Bicycling is on the rise in Florida and across the country. Thanks to increased awareness of the health and environmental benefits of riding rather than driving, people are taking to the streets aboard bicyclists more than ever. While this trend spells good news for many, it can occasionally be a dangerous activity. When bicycles and automobiles share the road, there is always the risk of a collision. In some cases, these accidents can be quite severe.
The vast majority of bicycle accidents are solo incidents. In other words, there is no other bicycle or motor vehicle involved in the accident. Often a cyclist will make an error or the surface of the road will cause the bike to lose its purchase. However, 11 percent of bicycle accidents do involve other vehicles and often these are most serious ones. Even a minor collision has the potential to cause serious life-threatening injuries to a cyclist. This is due to the lack of protection that a bike gives a rider unlike a motorist in a car. When there is a collision, it is highly likely that the biker will be thrown from the bike and injured.
When a bicycle and car do collide, they are likely to do so at an intersection. Though intersections comprise a tiny portion of a cyclist’s route, approximately 45 percent of all bicycle-car accidents occur at them. This is no coincidence. Intersections are a place where drivers are likely to make turns or stop to allow for other traffic to pass through. Bikes are small vehicles and do not travel at fast speeds. When a driver is not paying close attention, he or she is likely to miss a bicyclist and collide with him or her.
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, you may be able to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash. Speak with an experienced Florida bike accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.