies who might be responsible (like vehicle manufacturers or government agencies responsible for road conditions), or going after the at-fault driver’s personal assets. Don’t think you’re out of options—call us to see what we can do.

What Insurance Should Florida Bicyclists Have?

While Florida doesn’t require bicyclists to carry any insurance, having the right coverage can protect you if you’re in an accident. We strongly recommend that bicyclists and their families carry:

• Car insurance with PIP coverage (covers bike accidents too)
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
• Medical payments coverage
• Umbrella liability insurance for serious accidents

Without proper insurance protection, a serious bicycle accident could leave you with huge medical bills. Our lawyers can review your current coverage and recommend the right protection based on your situation.

Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Florida

Florida is one of the most dangerous states for bicyclists. In 2022, Florida had over 6,500 bicycle crashes resulting in injuries, with Miami being one of the deadliest cities in the nation for cyclists.

These injuries often include:

• Brain injuries and concussions (even when wearing helmets)
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Road rash and severe skin injuries
• Broken bones and bad fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Facial fractures and permanent scars
• Leg and ankle injuries
• Nerve damage
• Loss of limbs
• Trauma and PTSD

Bicycle accidents usually cause more serious injuries than car accidents because bikes don’t protect riders. Our team works with medical experts to document all your injuries and how they’ll affect your life and finances in the long run.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Florida

1. Drivers Who Don’t See Bicyclists: The most common cause of bicycle accidents in Florida is car drivers failing to notice cyclists. This “looked-but-didn’t-see” problem causes many crashes, especially at intersections.
2. Dangerous Road Conditions: Bicycles are more affected by road hazards than cars. Potholes, debris, uneven pavement, and construction zones that are minor problems for cars can cause bad accidents for bicyclists.
3. Unsafe Lane Changes: When drivers change lanes without checking their blind spots or merge without looking, they often hit bicyclists who are legally using the road.
4. Drunk or Distracted Driving: Alcohol and distracted driving (like texting) remain major causes of Florida bicycle accidents. Thousands of tickets are given each year for distracted driving, with many involving accidents with bicycles.
5. Dooring Accidents: In cities, many accidents happen when people in parked cars open their doors without checking for approaching bicyclists.
6. High-Speed Crashes on Major Roads: Florida’s many highways see numerous high-speed bicycle accidents, which usually result in more serious injuries and deaths than slower crashes.

Florida’s Time Limit for Filing Bicycle Accident Claims

Since March 2023, Florida law gives you just two years to file a lawsuit after a bicycle accident. This used to be four years but was reduced. This deadline applies to all traffic injury cases that happened on or after March 24, 2023. Property damage claims (like damage to your bike) still have a four-year limit. Special timelines include two years from the date of death for wrongful death cases and three years for claims against government entities.

Time is critical. If you miss this deadline, you permanently lose your right to get any money, no matter how strong your case is. Get medical attention right away, gather evidence quickly (including photos and witness information), and contact a bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible to protect your legal rights and give yourself the best chance of getting fair compensation.