Kenneth City Bicycle And Pedestrian Accident

In recent years, deaths resulting from pedestrian accidents have been on the rise. Similarly, the occurrence of bicycle accident deaths has seen a 38% increase since 2010. However, there are also many devastating bicycle and pedestrian accidents that aren’t fatal. Survivors have to cope with excruciating injuries as well as the medical bills, lost wages, and personal challenges that result from the accident.

The attorneys of Jones Law Group specialize in personal injury, including bicycle and pedestrian accidents. We are fully dedicated to proving the other party’s negligence and recovering the best compensation available for our clients.

If you or a loved one is suffering because of a bicycle or pedestrian accident in Kenneth City or the greater Tampa area, contact Jones Law Group to find out how we can help you.

What Causes Bicycle/Pedestrian Accidents?

The common causes of bicycle and pedestrian accidents mostly stem from driver negligence.

• Distracted driving – Behind the wheel is no place to multitask. However, far too many motorists take their attention away from driving so that they can talk, text, eat, or engage in other distractions. In 2018, over 17% of fatal distracted driving accidents took the lives of cyclists and pedestrians.
• Speeding – Drivers who exceed the posted limit aren’t giving themselves enough time to slow down for people travelling by bike or foot. High speed accidents increase the chance that injuries will be serious and permanent.
• Driving Under the Influence – Drugs and alcohol can slow down drivers’ reaction time, impair their vision, and affect their judgment. They might not be able to slow down in time when someone is crossing the street, or they may not see cyclists and pedestrians at all.
• Changing Lanes – Drivers don’t always carefully check their surroundings before moving from one lane to the next.Pedestrians and bicycles sometimes wind up in  drivers’ blindspots, which are especially large in SUVs, trucks, and vans.
• Lack of Visibility – In Florida, cyclists are required to use lights and reflectors after sundown, and pedestrians are urged to wear reflective clothing at night. However, drivers who aren’t vigilant when driving in the dark cause accidents all too often.

Common Injuries from Bicycle/Pedestrian Accidents

Brain Injuries – When struck by a vehicle, pedestrians violently make contact with the car or the pavement. For cyclists, helmets often aren’t enough to prevent damage. Head injuries can cause swelling, nerve damage, and fluid build up in and around the brain. A wide range of physical, cognitive, and emotional problems may develop. These conditions take a toll on personal relationships. They also limit professional opportunities.

Broken and Fractured Bones – Breaks and fractures can cause an injured person to be out of work for weeks while recovering. They could even require expensive surgeries to fix.

Spinal Cord Injuries – Spinal cord injuries can affect all areas of the body. Damaged nerves may cause numbness as well as unpredictable pain and spasms. Spinal injuries can also result in paralysis from the waist down or the neck down. This drastically changes what a person is able to do independently.

What’s the Difference Between Bicycle/Pedestrian Accidents and Car Accidents?

What makes bicycle and pedestrian accidents different is that cyclists and pedestrians aren’t surrounded by the same protection as drivers and their passengers. There are no airbags, doors, or other barriers to lessen the impact of a car accident. Consequently, the potential for serious injuries is much greater.

Additionally, Florida drivers have to meet minimum insurance requirements. Pedestrians and cyclists, on the other hand, aren’t required to be insured. The process for pursuing compensation from an insurance company varies based on whether a pedestrian or cyclist is also the owner of an insured vehicle. Your attorney can advise you regarding what steps to take in your particular situation.

Action to Take After Getting Hit While Walking or Biking

Call the police. The 911 operator can send for an ambulance if necessary. The officer who arrives at the scene will create an official record of the accident and can help with the exchange of information between the involved parties. These documents will later serve as evidence in your case.

Speak to witnesses. Their statements about the road conditions, driver’s actions, and other details about the incident can go a long way in confirming your side of the story. Getting their names and contact information will help to verify who they are and to ask further questions in the future if necessary.

Document as much as you can. Take notes about the weather, time, location, and directions you and the driver were heading. Photos of vehicle damage, skidmarks on the road, property damage, and injuries can demonstrate fault and show the seriousness of an accident. Save evidence such as your damaged clothing and bicycle as well.

Seek medical treatment as soon as possible. This can prevent your injuries from getting worse. Your medical records will also substantiate your claim, especially if the at-fault driver’s insurance company tries to deny or downplay your injuries.

Avoid speaking to the other party’s insurance company. Their representatives will attempt to get you to settle for less compensation than you deserve. They may even try to get you to accept blame for the accident so that they can diminish or reject your claim. Your attorney can handle these conversations to spare you from these tactics.

Receiving Compensation for Your Damages

As an accident victim, you can receive compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include expenses like hospital bills, lost wages, and replacement services. Non-economic damages, such as the pain and suffering you’ve endured, don’t have a direct price tag. However, your attorney can help with assigning a value to these damages so that you can get the most for your claim.

Do I Need to Hire an Attorney?

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident, hiring an experienced attorney can help you to get the best outcome for your claim. The attorneys of Jones Law Group will thoroughly investigate your case to make sure you receive all the forms of compensation you’re entitled to. Our no-pressure initial consultations are free. Call us at 727-571-1333 or contact us online.