MIAMI BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER
Have you been injured in a bicycle accident in Miami, Florida? Contact our Miami law office by calling us at 305-487-8615 to schedule your free case review with a Miami bicycle accident lawyer to discuss how we can help. The Soffer Firm Injury Attorneys has represented injured cyclists in Miami-Dade County for 15+ years.
The Sunshine State of Florida is well-known for its great weather and outdoor activities. Every day, thousands of people suit up and put on a helmet to go out cycling on the road.
What happens when a sunny, outdoor bike ride becomes a traumatizing experience? Bike accidents are not rare in Miami, and so are the numerous distracted drivers.
If you or your loved one has been involved in a bicycle accident in Miami, our personal injury law firm offers a free consultation to start building a case for your bike accident lawsuit.
CONTACT A TEAM OF EXPERIENCED MIAMI BIKE ACCIDENT LAWYERS TODAY
Riding a bike is part of everyday life in Miami. However, bike riders are no strangers to serious injuries. A Miami biike accident lawyer can help you file a lawsuit to receive maximum compensation if your injured due to someone else’s fault.
The Soffer Firm is the top bicycle accident law firm that offers a free case evaluation for your bike crash. We know that every personal injury case is built around righting wrongs in an incident. A personal injury claim is based on finding the causes of bicycle accidents, and that’s what we’re good at doing.
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WHAT COMMONLY CAUSED BICYCLE ACCIDENTS IN MIAMI?
In 2018 alone, there were over 6,000+ bicycle accidents. Riding a bicycle is extremely fun and convenient, but it can be pretty dangerous around careless drivers. The first step in any personal injury case is figuring out the cause of the accident.
Here are some of the common causes of Miami bicycle accidents:
- Distracted Driving
Over 2,800 people have died in crashes involving a distracted driver in Flordia during 2018. Distracted driving is the most common cause of a bike accident that can result in severe injuries. Any form of distraction such as texting or answering the phone, arguing or talking with another passenger, or looking down to grab some food can be considered distracted driving.
- Dooring
Dooring is an accident that’s uniquely fatal to bike riders because, after all, they can suffer more from a serious injury. These types of accidents are caused by drivers who open their car doors without checking the side mirror. It causes bicyclists to crash into the door or be forced into a traffic lane from their bicycle lanes, where they can get severely injured.
- Unsafe Lane Changes
A driver and a bike rider both have to follow the same traffic rules. However, many car drivers don’t follow traffic laws and are a severe threat to bike riders. A bike rider is much smaller and harder to notice on the road. The problem with drivers is that they tend to ignore these bicyclists because they focus on other cars.
- Turning Without Looking
Before turning, drivers must check other cars or bicyclists before turning whenever there is an intersection on the road. Unfortunately, even though a driver can altogether avoid an accident, it’s pretty common for drivers to turn without checking for bicyclists.
- Running Red Lights and Failure to Yield
Whether in Miami or anywhere else, every stop sign, yield sign, or red light has the same rules. If a driver breaks these rules and runs through these signs, it could mean a potentially serious injury for other car drivers. However, for bicycle accident victims, it could mean life-threatening or permanent injuries.
COMMON BICYCLE ACCIDENT INJURIES
Bicycle collisions can cause very serious injuries for the drivers of motor vehicles and bicycle riders. Most of the time, these accidents do not go in favor of cyclists. Here are a few injuries that can happen during a bicycle crash:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Scrapes and cuts
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
An accident can be life-altering with the potential risk of death or permanent injuries. Miami bicycle accident victims should contact a personal injury lawyer to recover compensation for the damages caused, medical bills, and wrongful death claims.
WHO IS LIABLE FOR MY BICYCLE ACCIDENT IN MIAMI?
Most bicycle riders believe that they are to blame for a bike accident, and they would feel it even more so if they were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. However, failing to wear a helmet is not evidence of negligence under Florida Law.
In Florida, a bicyclist is considered a driver, and their bicycles are considered vehicles. They have the same rights to access the road, and they also have to follow the same traffic laws as motor vehicles. As so, you should be given the same importance as a car.
- Negligent Motorists
Not every street in Miami has a bike lane. This forces bicyclists to ride in traffic. Some motorists don’t favor sharing roads with cyclists. Their negligent behaviors, like failing to yield, can lead to serious accidents. Other negligent motorists may hit you when you’re riding in a bike lane. When these accidents happen, you have a right to seek compensation from the driver.
- Bike Manufacturer
A poorly designed bicycle or one with a defective part is not road-worthy and can cause accidents. If a faulty bike was the cause of your accident, you may seek damages for your injuries from the bike or part manufacturer.
- The State of Florida
If the state’s actions like poor road design or poor signage put you in danger, you can hold them accountable for your injuries. Our Miami bike accident attorneys can help you hold the government agency that oversees road maintenance and design liable.
- Negligent Cyclist
Traffic signs and rules do apply to cyclists. Like motorists, they need to follow these rules. The fault can shift to you as the cyclist if, in the event of the accident, you were not stopping through stop signs, riding on the wrong side of the street, or turning abruptly without a signal.
CAN BICYCLE ACCIDENT VICTIMS MAKE INJURY CLAIMS?
The no-fault law applies to auto crashes in Florida. However, bicycle riders who have suffered injuries, even life-threatening injuries, can still take legal action to recover compensation from drivers who caused the accident.
When the bicycle rider dies from the accident, the biker’s loved ones or the representative of the deceased can legally pursue a wrongful death claim. With the help of a Miami bicycle accident lawyer from our law office, we can offer you a free legal consultation to build your case.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A FLORIDA CYCLIST
Under Florida law, bicyclists have “all the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle.” As always, there are exceptions, like regulations for riding with a young child and wearing a bicycle helmet if you are younger than 16.
However, as a cyclist, you are still generally entitled to your fair share of the road. As you know, bike riders are supposed to use the bike lane if they are traveling slower than the average speed of traffic. If no such lane is available, then you are required to ride as far to the right as possible.
But as you can imagine or may have unfortunately experienced, failure to yield right-of-way collisions can occur when distracted drivers make right turns across bike lanes and crash into cyclists who were doing their part to adhere to the law.
Most Florida drivers do not consider bicycle lanes as actual traffic lanes, but Florida law sets the precedent that there is no excuse for this kind of negligence.
WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER IN MIAMI?
Once you get into a bike accident in Florida, you may sustain a few injuries that could potentially be life-threatening or permanent. You should immediately contact Miami bicycle accident attorneys to help you get compensation for your medical bills for your medical treatment.
After a car accident on your bicycle riding, insurance companies might try to lower or deny your claim. An accident attorney from our firm is ready to fight for your claim. We offer a free consultation protected by attorney-client privilege to build a case that challenges your insurance company to give you the proper compensation.
WHY CHOOSE THE SOFFER FIRM MIAMI PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS FOR YOUR BICYCLE ACCIDENT CLAIM?
Motor vehicle drivers have a protective shell that surrounds them, whereas bicyclists have nothing to protect them. After sustaining personal injuries when riding your bike from a car accident, the Soffer Firm offers a free case evaluation, and we will work tirelessly to help you receive the compensation you deserve.
We handle all kinds of personal injury cases, and we always hold careless drivers responsible for the injuries you suffer. Our experienced personal injury lawyers are 100% committed to protecting the rights of those who have suffered from other people’s negligence.
MIAMI BICYCLE ACCIDENT FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions regarding bicycle accidents in Miami:
As per the Statute of Limitations in Florida for injury cases, you have four years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in civil court. However, if you are filing a lawsuit against the state or local government, you must follow a strict set of rules. If you are filing for a wrongful death lawsuit, you only have two years from the death of your loved one who was involved in the accident.
After a cycling accident at high-speed traffic, the adrenaline can be overwhelming, and you might want to brush off your injuries. Here are three steps that you need to know if you’re ever injured in a bicycle crash as a bicyclist.
- Step 1: Call 911
Seek medical help immediately after a crash. Accidents involving riding bicycles can result in severe injuries, and a medical practitioner can attend to your wellbeing as soon as possible.
- Step 2: Gather the facts
Getting compensation means that you need to gather the facts of the incident. It would be best if you talk to a witness or take photos as soon as you could. You can also file a police report within a 72-hour time frame.
- Step 3:Get a bike crash attorney
Getting the best legal representation can challenge and fight insurance companies from lowering your claim. If pre-trial negotiations don’t work, your bike accident attorney will not stop fighting to get the compensation you deserve. Being in a crash is a traumatizing and terrifying experience, and it’s often hard to keep a clear head. After the crash, there is very little you can do aside from waiting for the emergency response team.
It is important to have a Lyft accident attorney evaluate your case. They can help you calculate the appropriate amount of compensation you can get from your injuries. This will ensure that your case won’t be downplayed by the defendant’s insurance company.
Car insurance will cover cyclists who suffer injuries in an accident with a motor vehicle driver through personal injury protection in no-fault states. Personal health insurance policies can cover bicyclists who undergo accidents involving bike crashes.
Florida is a no-fault state, and most drivers are required to carry a Personal Injury Protection worth $10,000 through a car insurance policy. This ensures that more minor cases can stay out of court, but the victim can still pursue additional costs from the accused party.
CONTACT A MIAMI BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY TODAY
The Soffer Firm has skilled and experienced Miami bicycle accident lawyers who have helped many accident victims win their cases and recovered compensation for them. They are ready to help you get the maximum compensation you deserve. So if you or your loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in Miami, Florida, contact The Soffer Firm for a free consultation with our Miami bicycle accident lawyer. We will fight for your rights! You can contact our law firm at 305 417 9596 today.