Differences Between Bicycle Accident and Car Accident Cases

What are the differences between a bicycle accident and car accident case in Florida?

Check out this educational legal video, then give Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith, P.A. a call.

Bicycling in SW Florida Statistics

Riding your bike here in SW Florida and feeling the cool gulf breeze is amazing. Year round you can enjoy the beautiful weather outside in Cape Coral, Fort Myers Beach, Lehigh Acres, Port Charlotte, Naples and even Fort Myers.  Data from the Florida Bicycle Association shows that in 2025, for Lee county Florida, there were over 263 bicycle crashes, and five fatalities.  There were more crashes on bicycles than on motorcycles (238) this year.  Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith, P.A. is focused on representing those who have been injured by negligent or careless drivers here in our community!

SW Florida Bicycle Accident Questions Answered By Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice, Purtz, Smith & Smith, P.A.

Question:

How does a bicycle accident claim differ from a normal auto accident claim?

Answer:

Bicycle accident injury cases are oftentimes different from other types of injury cases in Florida because, unfortunately, what we see oftentimes with bicycle accidents is that the severity of injury is much more significant than other types of cases. For that reason, you want to make sure that you hire an attorney who specializes in personal injury and specifically bicycle accidents to help you with your case from the very beginning. Unfortunately, oftentimes what we also see is that there’s sometimes a tendency to try to blame the bicyclist for the cause of a crash.

If that’s the case, we are happy to help you. That does not mean that you don’t have a case; what that means is that we need to do an investigation and fight for you because oftentimes, insurance companies will try to use that against you to try to minimize the amount of damages that you can claim. For that reason, please call us. We specialize in these types of cases. We’re happy to help you even if there is a dispute about liability and who was at fault for the crash.

Question:

How does someone injured after bicycle accident get medical treatments covered in SW Florida if they don't have a car or insurance?

Answer:

Fort Myers and SW Florida is growing so rapidly, bicyclists are less and less safe on the roads because people just don't see them, and then folks often think, well, I got in an accident, but I'm on my bicycle. I don't have an automobile. I don't have any coverage, but that's not the case. It is important for cyclists to know if they are involved in an accident that they can get in contact with a personal injury attorney and get help. You should talk to an attorney, and you need to have that attorney immediately find out how much insurance coverage there is. First of all, in Florida the personal injury protection benefits PIP can help. If you don't have an automobile, but if you have a family member or someone in your household that does, you normally can get the first $10,000 of medical bills covered by them under PIP. If you don't have another person in your household that has that coverage, you can actually get the person who hit you to provide their ten thousand dollars in PIP coverage. It is important to note that there is a time limit to utilize the PIP coverage, so seeking treatment and consulting with an attorney right away is imperative.

Question:

What are the road rules for a SW Florida bicyclist?

Answer:

The Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles is a great resource to polish up on your understanding of the rules of the road for cyclists: 

Bicyclists must follow all traffic controls and signals, just like any other road user. Additionally, bicycles should only carry the number of people they are designed for, ensuring safety for everyone involved.

We can't stress the importance of not riding a bicycle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Staying alert is crucial.

Do not text while biking or wear headphones or earbuds, as these can prevent you from hearing your surroundings.

When riding on sidewalks or in crosswalks, bicyclists must yield the right of way to pedestrians and provide an audible signal when passing.

For those biking between sunset and sunrise, it is necessary to have proper lighting. A bicycle must have a front lamp with a white light visible from 500 feet and a rear red reflector or lamp with a red light visible from 600 feet. These measures are essential for visibility and safety during low-light conditions.

Bicyclists traveling slower than other traffic should use designated bike lanes or stay as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. However, there are situations where moving away from the right-most portion of the road is allowed. These include avoiding hazards like parked cars, pedestrians, or surface issues, navigating narrow lanes, passing another vehicle, or preparing for a left-hand turn.

On one-way streets with two or more lanes, cyclists can ride near the left-hand edge if it feels safer. You have the freedom to ride where you need to on such streets in order to feel safe.

A bicyclist making a left turn is entitled and enabled to the full use of the lane from which the turn is made.

While all bicyclists and passengers under 16 are required to wear helmets, it is recommended that riders of all ages wear helmets for added protection.

Finally, when riding with others, you may not ride more than two side-by-side unless you are on a roadway designated for bicycles. You must ride single file if riding side-by-side is causing an obstruction to traffic.

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Have you or a loved one been injured in a bicycle accident in Florida and have questions about the differences between bicycle accident and car accident cases? Contact our experienced Southwest Florida bicycle accident lawyers today for a free consultation and case evaluation.

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