Fort Lauderdale Bicycle Accident Attorney

Why Bicycle Accidents Happen So Often in Fort Lauderdale

Despite city efforts to increase bike lanes and improve safety, bicycle crashes are still far too common. Fort Lauderdale’s combination of year-round tourism, distracted drivers, and fast-moving traffic creates the perfect storm for serious accidents. Common causes include:

• Distracted Driving: Drivers texting, eating, or adjusting GPS often fail to see cyclists in time.
• Unsafe Passing: Motorists not allowing the required 3-foot clearance.
• Failure to Yield: Especially at intersections and during turns.
• Dooring: Parked drivers opening doors into the path of oncoming cyclists.
• Speeding & Recklessness: Reduces a driver’s ability to react quickly.
• Impaired Driving: Alcohol or drugs impair perception and reaction times.
• Hit and Run: Florida’s Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act enforces strict penalties for drivers who leave the scene of a crash involving a cyclist. We work with local law enforcement, review surveillance footage, and explore every option to identify the driver and pursue your claim.

Even with proper lighting, helmets, and adherence to traffic laws, cyclists remain vulnerable. The Bald Injury Lawyers is dedicated to protecting the rights of injured cyclists across Fort Lauderdale.

Why Hire a Bicycle Accident Attorney in Broward County

At The Bald Injury Lawyers, we understand the stress and suffering clients face when involved in a bicycle accident. To ensure you can focus on your healing, our legal team will do the heavy lifting, including:

• Investigate and gather key evidence
• Identify all liable parties including municipalities if road design played a role
• Handle insurance company negotiations
• Calculate full compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering
• Take your case to trial if necessary
  

We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you. You may be eligible for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage such as bikes, helmet, phone, etc.
• Future medical costs

We know the local roads, traffic patterns, and the unique legal challenges of South Florida bicycle accident claims.

What If the Bicyclist Was Partially Responsible for the Accident?

Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule (Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6)). If you are 50 percent or less at fault, you can recover damages reduced by your share of fault. If you are more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover. For example, if you are 30 percent at fault on a $100,000 claim, you recover $70,000.

To better understand this concept, consider a hypothetical situation. An avid cyclist, Sarah is riding her bike down a Florida street. She crosses an intersection without checking for oncoming traffic as she approaches it. Tom, a driver, is approaching the same intersection simultaneously while changing the song on his car’s stereo. Tom is distracted while driving and doesn’t notice Sarah and collides with her. Sarah sustained significant injuries due to the impact, resulting in medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, totaling $200,000 in damages.

Following an investigation and trial, the jury concludes that, while Tom was primarily to blame due to his distraction, Sarah also had some responsibility for failing to ensure the road was clear. They decided that Sarah was 20% to blame, while Tom was 80% to blame. Under the modified comparative negligence rule, Sarah’s $200,000 compensation would be reduced by her 20% fault, resulting in a $40,000 deduction. As a result, instead of the total amount, she would receive $160,000.

Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Because of the seriousness of the consequences for the victims, hit-and-run accidents involving cyclists in Fort Lauderdale, FL, have prompted legislative action. Recognizing the growing concern, the Florida legislature took a decisive step in 2014 by introducing the “Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act,” which Governor Rick Scott signed into law.

A dedicated triathlete, Aaron Cohen, was tragically killed during a ride when a driver hit him and drove away from the scene rather than offer help or report the accident. These events can end or change people’s lives and leave families with loss and a lack of justice.

Designed to protect “vulnerable users” on the road, this law targets cyclists, pedestrians, road construction workers, and disabled people. This law requires drivers who cause serious injuries to stop and stay at the scene. Leaving the scene of a crash with injury is a third-degree felony (up to 5 years). With serious bodily injury it is a second-degree felony (up to 15 years). With a death it is a first-degree felony with a 4-year minimum mandatory sentence (§ 316.027).

If you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident, reach out to a Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyer at The Bald Injury Lawyers today to learn more about your rights.

What Laws Must Bicycle Riders in Fort Lauderdale Adhere To?

At The Bald Injury Lawyers, our bicycle accident attorneys in Fort Lauderdale recommend understanding the laws and encouraging riding practices which promote safety.

Bicycle riders in Fort Lauderdale, as with all of Florida, must follow specific regulations to ensure their safety and that of other road users. Governed by Florida Statute 316.2065, these rules dictate different aspects of bicycle riding, from equipment requirements to riding behavior.

For starters, bicyclists must use a fixed, regular seat and ride with no more passengers than the bicycle was designed to carry. When riding between sunset and sunrise, bikes must be equipped with a white light visible from 500 feet at the front, a red reflector, and a red light visible from 600 feet at the rear. Additionally, cyclists under 16 must wear helmets that meet the federal safety standard.

While on the road, riders should always use the designated bike lane if one is provided. If not, they should ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway as practicable. However, there are exceptions, such as when overtaking another bicycle, preparing for a left turn, or when necessary to avoid any obstacles. Like other vehicles, bicycles must travel in the same direction as traffic.

Florida’s E-Bike Laws

As e-bikes gain popularity across the United States, Florida has adopted specific legislation to regulate their use and promote safety. In Florida, an e-bike is defined as a bicycle with fully functional pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts. Notably, e-bikes are exempt from the usual licensing, registration, and insurance requirements for motor vehicles.

E-bikes in Florida can be divided into three types based on their top speed and the nature of the motor’s assistance. All three classes have legal access to bike lanes. On paths or trails separate from the roadway, however, only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are permitted, which can provide motor assistance only when pedaled or stop offering any assistance once the speed reaches 20 mph.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you should seek medical attention, even if you do not think you are seriously injured. So, it’s important to get a full checkup from a doctor so that any injuries can be properly recorded.

Once you have seen a doctor, you should contact an experienced Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. The legal team at The Bald Injury Lawyers will help you understand your rights and work to get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

What NOT to Do After a Bicycle Accident in Fort Lauderdale

You should avoid specific actions after a bicycle accident in Fort Lauderdale to preserve the value of your potential claim and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Here are some critical “DON’Ts”:

• Don’t give recorded statements
• Don’t sign documents without an attorney
• Don’t put off medical care
• Don’t be dishonest about your injuries
• Don’t ignore medical advice or stop treatment early
• Don’t hide prior injuries or conditions from healthcare providers
• Don’t lie to your attorney
• Don’t post about the accident or injuries online
• Don’t discuss your accident or claim with friends or colleagues

Understanding Settlements and Damages in Bicycle Accident Claims

Our Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers are well aware that these types of accidents can cause both physical and financial problems. When another party’s negligence causes an accident, victims may be eligible for compensation in a variety of ways:

Economic Damages

• Lost Wages – If your injuries caused you to miss work or compromised your ability to perform your job, you may be entitled to compensation for your lost earnings. Severe damages that result in job loss or inability to work in the future are also considered in claims for lost income.
• Medical Costs – Medical expenses are recoverable if you had a single doctor’s visit or needed extensive medical treatment as a result of the accident. This includes minor consultations and more extensive treatments such as emergency surgeries.
• Physical Property Damage – Damages extend to personal properties affected in the accident. For instance, a wrecked bicycle, a broken cell phone, damaged glasses, or a ruined backpack are all claimable damages.

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and Suffering – These damages include the emotional and physical trauma caused by the accident. This could include physical disfigurements that interfere with social interactions and mental anxieties, such as a developed fear of biking.
• Punitive Damages – Typically, you don’t recover these damages through insurance claims. Punitive damages require proof of intentional misconduct or gross negligence (Fla. Stat. § 768.72). They are generally capped at the greater of three times compensatory damages or $500,000, with higher caps or no cap in some cases, such as intentional harm or an intoxicated defendant (Fla. Stat. §§ 768.73, 768.736). This category seeks to punish the wrongdoer rather than compensate the victim.

The most important thing that will affect how much compensation you get is how bad your injuries are. For example, if you were seriously injured and had a large amount of medical bills, you will most likely receive a larger settlement than if you were only slightly injured.

In some cases, cyclists who have been hit by cars have suffered permanent disabilities that have left them unable to work or participate in activities they once enjoyed. If this is the case, you may be entitled to receive compensation for lost wages and future earnings, as well as for your pain and suffering.

What Are Some Common Injuries Caused by Bicycle Accidents in Fort Lauderdale?

When you are out on your bicycle, the last thing you are thinking about is getting into an accident. Unfortunately, accidents happen all the time, and when they do, it is important to know what kind of injuries you may be susceptible to. Here is a list of common injuries caused by bicycle accidents:

• Bone Fractures – One of the most common injuries caused by bicycle accidents is a bone fracture. When you are involved in a collision, your bones can take a lot of impact. If the force of the impact is strong enough, your bones can break. The most common bones that are fractured in bicycle accidents are the collarbone, arm, and leg.
• Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries – Another common injury caused by bicycle accidents is a concussion or a more serious traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion is a type of brain injury that occurs when your head hits an object with enough force to cause your brain to bounce around inside your skull. A TBI is a more serious type of brain injury that can occur when your head hits an object with such force that it causes your brain to swell or bleed. Both concussions and TBIs can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. If you experience any of these symptoms after being involved in a bicycle accident, it is important to see a doctor right away.
• Head and Face Injuries – Head and face injuries are also common in bicycle accidents. These injuries can range from minor cuts and bruises to more serious lacerations and facial fractures. Wearing a helmet can help reduce the severity of head and face injuries in the event of an accident.
• Neck and Back Injuries – Neck and back injuries are another type of injury that can be caused by a bicycle accident. These injuries can range from whiplash to herniated discs to fractured vertebrae. Neck and back injuries can be extremely painful and may require long-term treatment.
• Soft Tissue Injuries – Soft tissue injuries are also common in bicycle accidents. Soft tissue refers to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues that connect our bones together. When these tissues are damaged in an accident, it can cause pain, swelling, and bruising. Soft tissue injuries can take weeks or even months to heal properly.

Bicycle accidents can cause a wide variety of injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to more serious fractures, concussions, and traumatic brain injuries. Wearing a helmet while riding can help reduce the severity of head and face injuries in the event of an accident.

Serving Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The pleasant climate and flat terrain in Fort Lauderdale, FL, make it ideal for cycling. To capitalize on this opportunity and promote a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation, the city has been proactive in developing bike lanes, shared-use paths, and other infrastructure improvements. This is part of Fort Lauderdale’s commitment to making the city’s residents and visitors who prefer to travel on two wheels safer and more efficient.

• Broward MPO – This comprehensive report by the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) offers insights into Broward County’s strategic action plan for biking and pedestrian safety. It’s a valuable resource for anyone keen on understanding the broader perspective of cycling safety and infrastructure in the region.

Contact Our Legal Team Today!

If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, call us at 954-712-8877 as soon as possible to talk to our experienced Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident lawyers. Our dedicated team understands the unique challenges cyclists face and is committed to protecting their rights. Contact us today for legal guidance and representation if you or a loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident. We will help ensure that you understand your rights and will work to get you the maximum compensation possible for your injuries.

In addition to Fort Lauderdale, the experienced attorneys at our law firm serve Pompano Beach, Weston, Plantation, Hialeah, Hollywood, Miami, Sunrise, and more.

Fort Lauderdale Bicycle Accident Claims FAQ

Still feeling unsure? More questions? These might help!

What should I do after a bicycle accident in Fort Lauderdale?

There are several steps you should take after being involved in a bicycle accident:

• Call 911 and seek medical help, even if you feel okay.
• Document the scene: Take photos, get the driver’s info, and look for witnesses.
• Avoid giving statements to insurance companies without legal counsel.
• Get a medical evaluation to document your injuries.
• Contact a Fort Lauderdale bicycle accident attorney for a free consultation.

Can I still recover compensation if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?

Yes. While helmet use may factor into your injury claim, it does not automatically bar you from recovering compensation.

How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in Florida?

For injuries caused by negligence on or after March 24, 2023, Florida generally allows two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)). Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. Some claims have different deadlines, so talk to a lawyer as soon as possible.

Who can be held liable for a bicycle accident?

Potentially liable parties include the driver, a municipality for road defects, or even a parts manufacturer for defective bicycle equipment.

What if the driver fled the scene or had no insurance?

We can still help. You may be eligible for compensation through your uninsured motorist coverage or by locating the at-fault driver through investigation.

Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Bicycle Accident Attorneys Today

If you or someone you love has been injured in a bicycle accident in Fort Lauderdale, contact The Bald Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. We serve all of Broward County and beyond.

Let us help you get the justice, medical treatment, and compensation you deserve. Call 954-712-8877 today.