Bike Injury Attorneys in Pompano Beach, FL Achieve Results for Bicycle Accident Victims in Broward County and Throughout Florida
When a bicycle collides with another motor vehicle, the resulting injuries are likely to be serious even when the motor vehicle involved was traveling at a relatively low speed, such as in a neighborhood setting. Bicycle accidents involving higher speeds can cause catastrophic injuries and even fatalities—and while a helmet is always advisable, it is not likely to prevent traumatic injuries for the cyclist. Unfortunately, many drivers of motor vehicles simply fail to pay close attention for bicycles on the roads even though bicycles are an extremely popular way to get around the Pompano Beach area—leading to an alarming statistic: Florida has more bicycle accident fatalities each year than anywhere else in the country. At Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., our dedicated Pompano Beach bicycle accident lawyers cannot take away the physical and emotional pain of the bicycle accident, but they can fight to relieve the financial stress caused by these accidents.
After a bicycle accident, the driver of the motor vehicle is likely to walk away unscathed while you, the victim, suffer through a painful recovery and watch medical bills and living expenses pile up in the interim. If you sustained injuries in a bicycle accident that you believe was caused by someone else’s careless or reckless actions, contact us today so that our bike injury attorneys in Pompano Beach, FL can get to work in your case.
How do Bicycle Accidents Occur in Pompano Beach?
Bicycle accidents can occur in Pompano Beach for any number of reasons, but, unfortunately, many bicycle accidents are caused by a lack of caution on the part of someone who is driving a motor vehicle. Bicycle accidents often occur because the driver of a motor vehicle:
- Fails to yield to a bicyclist
- Fails to leave sufficient space while a bicyclist is cycling along the side of the roadway
- Is distracted by texting or something else in the vehicle
- Is speeding or driving aggressively
- Fails to obey traffic signals
Although many bicyclists and drivers alike are unaware of bicyclists’ rights with respect to road usage, bicyclists are legally entitled to share the roadways with South Florida drivers. While the bicyclist is required to use a bike lane if available or ride as closely as possible to the right shoulder if there isn’t a designated bike lane, bicyclists are not legally required to use the sidewalks in most situations. When bicycle riders do choose to use the sidewalks, they are treated as pedestrians and must obey all safety laws that apply to pedestrians on the Pompano Beach sidewalks.
While bicyclists do have the right to share the road, Florida bicyclists do not automatically have the right of way over motor vehicles. When riding a bicycle, the rider is required to stop for traffic lights and stop signs and ride on the right side of the road just like any other motor vehicle.
Gonzalez & Cartwright Fight for Full and Fair Compensation for Bicycle Accident Victims
At Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., our Pompano Beach bicycle accident lawyers fight to recover the maximum amount of compensation possible for bicycle accident victims both to ensure their expenses are fully covered and to hold negligent drivers accountable for their carelessness. This includes compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitative care
- In-home care
- Home modifications to account for the injury
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages and salary
- Lost earning potential
- Property damage to your bicycle
Call Pompano Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyers Gonzalez & Cartwright for a Free Initial Consultation
Our bike injury attorneys in Pompano Beach, FL understand that you will have a variety of questions about your rights after suffering injuries in a Pompano Beach bicycle accident, and we make it a priority to ensure that you have answers to those questions as soon as possible. Call a personal injury lawyer today, or fill out this secure online contact form, to schedule a free initial consultation so that we can explore options for recovering financial compensation in your case. If you prefer, we are also available to schedule your free initial consultation in your home, hospital or medical facility while you continue to recover from the injuries caused by the bicycle accident.
About Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach is located in Broward County, Florida, near Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Because of the year-round warm climate, Pompano Beach boasts over 244 miles of trails that are perfect for cycling or hiking, and the area is also home to many bicycling groups that meet to cycle together along the roadways. Because the area is also home to a substantial number of bike rental shops, bicycle riders are a significant group in Pompano Beach, making it important that everyone understands the rules of the road to protect the safety of this relatively unprotected group of drivers in our community.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bicycle Accidents in Pompano Beach, FL
Under Florida law, you do not legally have to wear a helmet if you are over age 16—and although it is always advisable to wear a helmet for your own protection, you will not be precluded from pursuing a claim for compensation against a negligent driver if you were not wearing a helmet and were injured in a bicycle accident. Young children are required to wear helmets that adhere to certain legal safety standards that were updated recently, in 2016—and this a legal requirement, meaning that it is the case even if a parent authorized the child’s use of a bicycle without a helmet.
If you have car insurance, the first step to recovering compensation after a bicycle accident will still be to file a claim with your own car insurance company under Florida’s no-fault law. Unless the damages involved exceed $500, you do not technically have to report the accident. Other options exist for recovering compensation for more serious injuries, and our Pompano Beach bicycle accident lawyers can help you explore those options.