Miami, Florida Bicycle Accident Lawyer

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People come to Miami from all over the world to enjoy our beautiful scenery and wonderful weather. It's no wonder people like to get out and bike —yet there are very few dedicated bike paths. Most bicyclists have to risk sharing the road with cars.

For hundreds of Miami bicyclists every year, taking that risk results in serious injury. Vehicles pull out in front of cyclists before the biker has a chance to stop. Cars hit bikers at corners when they fail double-check that they have room to turn. Cars and trucks even run over bicyclists. For more than 100 Florida bike riders each year, a bike ride ends in death.

Don't let a bicycle accident derail your future. Hire an attorney with the experience and skill needed to get you the fair compensation you deserve. E-mail The Law Offices of Mark A. Kaire, P.A. in Miami, Florida, or call toll free at 866-769-0123 for a free initial consultation.

Bike accident attorney Mark Kaire is an avid cyclist himself, riding the same Miami roadways that our clients ride every day. He is also a frequent bike racing competitor in races in south Florida and North Carolina. He has experienced first hand the challenges that bicyclists face in Miami.

Mr. Kaire is also an experienced injury attorney. In his almost 15 years of practicing personal injury law, he has secured a number of bike accident injury verdicts and settlements of over a $1 million dollars, earning him a place in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum which is limited to attorneys who have won multi-million dollar verdicts, awards and settlements.

Common bike accident injuries include knee and leg injuries where a car collided with the biker, collarbone and shoulder injuries if the cyclist hit the hood or windshield of a car, and brain injuries caused by a cyclist being thrown into the roadway.

Video: County Public Bus Bike Accident

What If the Biker Wasn't Wearing a Helmet?

Under Florida law, bicyclists aren't legally required to wear a helmet. However, if you suffered a head injury and you weren't wearing a helmet, you could be found "comparatively negligent" for your injuries. That means that you have some degree of fault for the severity of your injury. Your final settlement could be reduced by the amount of fault assigned to you.

Who Will Pay the Bills?

If the bicyclist also owns a car — or the injured biker was a child and someone in the household owns a car and has insurance — your personal injury protection (PIP) policy on your car insurance is intended to cover your medical bills. If you do not own a car, the PIP coverage of the person who injured you typically covers your injuries.

• Learn about uninsured and underinsured motorists
  
  

The Dangers of Bicycling and Bike Accident Statistics

Bicycling is a great form of exercise. When you get on and begin peddling one generally thinks of the fun, the fresh air, the company, and the scenery. You might also be thinking of how many calories you’re burning and how great you’re going to look because you are performing this exercise.

One thing you are more than likely not thinking is of the danger lurking around the next corner. Bicycle accident dangers abound in today’s cities, but they could be anywhere. There are some unusual occurrences that lead to bicycle injuries but there are few injury causes that are more common.

• Drivers not paying attention to cyclist
• Drivers failing to yield to cyclist
• Drivers opening vehicle doors without looking first
• Commercial vehicle negligence
• Defective bicycle parts

As shown, most of the common bike accident dangers are human negligence in nature. In order for bicyclist to be truly safe there needs to be a combination of occurrences such as better bicycling paths, improved driver’s education, and improved laws to protect the bicyclist.

Here are a few laws that currently exist in many states:

• Drivers should pass on the left side of cyclists allowing a safe distance between them
• Drivers will not park or drive in bicycle lanes
• When opening the doors of a vehicle, drivers and passengers will do so only when safe 
• Drivers will exercise due care to avoid bicycle collisions
• Drivers will yield to a bicyclist making a left turn

Why is it so important to protect the cyclist? There are several reasons such as: it’s a human right to be safe and protected, bicycling is a growing sport and we are likely to hear of more injuries, if we don’t do something now, and the following eye opening bicycle personal injury accident statistics:

• 630 bicyclists died in the United States in 2009
• 74 out of 630 were 14 years old or younger
• 2% of all 2009 traffic fatalities were bicycle deaths
• 93 bicyclists 15 years old and under killed
• 13,000 bicyclists 15 years old and under injured
• 41 years old is average age of bicyclist death in United States
• 31 years old is average age of bicyclist injured in United States
• Bicyclist injuries increased from 43,000 to 51,000 from 2007-2009 (a big increase)

The numbers speak for themselves. The causes do as well. What about the cyclists? What about the injuries? These can range from mild to moderate to severe and even to death.

• Traumatic brain injuries (some recoverable, many not)
• Fractures (from simple to complex, recoverable to permanent impairment)
• Lacerations (simple cuts to major life threatening)
• DEATH

Hire a lawyer you can trust to pursue fair compensation in a bicycle accident injury case. Call our Miami law office toll free at 866-769-0123 for a free initial consultation. You can also contact us online and we'll get back to you shortly to discuss your accident.