Woman Killed In Tragic Coral Springs Bicycle-Vehicle Collision
A 54-year-old woman named Donna Marie Gilbert has been reported dead after her bicycle collided with a car at the intersection of Lakeview Drive and Coral Ridge Drive earlier this week. The accident took place just after dark at around 8:00 p.m. Gilbert was reportedly attempting to cross the intersection when she was struck by a 2020 Toyota Camry. The driver of the Camry was uninjured and remained on the scene to talk to police. Gilbert was taken to North Broward Hospital immediately after the accident, but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries and passed away the following day. Gilbert was a resident of the Cypress Run Villas community, and had recently posted to Facebook how excited she was for her new job, which was nearby and allowed her to commute by bicycle each day. At this time, the driver of the Camry has not been charged and the investigation into the accident remains ongoing.
Tips for Sharing the Road with Bicyclists
Many drivers express intense frustration with bicyclists as they can slow down traffic and cause some inconvenience, however, it’s important to recognize that they are in an incredibly vulnerable position on the road. Even in areas with bike lanes cyclists are frequently hit and seriously injured or killed. It only takes a moment of distracted driving, texting, or glancing away from the wheel to drift into a biker’s lane and permanently injure or even kill them. There’s really no contest between a 6,000 pound car and a 150 pound bicyclist. A helmet can only do so much. For this reason, it’s important to become more aware of how we can share the road with bikers in a safe way. Below are some tips for doing just that:
- Check twice before passing a bicyclist. It is okay to pass a bicyclist on the road, you must just make sure to do so in a way that is safe for both of you. Check to make sure that they will be continuing on their current path before attempting to pass them, and also make sure that the lane you will be moving into to pass them is free of traffic. Give them as much space as possible when passing them.
- Always check for bikes before turning right. Right-hand turns are a common time for bicycle-vehicle collisions to occur. Cars often overestimate their own speed compared to the bike’s speed and turn without waiting for the bike to pass them. This can result in the bike colliding with the side of their vehicle, which can cause serious injury to the cyclist.
- Pay attention. It’s not the responsibility of the bike rider to be seen. You owe a duty of care to everyone on the road, which means you also need to take the time to ensure you know who you are sharing the road with. In many areas there are no bike lanes and bikers must ride with traffic, so always check your blind spots. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that if a bicycle was there you could see it; keep your eyes open for bikers, expect them to be there, and act accordingly.
Talk to a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer
If you have been seriously injured in a bicycle accident, contact the Coral Springs personal injury lawyers at Lyons & Snyder today and schedule a free consultation to find out how we can help you get the compensation and support that you need to get your life back on track.
Resource:
coralspringstalk.com/1-dead-in-bicycle-versus-car-crash-in-coral-springs-32107