South Florida Bicycle Accident News Roundup: November 2019 Edition
Even with the best helmets and other safety gear, bicyclists are extremely vulnerable to collisions with motor vehicles. In an accident involving a bicycle and a car, the bicyclist can suffer catastrophic injuries, while the car emerges with barely a scratch and the driver is entirely unscathed. If you have been injured in an accident in which a car or other motor vehicle struck your bicycle, you may be entitled to damages for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Contact a Palm Beach County car accident injury attorney to find out more.
Bicycle Accidents in South Florida
Local news media have reported the following recent traffic accidents involving bicycles:
- In November 2018, Nicole Vanderweit was driving her Honda Fit truck on State Road 84 in Davie. Ahead of her was a group of about 20 bicyclists participating in a charity ride. Vanderweit was distracted, looking for something in the glove compartment of her car, when she crashed into the bikes in front of her, killing Denise Marsh and injuring five other cyclists. Marsh, 53, lived in Weston and owned a guitar amplifier business with her husband; she had young adult children and had recently graduated from college. The injured cyclists, all of whom were close in age to Marsh, were Carlos Rodriguez, Edgar Reyes, Maria Bautista, and John Beitz.
- In October 2019, Steven Weinstein, 60, of Boca Raton, approached the SW 18th Street railroad crossing on his bike. He gained speed in an attempt to get under the gate arm as it was coming down. The gate arm struck him on its way down, and he fell onto the tracks, unconscious. The approaching train struck him and killed him.
- Also in October 2019, a Palm Beach County school bus hit a bicyclist. The accident occurred at 5:45 in the morning before the bus had begun its route to pick up children before the school day. The bus was traveling south on Atlantic Avenue, and it collided with a bicycle near the intersection with Congress Avenue. The bicyclist was taken to Delray Beach Medical Center. News reports did not disclose the name of the bus driver or the cyclist, nor the severity of the cyclist’s injuries. Because of the accident, police closed down several lanes of Atlantic Avenue, but they reopened at 7:50 a.m.
What to Do After a Bicycle Accident
If you have been injured in an accident while riding your bicycle, legal remedies are available to you. Contact a personal injury lawyer to help you build a case showing that the driver’s negligence caused your injuries and giving evidence for the financial losses you have suffered because of the accident.
Let Us Help You Today
A bicycle accident can upend your life for a long time, but a personal injury lawyer can help you achieve a new normal. Scott Smith helps people who have been injured in bicycle accidents and the families of people killed in bicycle accidents. Contact Palm Beach Gardens car accident lawyers at Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Injury Lawyers for a consultation.
