Hollywood Bicycle Accident Lawyers
The legal team at Flaxman Law Group regularly works with survivors of serious bicycle accidents in Hollywood, Florida, and surrounding areas. We’ve seen how life-changing this type of traffic collision can be and we’ve seen how challenging it is for bicycle accident survivors in Hollywood to get the justice and compensation they deserve.
If you’ve been injured while biking, don’t hesitate to contact our boutique law firm for a free, no obligation case consultation. It’s important to consult with bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL before you decide to accept an insurance offer or make any other decisions, because a lawyer can go over all your options and explain how much your bicycle accident can end up costing you long term.
Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Hollywood
Bicycle accidents are common in Hollywood, Florida, and surrounding areas. While we tend to call them “accidents,” they’re often caused by preventable factors, including negligence. Common causes of bike accidents in Hollywood include:
- Reckless drivers. One of the leading causes of bicycle accidents is recklessness on the part of drivers. Drivers who fail to yield to cyclists, run red lights, speed, engage in unsafe lane changes, or drive distracted can easily cause car accidents that harm others.
- Poor road conditions. In Hollywood, cyclists often face challenges caused by poorly maintained roads, potholes, and debris in bike lanes. Roads that are poorly designed for cyclists can also contribute significantly to accidents. For example, a lack of proper signs or bicycle lanes can cause confusion and crashes.
- Driver impairment. Alcohol and drug use among drivers remains a significant concern. Impaired drivers tend to have delayed reaction times and poor decision-making skills. They may also be more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. All of these factors can cause wrong-way accidents, head-on crashes, and bicycle collisions.
- Defective bicycle equipment. Bicycle accidents can also be caused by defective products, such as faulty brakes, tires, or frames. If a bicycle part fails unexpectedly, the rider can lose control, leading to serious injuries. Manufacturers can be held accountable for defective bicycle components in product liability claims.
- Cyclist error. While drivers are often at fault, cyclists can also contribute to accidents. Riding without proper safety gear, ignoring traffic signals, or cycling in prohibited areas can increase the likelihood of accidents. Cyclists who do not choose reflective clothes or fail to use their lights are also not visible to motorists, particularly in low light conditions, so they are at higher risk of crashes.
- Weather. Rain, fog, and high winds are all common in Hollywood. These conditions can reduce visibility and make the road slippery, leading to accidents. Cyclists who do not adjust their riding habits or equipment to the changing weather conditions may face higher risks of injury.
It isn’t always obvious what caused your bicycle accident, and therefore whether you have a bike accident claim. You can work with bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL to get answers. Your attorneys have access to accident reconstruction experts, expert witnesses, private investigators, and other professionals who can find out all the factors that led to your accident. This is important because it helps you find all liable parties, so you can pursue fair compensation in your case.
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Potential Damages & Compensation
When you’re injured in a bicycle accident in Hollywood or any Florida community, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you have incurred. Under Florida law, you may be entitled to seek compensation for any reasonable expenses caused by your accident and injuries. These can include:
- Medical Expenses. Even a minor injury can require expensive treatment, including emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, medications, medical devices, rehabilitation, and ongoing physical therapy. Serious injuries, such as head trauma or spinal cord injuries, can result in long-term care for the rest of your life. If your injuries were caused by someone’s negligence, you can pursue damages for all necessary medical expenses, including expected future medical costs.
- Lost wages. If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, and compensation for any future earnings that you will not be able to earn due to permanent injuries. This compensation is particularly important for individuals who suffer from long-term disabilities that affect their ability to work.
- Pain and suffering. Compensation for pain and suffering is subjective but can include recovery for the anguish caused by enduring chronic pain, the inability to engage in daily activities, and the mental trauma of the incident. Bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL can work to put a dollar figure on the suffering you’ve faced and can seek fair recovery for your pain and suffering.
- Property damage. If your bike is damaged or destroyed in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for repairs or the replacement of the bike. You can also seek financial recovery for any other personal property damaged in the accident—such as your cell phone, jewelry, and other items.
In cases where a bicyclist loses their life due to the negligence of another party, surviving family members may be able to seek compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. This compensation may cover funeral expenses, loss of financial support, and emotional suffering caused by the untimely death of a loved one.
No matter what losses you’ve suffered, consult with bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL instead of assuming you understand how much your bike accident can cost. It’s simply too easy to underestimate how much your injuries will cost and end up accepting less than you deserve.
The father-son attorney team at Flaxman Law Group makes it easy to understand how much your potential claim could be worth, because we’re pleased to offer a free consultation. If you’re injured anywhere in the Hollywood area, just reach out for a free consultation with a bicycle accident attorney. We can address your questions and help you understand your options.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Hollywood
Bicycle accidents often result in catastrophic injuries because there are so few layers of protections for bicyclists. In a car, you have air bags, glass, crumple zones, and layers of metal protecting you and preventing you from being thrown to the ground. On a bike, you have none of these. The severity of your injury largely depends on the nature of the accident, the speed at which it occurred, and whether you were wearing protective gear, such as a helmet. Common bicycle injuries can include:
- Head injuries. Even with a helmet, cyclists can sustain concussions or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from hitting their head during a fall or collision. These injuries can lead to long-term cognitive issues, memory loss, and, in some cases, permanent disability, including permanent cognitive impairment.
- Spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the location and severity of the injury. These injuries often require extensive medical treatment, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and adaptive equipment.
- Broken bones. Cyclists are vulnerable to broken bones, particularly in the arms, legs, and collarbone, due to falls or impacts with vehicles.
- Facial injuries. In many bicycle accidents, the face is a primary area of impact. Broken facial bones, and injuries to the eyes, teeth, and jaw can occur. Some of these injuries may require reconstructive surgery and long-term dental care.
- Road rash. Road rash is a common abrasion in motorcycle accidents and bicycle accidents, when riders are thrown from their bikes during an accident. Severe abrasions may need skin grafts or long-term wound care.
- Soft tissue injuries. Strains, sprains, whiplash, and muscle injuries are common after a bike crash. These injuries can cause significant pain and require physical therapy to heal. They can also prevent you from working for weeks or months.
- Internal injuries. In more severe bicycle accidents, such as truck accidents involving a bicycle, internal injuries, such as damage to the organs or bleeding, may occur. These types of injuries can be life-threatening and require immediate emergency medical attention.
If you’re ever in a bicycle accident, it’s important to always get a full medical evaluation as soon as possible, even if you feel fine. Many serious injuries, including head injuries and soft tissue injuries, are not immediately apparent, and seeing a medical professional right away can save your life.
Proving Liability in Your Bike Crash Case in Florida
To receive compensation for your injuries, you must demonstrate that another party was at fault. In other words, you need to prove liability, or prove that a party or multiple parties were legally responsible for your accident or injuries. There are several ways to establish liability in a bike crash case:
- Witness Testimony: Eyewitnesses can provide valuable testimony to support your case.
- Police Reports: Police officers who respond to the scene of the accident will typically file a report that includes details about the incident, such as traffic violations, statements from the involved parties, and any citations issued. A police report can be crucial in proving liability, and you should always seek to get a copy of this report after your accident.
- Surveillance footage. Traffic cameras or private surveillance footage can provide video evidence of the accident. This can be especially helpful in showing the actions of the driver or the conditions of the roadway at the time of the crash.
- Expert witnesses. In cases involving serious injuries, disputes over fault, or other complex situations, expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction specialists may be called upon to recreate the events leading to the crash and explain how the accident occurred. Medical expert witnesses can also be called upon to explain the seriousness of your injury. Bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL have a network of experts they can draw on for your case.
- Subpoenas. Bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL can subpoena parties in your case, which means they can legally require parties to produce testimony or evidence. For example, your lawyer may subpoena phone records to show that a driver was texting just before your crash. Or, they may subpoena government or manufacturing records to show that a government was negligent in maintaining a road or to show that a manufacturer knew about a bicycle design flaw.
When you’re seriously injured, the last thing you need to worry about is finding evidence in your case. That’s why it’s important to work with experienced Bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL. At Flaxman Law Group, for example, our legal team prides ourselves on removing the burden of the case from you. We handle all the details of building and presenting a strong case, negotiating with insurance companies, and everything else. This leaves you free to focus on your health.
Negligence in Florida for a Bicycle Accident
Negligence refers to the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm to another person. To win a bicycle accident case, the injured cyclist must prove that the at-fault parties were negligent in some way.
The first element of proving negligence is determining that the defendant owed a duty of care to the cyclist. Drivers have a legal obligation to share the road safely with cyclists. Similarly, road maintenance authorities have a duty to ensure that roadways are safe for all users.
The second element you need to prove is that the defendant breached their duty of care. For example, if a driver drove while drunk, they would have breached their duty to drive safely.
You must also show that the breach of duty directly caused the accident and the resulting injuries. If a red light runner caused the crash, you would need to demonstrate that your injuries were a direct result of the driver’s actions.
Finally, you must prove that you suffered damages as a result of the accident, such as medical cost, lost wages, pain and suffering, or other losses.
Experienced bicycle accident lawyers in Hollywood, FL can help you prove negligence. If you’d like to speak to a lawyer at no cost and no obligations, reach out to Flaxman Law Group today.
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