Bicycle Accidents

Florida Bike Accident Attorney - Tampa Bicycle-Car Crash Lawyer

Most bicycle accidents occur in a crosswalk. In most cities, bicyclists have the same rights as pedestrians in a crosswalk, on a sidewalk, and in a bike lane. When car or truck drivers are not aware of bicyclists and crash into them, the cyclists need a lawyer who will protect their right to file an insurance claim.

Questions about bicycle accidents?
Ask Kinney, Fernandez, and Boire P.A.
(813) 875-5445 or e-mail

What if you don't have medical insurance? What if the driver claims you were not in the normal flow of traffic? If you have questions about a bicycle-car crash, contact our personal injury law firm.

  • If you don't have medical insurance coverage, talk to our bicycle accident law firm right away. We can refer you to doctors and clinics that will treat you on a lien basis - you can pay after you receive a settlement. If you suffered a head injury in the accident, make sure you have a doctor and follow all treatment recommendations.
  • We will investigate your accident, talk to witnesses, and review police reports so that we will know how your accident happened.
  • If you were told by someone that the accident was your fault, don't accept their word for it. Talk to a bicycle accident attorney who has effectively represented many bicyclists in vehicle related accidents.
  • Were you bitten by a dog while riding your bicycle? When a dog owner fails to have a dog under control and the dog bites you, you have a right to compensation from the dog owner's insurance.
  • However the accident happened - a driver backing over a sidewalk or bike lane, a driver entering the crosswalk where you were crossing, a driver who simply failed to notice you on the roadway - you need the advice of a lawyer who will protect your rights.

If you have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, you should immediately seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. The issues related to claims of negligence, personal injury and insurance coverage are complicated and can be tricky for someone not experienced in this area. At Kinney, Fernandez & Boire we spend each and every work day seeking justice for victims of automobile negligence.

Are you aware that it is common for bicyclists to get the short end of the stick from insurance companies? Recent studies show that settlements for injuries suffered in cars are up to 30% to 40% higher than for the same type of injuries suffered by cyclists.

In many cases, a bicycle accident results from a motorist's negligence or inattentiveness while operating his or her vehicle. The following are some common types of collisions that a cyclist may be injured in:

  • A motor vehicle driver turning directly in front of a bicyclist;
  • An automobile driver entering the street from a driveway or parking spot and pulls out into traffic in front of the bicyclist;
  • A motorist's failure to yield at an intersection or running a stop sign or red light;
  • A vehicle driver's inattention while driving past a bicyclist;
  • An automobile driver's failure to look both ways when resuming travel after stopping at a stop sign;
  • An automobile driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Our professionally trained staff members will do the following for our bike accident clients:

  • We will investigate and, where appropriate, closely analyze any damage that occurred to the bicycle, such as chipped paint, stressed metal, bent wheels and torn brake pads;
  • We will examine the remains of a bike wreck and seek to counter a motorist’s typical claims that a cyclist was speeding or squeezed the brake levers too hard or swerved into traffic.

Due to the increase in bike traffic throughout the United States and Florida, many cities have constructed special bike lanes. Parks now have trails which are accessible to bicycles, and some vehicle manufacturers are even offering bike racks as standard equipment. However, many motor vehicle drivers do not respect the bicyclists' rights to share the roads and, more importantly, many cyclists have not been properly educated on how to legally and safely share the roads with automobiles.

Negligent automobile drivers and uneducated bicyclists have resulted in some staggering statistics.

  • Every 6 hours a bicyclist is fatally injured;
  • Approximately one million children are injured each year in bicycle related accidents;
  • Nearly half of all bicycle fatalities occur to children under the age of 16;
  • Head injuries account for about 75% of all serious injuries and fatalities from bicycle accidents;
  • While collisions with cars account for only 1/3rd of all bicycle accidents, they account for the majority of catastrophic injuries and deaths.

Motor vehicle operators must be attentive to all bicycle riders. They must equate a bicycle with a motor vehicle and observe the same laws. For example: if you are sharing the right lane with a bicyclist and you are planning to turn right at an intersection, you must yield to the bicyclist. You may not drive in a designated bike lane unless you have immediate intentions to turn off the road. There are many "new" traffic laws concerning bicycles and ignorance of the laws will not protect you against negligence if you injure a bicyclist.

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