Miamiis a terrific place to ride a bike. Sunny skies, year-round friendly climate, and wide, flat streets make it a perfect locale to take in the sights at the leisurely pace of a bicycle. But cycling can be a high-risk activity. Cyclists sufferpersonalinjuriesat an alarming rate, one that is likely even higher because so many bicycle accidents go unreported. ExperiencedMiamicyclists know all too well the risks they face on the road, chiefly from automobile drivers. Indeed, manylawyers who specialize in bicycle accident claims often have little trouble placing the blame for a bikeinjurysquarely with the driver.
In 2008, Florida had more fatal bicycle accidents than any state in the country, one out of every seven accidents that resulted in death.Miamihas one of the highestpersonalinjuryrates for bicyclists in the state. That makes sense, given the county’s size. But another reason for the significantly high rate could well be that Florida’s roads weren’t originally designed to be bike-friendly, unable to accommodate both cars and bicycles in a way that ensured safety for everyone. But that may be changing. In the last five years, the number of bike deaths decreased by 16 percent, a hopeful sign perhaps resulting from increased awareness of bicyclists on the road and more bike lanes, as well as efforts by the state to ensure bicyclists’ rights are acknowledged.
But there are still enough deaths and hospitalizations resulting from bike accidents to keep Miamipersonalinjurylawyers in business. In November 2011, a 38-year-old rider was fatally struck from behind by a driver who failed to stop – an all too common occurrence, say many long-time cyclists. A total of 76 cyclists died in Florida in 2010, and another 4,600 were injured in accidents involving cars. Nationwide, cyclists accounted for two percent of all motor vehicle deaths.
Ask manyMiamidrivers how they feel about sharing the road with cyclists, and you’re likely to get an ear full. The same could be said if you were to ask many cyclists the same question about drivers. The relationship between the two has long been marked by mutual resentment, if not outright hostility (a fact that is sadly illustrated by the number of hit-and-run bike fatalities). What’s often not acknowledged by either side is that both rider and driver must abide by the same traffic laws, laws designed to protect every person on the road. It’s a point worth pondering. Also worth pondering is the question of who is more likely to sufferpersonalinjuryor death because of a collision resulting from disregard for traffic safety and laws: the driver of a two-ton automobile or the cyclist?
