Florida has a progressive attitude towards cycling compared to other states. Florida roads are full of bicyclists who commute, run errands, or cycle as a recreational activity. Bicyclists and motorists do not often share the road well, resulting in a collision between vehicles and bicycles. Due to a lack of protective equipment, bicyclists are likely to sustain severe injuries or even death after an accident.

If you have suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, the law allows you to file a lawsuit against parties who caused the accident. Battling a compensation claim can be quite difficult, especially when you have suffered serious injuries. Therefore, seeking legal guidance from an experienced attorney is one of the wisest decisions you can make for your personal injury case.

Risks That Bicyclists Face on the Roads

With year-round sunshine in Florida, many residents and visitors cycle to run errands or as a mode of enjoyment. More bicycles on the roads increase the risk of bicycle-related accidents. Bicyclists face numerous risks of being in an accident and suffering severe injuries. Besides the helmet, bicyclists do not have another form of protection from being struck by other vehicles. When a negligent motorist causes an accident, it is common for the bicyclists to suffer the most severe injuries. Some of the risks that bicyclists face daily in Florida roads include:

Over speeding is a Common Risk for Bicyclists

There is a specific speed limit required at different parts of the road. When a motorist is operating at high speed, their control and reaction to an emergency are compromised. Also, over speeding does not only involve exceeding the legal speed limit. Driving too fast in unfavorable weather and road conditions is considered overspending. Therefore, it is common that when the bicyclist is on the road, the motorist cannot stop on time. This poses a great threat of accidents and injuries for the bicyclist. When vehicles are traveling at high speed, the impact that results from a collision is often high. In most cases, bicyclists sustain the most severe injuries in case of a collision with the motorists.

Driving at an appropriate speed is one of the most controllable factors on the road. However, when a driver is running late or is unfamiliar with the roads around the area, they may tend to ignore the speed limits. This behavior is considered negligence. Therefore, injuries you suffer from a bicycle accident resulting from over speeding can receive compensation.

Failure to Yield the Right of Way Presents a Significant Threat for Bicyclists.

Florida law specifies instances in which a driver must yield the right of way to bicyclists and other road users. While on the road, road users need to make quick decisions on who has the right to at each given situation. When drivers ignore these regulations and fail to yield the right of way for bicyclists, the risk of getting into a serious accident increases, many road accidents are caused by motorists that fail to yield to stop signs in streets and lanes cyclists have the right of way.

There are several reasons why a driver may fail to yield the right way—a driver who is texting while driving cannot make the right decision in emergencies. A driver who fails to yield the right of way for a bicyclist is responsible for injuries resulting from a bicycle accident.

Distracted Driving Poses a Risk of Injury for Bicyclists

A driver is distracted when their physical and mental concentration is not on the road. Bicyclists are often not visible for motorists, and the presence of distracted drivers on the road poses a threat to their safety. This is because the driver's response to the road's situation is delayed and has no time to stop and avoid hitting the bicyclists. Also, the amount of tie a distracted driver spends looking on the road for potentially dangerous situations is minimal. There are several ways in which a driver could be distracted, including:

  • A driver could be distracted if they are texting while driving. Texting and driving are some of the significant ways in which distracted drivers cause collisions on the road.
  • Eating or drinking while driving may take away your physical concentration on the vehicle and lack control of the driver’s reaction and speed. This increases the chances of hitting a bicyclist.
  • Talking to other vehicle occupants can distract a driver from the road. When a driver is making conversation with other vehicle occupants, their vision may not be on the road, and they may fail to see a bicyclist inform them. This can cause a fatal accident.
  • Reaching out for devices in the vehicle moves the physical concentration of the driver from the vehicle. Even when you are not using a cellphone, reaching out to get it can be a severe threat for bicyclists and other road users.

Drunk Driving Poses a Great Threat for Bicyclists on the Road

Drunk driving is one of the most significant contributing factors to catastrophic accidents in Florida. When a driver is intoxicated, their vision and ability to make the right decision are impaired. Drunk drivers are more likely to lose focus, get fatigued, and sleep while on the wheel. Individuals who operate vehicles while intoxicated tend to break the traffic and speed rules and thus are a great risk to other road users. Bicyclists are not visible on the roads. Moreover, drunk driving diminishes the driver's ability to notice pedestrians and bicyclists and end up crashing into them.

In Florida, drunk driving is a serious offense. A drunk driver may be held liable for the injuries you suffer in a bicycle accident. Drunk driving laws work on ensuring that drivers do not exceed the alcohol limit in the blood, this helps in preventing alcohol-related accidents.

Unfavorable Weather Conditions

Dangerous weather conditions make it unsafe to ride a bicycle in Florida. When the weather is not favorable, especially during the rainy season, the cyclists may not be visible to the motorists. When the drivers fail to exercise reasonable care during such a time, they could put themselves and the cyclist at risk.

Also, in poor weather conditions, the bicycle tires are relatively thin, and as you cycle faster, there is less traction on the tires. This makes it easy for the bicycle to slide in the middle of the road and cause a serious accident. Riding a bike in poor weather conditions should be avoided. This will help reduce accidents that cause injuries for the bicyclist and other road users. Also, motorists should ensure that their vehicles have back and headlights to help see any oncoming bicyclists and avoid hitting them.

Weather conditions that pose a risk to bicyclists on Florida roads include:

  • Heavy rain — Heavy rains affect the visibility of the drivers on the road. This risk could be heightened when the windshield wipers of a vehicle are faulty. Most motorists in Florida are used to driving under the sun and may not be ready to slow down in the rainy season. This makes it particularly dangerous for bicyclists who are caught in the middle of traffic.
  • Tornadoes — A tornado is a rapidly rotating wind that causes chaos when in contact with the earth. Destructive tornadoes are common in Florida during spring and summer. When a person is riding a bicycle in the middle of a tornado, they may be thrown off or hit by other objects that have been moved by the forceful wind.
  • Snowing — Winter weather creates roadway conditions that are dangerous for motorists to navigate. Snow reduces the visibility of motorists significantly. This makes it difficult to avoid bicyclists and can end up getting into a collision with them. Also, snowing conditions affect the ability of vehicles to stop even when the brakes are applied.

Poor Road Infrastructure is a Risk for Bicycle Accidents

In most cases, the risks that face bicycle riders are from reckless drivers who fail to make the right decisions while on the road. However, sometimes accidents are not caused by the negligence of road users. Bicycles are relatively unstable, and poor roads can pose a significant threat of injuries for the bicyclists. A poorly structured road may not seem to cause more than just a bumpy ride. However, some road conditions can cause serious and life-threatening accidents for bicyclists.

Since bicyclists lack protection like on vehicles, even a minor accident can result in serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury, severe road rash, broken bones, and injuries to the internal organs. Some of the common road conditions that threaten the safety of bicyclists include:

  1. Uneven pavements. Lane shifts and uneven roads are common in construction sites. When the road is uneven, a bicyclist can lose control and stray into the road. This increases their risk of getting hit by a vehicle in the traffic.
  2. Potholes. When bicyclists are unaware of potholes on the road, they are likely to hit the depression and get thrown off the bike onto the road. Potholes occur as a result of missing the blacktop on different sections of the road. A pothole can also cause a speeding vehicle to lose control and crash onto a bicyclist on the side of the road.
  3. Oil and chip. Oil and chip are temporary fixes on the road before reconstruction. These areas could be very slippery, and the thin tires of the bicycle may slide on them. As a result of few protection measures for the bicyclists, even a slip accident can be serious.

Reckless Overtaking

Overtaking is a decision that motorists need to think about and assess the road condition before embarking. Overtaking accounts for a high rate of fatalities in Florida. When poorly executed, overtaking can turn out to be a catastrophic decision for road users. When drivers try to overtake another vehicle dangerously, they may plunge into the bicycle lane, causing a serious accident and injuries for the bicyclist.

Unsafe overtaking is common when one is in a hurry or lacks familiarity with the particular road. Also, the overloading of goods and passengers increases the risk of wrong judgment when overtaking. If you get injured in a bicycle accident resulting from reckless overtaking, you can file a personal injury claim against the liable parties.

Parked Vehicles are a Threat to Bicycle Riders on the Road

Opening the door of a vehicle while parked on the street or sidewalk may seem harmless. However, such an act could be a great risk of bicycle accidents. This is the case, especially when the car is parked or the door is opened suddenly. When a driver opens the vehicle door, an oncoming bicyclist may be unable to avoid hitting the door and getting thrown off the bike. Drivers are expected to check out for any oncoming bicycles before opening their doors. A driver who opens their vehicle and causes a bicycle accident could be held liable for the resulting injuries.

Find a Personal Injury Attorney Near Me

According to NHTSA, Florida is the most dangerous state for cyclists due to the increased number of fatal bicycle-related accidents. Most risks that bicyclists face on the roads can be minimized when other road users exercise reasonable care. Whether you are the injured party or a loved one of a cyclist, a bicycle accident could be frightening. After an accident, bicyclists are likely to suffer more severe injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or even death.

If you are injured in a bicycle accident caused by another person, you can file a personal injury claim against them and recover compensation for your injuries. If your loved one dies as a result of bicycle accident injuries, you are entitled to compensation for wrongful death. It is crucial to enlist an attorney’s help to increase your chances of getting maximum compensation in your claim. At Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorney, we work hard to ensure the best outcome for your claim. Contact us today at 904-800-7557 from any location in Jacksonville, Florida.