Did A Car Strike Your Bicycle?
Brian O Sutter
Personal Injury
Who doesn't like to hop on their bike for some fun and exercise in Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, or Sarasota? There are plenty of places nearby for bikers to ride. They can hit paths and streets alone or in groups. Bicyclists get to take in the sights without having to worry about buying fuel or insurance. It is a good idea for them to invest in safety equipment, though. A helmet, knee/elbow pads, and padded clothing can help them stay safe should they happen to take a tumble. That is, providing that the crash didn't occur from a car striking them. When that's the case, the accessories might not do much at all. Still, it is better to have the pieces during such situations rather than not having them. A little protection is better than nothing.
Florida Bicycle Crash Statistics
According to the FLHSMV, the Sunshine State accounted for 6,664 bicycle crashes in 2019. These events caused 156 fatalities, 774 incapacitating injuries, and 5,455 other injuries. Hence, you might say that these incidents happen more often than most folks think. If the stats don't do it for you, just look at some of the recent headlines from around the area.
• Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Bicyclist Critically Hurt In Lakewood Ranch Crash, FHP Reports
• WTSP: A 16-Year-Old Girl Was Struck And Killed While Riding Her Bicycle In Pasco County
• The Florida Times-Union: 1 Dead, Another In Life-Threatening Condition After Monday
Bicycle Crashes In Jacksonville
We Aren't Telling You This To Scare You
If you are a bicyclist, by all means, keep doing what you enjoy and love. Please be careful while doing so, though. The last thing anybody wants is to have someone else become a statistic. With so many bike riders and motorists sharing the roadways today, accidents are bound to happen occasionally. Many times, the collisions come to fruition because of driver negligence. Yep, you read that right; most bicyclists who experience these fates are not even to blame.
When cars strike bicyclists, all sorts of injuries can arise. Fractures and broken bones, burns, and brain injuries are but a few. Victims have to take time off from work and lose wages. They also have tons of bills coming in for doctors, prescriptions, surgeries, and you name it. A person could blow through their savings in a hurry trying to cover all the expenses. Things don't have to go this way, though.
Instead, a victim can hire a personal injury attorney to fight on their behalf and recover compensation. Lawyers collect cell phone records, driver histories, and black box data to build strong cases. They also gather witness statements, police reports, and traffic camera footage as necessary. Our firm even works with various specialists to recreate accident scenes when needed. The initial case review is free, and you do not owe even a single cent unless your claim wins. So, if a car strikes your bicycle and leaves you injured, please, don't hesitate to give us a call.
As you may have noticed earlier, death is another outcome associated with bicycle/car crashes. Personal injury attorneys can be of assistance to surviving relatives following these events. No amount of money could ever replace or make up for what they lost. Doing nothing can put them between a rock and a hard place financially, though. Family members might be liable for medical bills, funeral expenses, and more. Compensation can handle those costs and then some, depending on how much they win. Hopefully, you never need our firm, but if you do, just know that reputable and trustworthy legal representation is only a phone call away.