Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents

As more and more South Florida residents and visitors utilize bicycles for commuting as well as recreation, the potential for bicycle crashes rises. Though many different factors can contribute to these collisions, negligent motorists commonly cause bicycle accidents. Injuries such as broken bones, head trauma, and others can have a significant financial impact on victims. Miami bicycle accident lawyer Robert Dixon helps injured cyclists determine the cause of their accidents, as well as who is responsible for their harm. Mr. Dixon and his staff at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are dedicated to helping these plaintiffs seek to hold the responsible parties legally accountable. Our firm offers knowledgeable and seasoned legal guidance for clients across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, and elsewhere in South Florida. If you or a loved one have been injured in a bicycle accident and have questions regarding your legal options, contact our firm to set up a free consultation to find out more about how we can help.

Not always, but often, a bicycle accident is due to the carelessness of a driver on the road. Some common causes of bike accidents involving a motor vehicle include:

• Driver distraction or failure to pay proper attention. A vehicle may pull out of a side street, parking lot, or driveway without checking for an oncoming cyclist. Drivers can also be distracted by their phones.
• Improper turns and failing to yield the right of way.
• Failure to leave adequate room between a vehicle and a bicyclist. “Buzzing” occurs when a driver neglects to leave at least three feet of space when trying to pass a cyclist. Vehicles who follow a bicyclist too closely can also cause a rear-end collision.
• Dooring accidents, which occur when the driver of a parked car opens his or her door without looking in the rearview mirror, striking a bicyclist.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Other causes of bicycle accidents can include defective bicycle parts as well as dangerous hazards on the road or sidewalk.

When a driver has injured a bicyclist in an accident, it is usually an indication that the driver has acted negligently. If negligence contributed to the crash, the bicyclist can recover damages by pursuing a personal injury claim. Consulting a knowledgeable attorney is an important first step in determining whether you can seek compensation under this legal theory.

Negligence occurs when a driver breaches his or her duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would on the road, causing another’s injuries and leading to damages. For example, a driver following a bicyclist too closely, and then rear-ending that bicyclist, could be held liable for negligence. When a negligent driver has caused the death of a victim, family members can also file a wrongful death suit against the liable party. Damages available to victims of bicycle accidents include past and future medical expenses, diminished earning capacity, loss of income, as well as compensation for pain and suffering in some situations. Even if a bicyclist is partially, or mostly, responsible for his or her own injuries, claims against another negligent party can be pursued. Under Florida’s pure comparative negligence theory, damages are awarded in proportion to each party’s degree of fault. Therefore, a bicyclist who has been found 60 percent liable may still recover 40 percent of their total damages.

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a bicycle accident, attorney Robert Dixon can assist you in exploring your legal options and filing the appropriate claims against the responsible parties. Victims of these collisions need time to heal, and as such, Mr. Dixon and his staff are committed to making sure their legal issues are handled properly. Contact the Law Offices of Robert Dixon at 877.499.4878 or online for a free consultation to learn more about your rights. We represent clients in areas including Miami, and West Palm Beach.