Contact Us for a Free Consultation 727-822-3700

St. Petersburg Bicycle Accident Attorney

Your case handled with dignity and integrity

Taking a bike ride is one of the best ways to enjoy the weather in the Sunshine State, which is why bicyclists can be found everywhere in Florida. Unfortunately, the popularity in bike riding also means there are more accidents than in other states. According to a report by U.S. News & World Report, Florida is the number one state with the highest bicyclist fatalities per capita. 

Heyman Law Firm's bicycle accident attorney in St. Petersburg has more than four decades of experience helping injured bicyclists recover and knows what evidence is needed to strengthen your claim. If you've been injured, you need quality legal representation to ensure you secure the maximum amount of compensation available to you in a personal injury claim. When you sit down with our team, you can learn more about our past successes as a firm and how we can help you get your life back on track after a serious accident.

Contact us online or call (727) 822-3700 for a free consultation – it costs you nothing to meet with us and learn more about your options. We also conduct visits in client's homes and in the hospital.

How Do Bicycle Accidents Occur?

While bicycle accidents can be caused by other bicyclists or even pedestrians, the reality is that many of the cases we've handled involved motor vehicle drivers. Despite bicyclists having many of the same rights on the road as motor vehicles, drivers fail to recognize these rights often, which can result in accidents and injuries. When this happens, drivers can be held responsible for negligence in a personal injury claim.

Some of the most common causes of bicycle accidents include:

  • Failure to yield right of way to cyclists: Having the right of way means that you have the right to go first while others wait. In most traffic situations, drivers must yield the right of way to bicyclists, especially at traffic signals and lights. This means if a car is ready to make a right-hand turn, they must first wait for the bicyclist in the bike lane to turn or cross the street safely. Drivers often strike and injure bicyclists when they neglect this rule.
  • Careless driving: Driving that violates any road law is considered reckless driving, and it creates a danger for not just the driver, but for anyone around them, including bicyclists. Bicyclists can be seriously injured when drivers drive too closely to the bike lane and clip them, or when they run red lights or stop signs and hit them while they're crossing the street.
  • Distracted driving: When drivers aren't focused on the road, they can miss important traffic signals and road hazards, and they also have less time to respond to an emergency like an accident or stopped traffic. Distracted drivers may also be less likely to spot a bicyclist in their blind spot or notice that the bicyclist in front of them has slowed down.
  • Dooring: This refers to accidents and injuries that occur when cars parked on the side of the road open their doors into the lane of oncoming bicyclists. Drivers are expected to look for any bicyclists or oncoming vehicles before they carefully open their doors.

While many of these accidents occur on the road, bicyclist accidents with vehicles can also happen in driveways and when turning into parking lots. Cars can also hit bicyclists when backing out of parking spots.

What Are Catastrophic Injuries?

In auto accidents, bicyclists are typically always the ones who suffer the most serious injuries and fatalities. This is because while vehicle occupants are protected in accidents by seat belts and airbags, bicyclists have nothing guarding them besides a helmet.

As a result, injured bicyclists suffer the most damages. Catastrophic injuries, or injuries that are so severe that they may be deemed life-altering or permanent, usually require lifelong medical care that can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Some common examples of catastrophic injuries include:

  • Burns
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Brain injuries

Damages Our Team Can Recover for You

Our team is aggressive about securing compensation for our clients because we believe you've suffered enough already – you shouldn't have to spend your time worrying about how you're going to pay your medical bills and make up for lost wages. If a driver is responsible for your injuries, we can get to work right away on investigating your accident and gathering evidence to prove they were negligent.

When you hire our team, you can achieve peace of mind knowing your future will be intact and you won't have to pay a dime for your continuing costs of care.

As a result of our tireless efforts, we've successfully recovered millions in dollars for our clients in damages including:

  • Medical expenses including surgeries, hospitalizations, and medications
  • Disability
  • Physical therapy
  • Lost wages
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Property damage

Heyman Law Firm Is Here for You

At Heyman Law Firm, we focus on Personal Injury and Criminal Defense and we are here to listen to you and help you navigate the legal system.

Menu