Michles & Booth: Pensacola Bicycle Accident Attorneys

There is little protection for bicycle riders when struck by a 2000 lb vehicle. Because of the size and speed of cars and trucks when hitting a cyclist, these accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor scrapes and bruises to severe, life-altering trauma. Understanding the potential harm caused by a violent bicycle accident is crucial for seeking appropriate medical care and legal options against the at-fault driver.

• Broken Bones: Fractures are common in bicycle accidents, often affecting the arms, legs, collarbone, and ribs. These injuries can require casts, surgery, and extensive rehabilitation.
• Head Injuries: Despite many bicycle riders wearing helmets, head trauma, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), often occur and can have serious and long-lasting effects on cognitive function, memory, and overall well-being.
• Road Rash: Friction with the pavement can cause painful abrasions and lacerations, requiring careful cleaning and treatment of the wound to prevent infection. In some serious cases of road rash, painful skin grafts are required.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, significantly impacting mobility and quality of life.
• Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma from a large vehicle traveling at high speeds can cause significant injuries including internal bleeding and organ damage, often requiring emergency medical intervention.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Sprains, strains, and other soft tissue injuries can cause pain, swelling, and limited range of motion, requiring months of physical therapy, medications, and other treatments.

Bicycle accidents are often caused by the negligence of car and truck drivers. Some common negligent acts include:

• Distracted Driving: There is an epidemic of distracted drivers due to people using smartphones. Using cell phones, eating, or engaging in other distractions poses a serious threat to cyclists.
• Drunk Driving: Intoxicated drivers are a significant danger to everyone on the roads, including cyclists.
• Unsafe Road Conditions: Potholes, debris, and poorly maintained roads can cause a cyclist to lose control and crash.
• Failure to Yield: Under Florida law, car and truck drivers must give bicycle riders the same rights of way as other vehicles on the road. Drivers failing to yield the right of way to cyclists at intersections or when making turns are a frequent cause of bicycle injuries and deaths.
• Dooring: This is when a driver suddenly opens their car door into the path of an oncoming cyclist.

In most cases, bicyclists have the right of way and have the same rights as motorists. They must also follow all the same traffic laws and rules of the road, such as stopping at red lights, signaling when turning, and yielding the right of way to pedestrians.

Our Pensacola bicycle accident lawyers will fight aggressively to recover all the compensation you deserve for your losses. These damages can include:

• Medical Expenses: Past and future medical bills, including hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medications, and ongoing care.
• Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to your injuries and inability to work. This can also include loss of future earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and your symptoms.
• Property Damage: The cost of repairing or replacing your bicycle and other damaged property.
• Other Damages: Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be able to recover compensation for other losses, such as loss of enjoyment of life and punitive damages.