West Palm Beach Bicycle Accident Lawyer
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 1 percent of trips are made using bicycles around the country. Yet 2 percent of people who die in motor vehicle accidents are bicyclists. In terms of human life, that means that nearly 1,000 bicyclists are killed each year–and another 130,000 suffer serious injuries.
Bicycle accidents are often the result of negligence by other parties including motorists and even other bicyclists. A skilled West Palm Beach bicycle accident lawyer can assist you in recovering compensation if you have suffered damages in a preventable accident. Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather is a team of experienced Florida personal injury lawyers who represent clients throughout Palm Beach County who have been hurt while riding their bicycles.
Driver Negligence Often Leads to Injured Bicyclists
Bicyclists have the same right to be on the road as any other vehicle. Yet all too often we see that car and truck drivers tend to treat bicyclists as a nuisance. In many cases, motorists simply fail to even keep a lookout for bicyclists. This often leads to an accident where the bicyclist is at a decided disadvantage due to their lack of protection.
Some of the more common scenarios where motorist negligence leads to a bicycle accident includes:
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Distracted driving. In many cases, drivers are not trying to be aggressive or hit a bicyclist. The driver is simply distracted and not paying attention to the road. Whether it is using their phone, adjusting the controls inside the car, or talking to passengers, any form of distracted driving is negligent driving.
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Following too close. Drivers must leave adequate space between themselves and any bicyclists near them. Following too close can quickly lead to a situation where a bicyclist is hit from the rear or side by a car.
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Speeding. Just like following too close, a speeding driver leaves themselves less time to react and avoid striking a bicyclist in their path.
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Drinking. We all know the dangers of drinking and driving. These risks are magnified exponentially when a bicyclist finds themselves in the path of a drunk driver.
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Failing to stop or check. Bicyclists are especially vulnerable to accidents at intersections, particularly when a motorist fails to stop at a signal or turns without checking for bicyclists.
It is important to note that just because a motorist strikes a bicycle, that does not automatically mean that a court will find the motorist negligent. The legal burden of proof is always on the injured bicyclist to prove the other driver’s liability. And the motorist can try to shift blame to the bicyclist under Florida’s comparative negligence rules. Basically, this means a jury can assign some–or all–of the fault to the accident victim, which reduces the amount of damages the negligent driver will owe.
Contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Today
Bicycle accidents often leave victims with a stack of unpaid medical bills and an uncertain physical and financial future. So if your crash was the result of someone else’s reckless behavior, you should not hesitate to work with a West Palm Beach bicycle accident lawyer who will fight for your right to compensation. Contact Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather today to schedule an initial case evaluation.
