Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

Here in South Florida, getting outdoors to enjoy the sunshine is a passion for most of us – and cycling, walking and running are popular pastimes. Whether personal health, reducing traffic, or doing our part to help reduce pollution – there are a lot of reasons to walk or bike around town.

Even with an increase of bike lanes, however, we still see too many bicycle accidents and pedestrian fatalities.  Nationwide, nearly 800 people die annually in cycling accidents, and 98% of those incidents involve motor vehicles.
Florida leads the nation in number of fatal bicycle accidents, accounting for 110 per year, on average.

Pedestrians actually fare worse, with (7) Florida metropolitan areas being named in the Top 10 most dangerous cities in America to walk.

More on Bicycle Accidents

• According to statistics in the Florida Traffic Crash Records Database, approximately 25% of bicycle accidents involved impaired riders – those who would be considered legally intoxicated behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Concentration, balance and judgement are all significantly impaired at these levels.
• Approximately half of the recorded fatal accidents took place in darkness, at night and in areas with no lighting. This is not surprising, as many motorists involved in these types of accidents report that they simply did not see the bicyclist before hitting them.
• The most deadly months for Florida bicycle accidents are in the winter, while summertime proves to be the safest. This makes sense, given that both heat and frequent rainstorms likely dissuade many bikers during summer months; while winter months are typically mild and sunny. In fact, 4 out of 5 accidents happen in good weather, not bad.
• The AAA Foundation reported that there has been a surprising (and frankly, disturbing) trend in hit and run accidents involving both bicyclists and pedestrians. It is postulated that distracted driving is the culprit, and motorists panic when the accident occurs, knowing they were at fault.

Florida Pedestrian Accidents

Over the last decade, pedestrian traffic has only increased by approximately 1%, yet accidents involving pedestrians and motorists has increased by 35%. This points to a marked increase in distracted driving which needs to be addressed.

Florida accounts for 11% of the pedestrian fatalities nationwide annually, a disproportionately high number. This is also likely due to our weather being conducive to walking.

Who is Liable for Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents?

If you were involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, you may wonder who is at fault – and if you have a valid personal injury claim.

Because bicyclists are bound to the same traffic laws as motor vehicles, the party who was at fault for the accident would be deemed liable. So if a bicyclist ran a red light and was struck in the intersection, it would typically not be considered the motorist’s fault. However, if the bicyclist is in a legal bike lane and was struck by a distracted motorist, the motorist would likely be held liable.

Motorists often assume incorrectly that they always have the right of way. This is not the case and all motorists should understand the traffic laws as they pertain to pedestrians and bicyclists. In many areas in the Sarasota nd Tampa Bay area, pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks, a fact many out-of-state motorists may not realize.

Like any accident, there may be shared responsibility for the accident. If you were struck by a motorist while walking or on a bicycle, collect as much visible evidence as possible at the scene (such as bike lanes, streets signs). Then call Probinsky & Cole. We will help you to determine if you are entitled to a legal claim for your injuries.