If a driver hits you while you are cycling, you may face serious injuries and time away from work. A Daytona Beach bicycle accident lawyer could explain your options, deal with the insurance company while you focus on recovery, and pursue compensation for negligence.
At The Florida Firm Injury and Accident Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys bring decades of successful litigation experience to serious injury cases. Most clients come to us through referrals from other attorneys and law firms that trust our professionalism and results.
What Causes Bicycle Accidents?
Many bicycle crashes happen because a motorist fails to see a rider or give them enough room. Cyclists in Volusia County share busy coastal routes with heavy seasonal traffic, which raises the risk at intersections and driveway crossings. Drivers may turn across a cyclist’s path, open a vehicle door into a bicycle lane, or fail to yield at an intersection. A bicycle accident attorney in Daytona Beach could investigate the collision and identify conduct that supports a negligence claim.
State law recognizes that bicyclists generally have the same rights and duties as other road users. Under Florida Statutes § 316.2065, a person riding a bicycle shares the rights and responsibilities applicable to drivers, subject to specific bicycle rules. Fla. Stat. § 316.083 also requires motorists overtaking a bicycle to pass at a safe distance of at least three feet when conditions permit.
Liability and Compensation After a Bike Crash
Liability may fall on a negligent driver, but some bicycle accidents involve more than one responsible party. A vehicle owner or an employer may share responsibility depending on the facts. Our Daytona Beach bicycle injury lawyers examine the available evidence before deciding where to direct a claim.
Your compensation may cover medical expenses, lost income, reduced earning ability, and pain caused by serious injuries. Under Fla. Stat. § 768.81, the state’s modified comparative fault rule bars recovery for anyone found more than 50 percent at fault in a negligence action. Insurers may therefore try to place substantial blame on a cyclist. Under Fla. Stat. § 95.11, a cyclist must generally file a negligence action within two years of the crash. Our team prepares evidence to address blame and pursue a fair allocation of responsibility, including gathering evidence such as video footage long before it disappears and the deadline arrives.
Evidence That Supports a Bicycle Injury Claim
Bicycle collisions leave little physical protection between you and a moving vehicle, so the resulting injuries may be severe. Vital evidence includes medical records that show the scope of your harm, and photographs and video that clarify how the crash occurred. Witness accounts also become important when the driver disputes fault.
As your Daytona Beach bicycle accident attorneys, we look for evidence that will remain persuasive if litigation becomes necessary. We are not a settlement mill, and we do not recommend accepting an inadequate offer simply to close a file. Our team has courtroom experience and will take a case to trial when that best serves our client’s interests.
That approach is one reason lawyers and other professionals refer serious injury matters to us. We have also represented doctors and other attorneys who value careful communication and confident advocacy.
Contact a Daytona Beach Bike Accident Attorney Today
A serious bicycle collision may affect your health and your independence. A Daytona Beach bicycle accident lawyer could evaluate who caused the crash and pursue compensation supported by the evidence.
Contact the team at Colling Gilbert Wright today for a free consultation. We charge no attorney fees or costs unless we recover compensation for your injury claim. Our personal injury attorneys are ready to pursue accountability through negotiation or, when necessary, trial.