Orlando Bicycle Accident Lawyers - Paul Knopf Bigger

Were you hit while riding your bicycle in Orlando? While biking has become an increasingly popular form of transportation, exercise, and recreation, far too many drivers fail to exercise due care for cyclists. If one of these careless or reckless drivers is responsible for your injuries, you can demand that they compensate you accordingly. Let an Orlando bicycle accident attorney from Paul Knopf Bigger help make it happen.

Our legal team has dedicated themselves to fulfilling our firm’s core principles of commitment, excellence, and personal attention in the service of righting wrongs. When you come to our firm for help, you will never feel like just another case number. We will put your needs and interests at the center of our approach to your lawsuit, leveraging our excellent negotiation skills and tenacious litigation style to pursue every cent you’re owed.

You deserve to recover compensation and accountability from the driver who hit you. Let us help you demand it. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your legal options.

What Are the Florida Bicycle Laws?

Florida’s bicycle regulations help keep cyclists safe on public roads. Bike laws afford cyclists rights and impose regulations on motorists and bikers designed to prevent bicycle accidents. The following are some essential rules that every cyclist and motorist in Florida should know:

• Bicyclists have the same rights and duties applicable to motorists, except for special regulations and provisions of the traffic code that, by their nature, have no applicability to bicycles.
• A cyclist may not ride a bike except upon or astride a regular and permanent seat unless riding a bike designed by the manufacturer to lack a seat.
• Bikes may not carry more persons than designed by the manufacturer to accommodate, except that adult riders may carry a child in a backpack or sling.
• Except as noted above, child bicycle passengers under the age of four or who weigh 40 pounds or less must ride in a child seat or carrier.
• Riders or passengers under 16 must wear a bicycle helmet that meets federal safety standards.
• Riders may not attach themselves to any other vehicle.
• Cyclists riding slower than the normal traffic speed on roads without dedicated bike lanes must ride as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb except when overtaking another bicycle, preparing for a left turn, or when necessary to avoid hazards along the right-hand side of the road.
• Cyclists riding on a one-way highway with two or more marked lanes may ride along the left-hand curb or edge of the road.
• Riders may ride up to two abreast in a traffic lane or bike lane except when a bike lane’s width cannot accommodate two riders riding side-by-side. Cyclists may ride more than two abreast if on a designated bike path.
• Groups of bicyclists stopping at a stop sign may proceed through the intersection in groups of 10 bikes or less. Drivers must yield to at least one group before proceeding.
• Bicycles ridden between sunset and sunrise must have a front white light visible from at least 500 feet and a rear red light and reflector visible from at least 600 feet.
• Cyclists riding on the sidewalk have the same rights and duties applicable to pedestrians, except that riders must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking them.
• Bicycles must have brakes that can bring the bike to a stop within 25 feet when traveling 10 mph on dry, level, clean pavement.

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Orlando

Many bike accidents in Orlando occur because of negligent or reckless driving on the part of motorists. These include the following:

Other factors that can cause or contribute to bicycle accidents include poor road/weather/traffic conditions, low lighting or poor visibility, vehicle or bicycle defects, and inadequate maintenance.

What to Do After a Bike Accident

Your success in pursuing compensation from the person to blame for a bicycle accident will largely depend on what you do in the aftermath of the crash. With that in mind, consider taking the following steps:

• Report the accident to law enforcement and request a copy of the police accident report in the weeks following the crash.
• Get the driver’s name and contact info.
• Seek immediate medical attention to diagnose and treat your injuries.
• Follow your treatment plan and recovery instructions.
• Obtain copies of the medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
• Report the crash to your car insurance provider if you have a policy.
• Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts to document expenses you incur due to the accident.
• Gather your pay stubs/income statements to help calculate any lost wages you suffer if you miss time from work or experience a reduction in your earnings.

Finally, talk to an Orlando bicycle accident lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger as soon as possible to start pursuing your injury claim.

Common Types of Injuries from Bicycle Accidents

Aside from a helmet or joint pads, bicycle riders have little to protect them from the force of a collision with a motor vehicle. As a result, riders tend to suffer severe, potentially life-altering injuries. These include the following:

How Long Do I Have to File a Bicycle Accident Claim in Florida?

The statute of limitations in Florida typically requires you to file your bicycle accident lawsuit within two years after the crash.

Two years may seem like a long time off, but your attorney will need time to investigate the accident, recover evidence, and build a compelling legal case. Plus, if you file a lawsuit after the limitations period expires on your claim, the court can dismiss it as untimely, and you may lose the opportunity to pursue the money you otherwise deserve.

For these reasons, it’s crucial to contact an Orlando bicycle accident lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger as soon as possible after a crash. Doing so lets us ensure your claim is filed on time.

Recoverable Compensation in an Orlando Bicycle Accident Lawsuit

A successful bike accident claim can provide you with compensation for many different types of losses, including:

• Costs of medical care and rehabilitation, including hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and physical/occupational therapy
• Costs of long-term care you need to help with permanent disabilities that result from your injuries
• Lost wages/income from missed work or reduced earnings in a part-time/light-duty position
• Lost future income and employment benefits if you become permanently disabled from working
• Pain and suffering
• Lost quality of life because of disabilities or disfigurement/scarring that interferes with your daily activities
• Bicycle repair or replacement costs of your destroyed property

Why You Need an Orlando Bicycle Accident Attorney

Recovering from a bicycle accident can become stressful and time-consuming, especially if you need extensive medical care and rehabilitation. You deserve to concentrate on healing but also pursue compensation and accountability from those to blame for your injuries.

With an Orlando bicycle accident attorney from Paul Knopf Bigger in your corner, you’ll have an advocate fighting for financial recovery while you focus on getting better. Let our law firm handle the details of preparing and pursuing your bicycle accident case, including:

• Investigating the accident to recover critical evidence for your case, such as police accident reports, accident scene photos/videos, surveillance or traffic camera footage, or eyewitness testimony
• Identifying all potentially liable parties and applicable insurance coverage
• Documenting your injuries and losses so we have the proof we need to demand compensation for your ongoing and future needs
• Explaining your legal rights and options and preparing you for what to expect at each stage of your case
• Preparing and filing your insurance and legal claims and talking to insurance adjusters and defense lawyers on your behalf so you can keep focused on your physical recovery
• Vigorously negotiating for a full financial recovery for you in a settlement or taking your case to court and trial when litigation becomes necessary to demand a fair result for you

Contact a Bicycle Accident Attorney in Orlando Today

Did you suffer serious injuries in an Orlando bike accident? Then get dedicated legal representation to help you seek financial compensation and accountability from whoever’s to blame. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Learn how a bicycle accident attorney in Orlando can make a difference in your recovery.