Pedestrian or Bicycle Accidents
At the Kane Law Firm, P.A., in Orlando, Florida, we represent bicyclists and pedestrians who have suffered injuries as the result of the negligence or recklessness of others. Approximately 5,000 pedestrians are killed in traffic every year nationwide, and about 84,000 people suffer nonfatal injuries.
Bicycle riders, walkers, in-line skaters and runners often seem invisible to distracted, inattentive drivers of cars, SUVs, vans, and trucks. Even if bicyclists and pedestrians follow the rules, they can be hit by negligent drivers who are not looking for bicyclists and pedestrians.
tFlorida's pleasant climate encourages cycling, walking, running, biking, and in-line skating, which often results in catastrophic injuries for pedestrians. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, our pedestrian fatality rates are among the highest in the nation. Every year there are over half a million injuries associated with bicycles, according to national data collected from hospital emergency rooms. Even more sobering, Florida leads the nation in its bicycle fatalities each year, and nearly half of all the people killed in bicycle accidents are children under the age of 16.
Safety Tips for Cyclists and Pedestrians
Pedestrians do not have the protection of someone in an automobile, so these accidents may result in severe injuries to the head, bone fractures, permanent scars from the rider striking the roadway or even death. Even the most careful and experienced bicyclist can be involved in a bicycle accident. Anyone injured in a pedestrian, bicycle, or in-line skating accident may well need significant, long-term therapy and rehabilitation.
It is important to obey all traffic regulations and controls, such as stop signs and traffic lights, and to look out for cars at cross streets, driveways and parking spaces. Cyclists should give pedestrians the right-of-way, always use hand signals when turning or stopping, never carry another person on their bicycle, ride near the right-hand edge of the road, be careful when checking traffic and don't swerve when looking over their shoulder, keep their bicycle in good condition and always ride carefully.
Most importantly, cyclists should remember to always wear a helmet! A significant majority of permanent injuries which result from bicycle accidents are head injuries, which could have been significantly reduced if a helmet was worn. Modern bicycle helmets tend to be light and adequately ventilated.
Safety Tips for Drivers Sharing the Road with Pedestrians and Cyclists
Drivers should pay particular attention in areas where children may be riding on bikes, such as school zones, residential neighborhoods, near playgrounds, and around ice cream trucks. You should keep far enough away from the bicycle when passing them. When a car is about to pass someone on a bike, the driver must move far enough away so there is no danger of striking the bicyclist. If there is any doubt whether a car is going to collide with a bike, the car driver should honk their horn to make the bicyclist aware that there is a vehicle close to them.
A partial list of common things that drivers do that can cause an accident would include:
- Driver inattention or inexperience (failing to "see" the bicyclist, pedestrian, or in-line skater)
- Aggressive driving, such as speeding
- Failing to yield to the right of way
- Failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
- Failing to yield to bicyclists in bike lanes
- Failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign
- Failing to come to a complete stop before turning right on red at an intersection
- Failure to provide enough room for bicyclists on a street or road
- Traveling too fast down neighborhood streets
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
What To Do
Being involved in a bicycle or pedestrian
accident or any other traumatic event can leave a victim caught up in a complex
maze of legal, medical and financial issues at a time when they are least
prepared to deal appropriately with those issues. Until you can speak to an attorney, we hope
that the general information found on our page on what to do
if you have been involved in an accident will be helpful.
Recoverable Damages
Damages that are available to be claimed in a pedestrian or bicycle accident lawsuit are varied and complex. These damages are intended not as a reward, but as a way to restore the victim to his or her pre-accident status. Since circumstances will vary widely, you should get specific advice from an attorney. For general information, please visit our page on potential recoverable damages.
Contact the Kane Law Firm, P.A.
The Orlando bicyclist and pedestrian accident attorneys at the Kane Law Firm, P.A. will review accident reports and 911 calls, talk to witnesses, and take photos. Thorough accident investigation shows how the accident happened and who is responsible. We will help assess your injury to determine what insurance coverage is available and how you can recover damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional distress and disfigurement, and other damages. It is important to contact an attorney before accepting a settlement from an insurance company representative.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a bicycle or pedestrian accident, please call the Central Florida Pedestrian and Bicyclist Accident Attorneys at the Kane Law Firm, P.A. in Orlando, Florida at (407) 898-9130, submit a contact form on our website, or email us at Info@KaneInjury.com.
We offer a free initial consultation, and if we agree to take your case, we will work on a contingency basis. This means we will get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds.