Orlando Attorneys Representing Bicyclists Injured by Negligence

Bicycling is great recreation and sensible transportation, but if a negligent driver injures you while you’re bicycling, you’ll need to speak with an Orlando bicycle accident attorney at the Orlando Personal Injury Law Offices.

Without the protections that automobiles provide, bicycling can be dangerous. It only takes a moment for a pleasant ride to become terrifying or tragic. In 2018, there were 6,568 bicycle accidents in Florida, resulting in 148 deaths and 6,175 reported injuries.

How Can You Enhance Your Safety When Bicycling?

Every Florida bicyclist should know the basic safety rules, obey them, and make them a routine part of your bicycling. Parents, of course, should ensure that their children understand and adhere to these safety tips:

• Obey the traffic rules just as if you were driving a car or a truck.
• Wear a certified bicycle helmet.
• Adjust the handlebars and seat so that you are both comfortable and in control.
• Check your tire pressure and brakes at least once a week.
• As far as possible, keep both hands on the handlebars.
• Wear neon and fluorescent clothing to increase your visibility.
• If you ride after dark, have plenty of reflectors and lights on your bicycle.
• Don’t drink or consume intoxicating drugs before riding a bicycle.

What Are Your Rights If a Negligent Driver Injures You?

Negligent drivers who injure bicyclists may or may not face a criminal charge such as reckless driving or DUI, but whether or not charges are filed, bicyclists in Florida are protected by the state’s personal injury laws.

In most cases, bicyclists injured by negligent drivers are entitled to compensation for their accident-related medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

If you are injured by a negligent driver while you are riding a bicycle, seek medical attention at once. Even if you feel fine, you may have sustained a latent or difficult-to-detect injury, so quick medical attention is essential. You’ll need a medical exam for both legal and medical reasons..

In Bicycle Accidents, How Does Auto Insurance Work?

If you are injured on a bicycle, the only way your PIP (personal injury protection) insurance applies is if you are struck by a motor vehicle. If you have PIP coverage, it kicks in regardless of which party is at-fault. If you don’t have PIP coverage, then the driver’s PIP insurance kicks in.

If you’ve sustained a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or any long-term or disabling injury in a bicycle accident with a driver who was negligent, you will need considerably more compensation than your insurance coverage – or the other driver’s coverage – will provide.

Whether or not you own an automobile, and whether or not you have health or auto insurance, if you are injured by another driver while you are riding a bicycle in Florida, it is essential to have a good personal injury lawyer handle your injury claim from the beginning.

After a Bicycle Accident, What Steps Should You Take?

After a bicycle accident, get the other driver’s personal contact and insurance information. Get the name, address, phone number, workplace and work number, driver’s license number, insurance company contact information, and if possible, the insurance policy number.

If you’ve been injured while bicycling, do not sign any legal or insurance documents, do not make any statement, and do not accept any settlement offer before you consult a personal injury lawyer at the Orlando Personal Injury Law Offices.

This can’t be overstated. Adhering to these suggestions is imperative if you need – later – to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Take photos of the general accident scene, the vehicle damages, and your own visible injuries. If there were eyewitnesses, try to get their names and contact information.

How Will the Orlando Personal Injury Law Offices Help You?

Your attorney won’t be at the scene of an accident to advise you, so try to remember that photographs and eyewitness statements can be powerful evidence on your behalf if you need to file a personal injury claim.

In Florida, most personal injury claims are resolved out-of-court, so most injury victims can focus on regaining their health without having to appear in a courtroom.

However, if a reasonable settlement amount isn’t offered – and that’s rare – your injury attorney will take your case to trial and ask a jury to order the payment of the compensation you need.

At the Orlando Personal Injury Law Offices, our success and our reputation are the direct result of each attorney’s commitment to provide clients with high-quality, vigorous legal representation while maintaining an unparalleled commitment to honesty, integrity, and quality legal services.

You Do Not Pay Us Until You Are Compensated

Your first consultation with us is provided with no charge or obligation. An Orlando bicycle accident attorney will review your injury claim and explain how Florida law applies in your own situation. You’ll learn where you stand legally, and you’ll get the personalized advice you need.

We work on a contingent fee basis, so whether your circumstances are modest or affluent, you’ll be able to afford justice. You’ll pay us no attorney’s fee until and unless we recover a negotiated settlement or a jury verdict on your behalf.

If you’re injured by a negligent driver while bicycling in central Florida, after you’ve obtained medical treatment, schedule a legal consultation by calling the Orlando Personal Injury Law Offices at (407) 270-0052, or reach us by filling out the brief contact form here on our website.