Parkland Bicycle Accident Lawyer
State and local governments have the power to practically eliminate many two-wheel vehicle injuries. Bicycle accidents are a good example. Lower speed limits, wider bicycle lanes, and solid lane dividers would offer significantly more protection for vulnerable bicyclists. However, most motorists vigorously oppose such measures, a phenomenon known as bikelash. So, many of these safety projects never get off the ground.
The dedicated Parkland bicycle accident lawyers at Lyons & Snyder take up the slack in these situations. We advocate for victims at the courthouse and at the statehouse. If you were hurt in an accident, our professional team quickly gets to work for you. Because we build a strong, evidence-based claim, we are usually able to resolve these claims out of court. We also push for safety legislation which makes our community safer for everyone.
Bicycle Wreck Injuries
As mentioned, cyclists are almost completely exposed to danger when tortfeasors (negligent drivers) crash into them. When a 4,000-plus pound vehicle collides with a 20-plus pound bicycle at a high speed, the resulting injuries often include:
- Blood Loss: Exsanguination (excessive blood loss) is usually the official cause of death in fatal bicycle accidents. By the time emergency responders arrive on scene, many victims have already lost a quarter of their blood. As a result, they are on the edge of hypovolemic shock, which is basically organ shutdown.
- Head Injuries: Thin bicycle helmets, which are not always mandatory in Florida, protect riders when they accidentally fall off their bikes. But they offer little protection from onrushing motor vehicles. Unlike most other bodily injuries, head injuries are permanent. Brain cells that die never regenerate.
- Broken Bones: Although they are usually not life-threatening, these collision related injuries are usually permanent. Most high-speed accidents shatter bones. As a result, doctors must perform invasive surgery to reconstruct them. Therefore, some permanent loss of function is almost inevitable.
The hospital bills alone from such injuries often exceed $50,000. Most group health insurance policies exclude injury-related claims, and most Florida families don’t have the resources to pay them out of pocket.
Our Parkland bicycle accident lawyers usually arrange for victims to receive top-notch medical treatment at no upfront cost. Since they don’t need to worry about paying medical bills, victims can simply concentrate on getting better.
Liability Issues
These medical bills come due eventually. To obtain money to pay them, and also to obtain compensation for emotional distress and other noneconomic losses, victim/plaintiffs must prove negligence, or a lack of care, by a preponderance of the evidence, or more likely than not.
Ordinary negligence is typically a lack of reasonable care. “Reasonable care” basically means drivers have a responsibility to avoid accidents when possible. So, they must be physically, mentally, and otherwise fit to drive. Furthermore, their vehicles must be in good working order. Finally, while they are behind the wheel, they must drive defensively. A letdown in any area could constitute negligence.
Uber drivers and other commercial operators usually have a higher duty of care. Florida law requires these drivers to muster all their skill and experience on every trip, in order to get their passengers safely from Point A to Point B.
Negligence per se is typically a violation of a safety law. Florida tortfeasors are presumptively liable for damages if they violate a non-penal safety law, such as a traffic law, and that violation substantially causes injury.
Additional evidence in these accident claims usually includes witness statements and the police accident report.
Contact an Experienced Broward County Bicycle Accident Attorney
Injury victims are usually entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced bicycle accident lawyer in Parkland, contact Lyons & Snyder, Trial Lawyers. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
