[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/common-causes-of-bicycle-vs-car-accidents-in-florida\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/common-causes-of-bicycle-vs-car-accidents-in-florida\/","headline":"Common Causes Of Bicycle vs. Car Accidents in Florida","name":"Common Causes Of Bicycle vs. Car Accidents in Florida","description":"Your safety, health, and well-being should be a top priority when you jump on your\u00a0bicycle and hit the Florida roads. Yes, you want to have fun, but don\u2019t put your safety at risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 800 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2018. And that doesn\u2019t...","datePublished":"2021-01-21","dateModified":"2025-02-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/author\/zimmet\/#Person","name":"Zimmet & Zimmet","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/author\/zimmet\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3010bdac5ced5112b2840e84f5233c0b7d763a33cb3d5b6de07a5a4b44884d69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3010bdac5ced5112b2840e84f5233c0b7d763a33cb3d5b6de07a5a4b44884d69?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Zimmet & Zimmet","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/footer-logo-blue.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/footer-logo-blue.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Zimmet-blog-post-image_common-causes-of-bicycle-vs-car-accidents-scaled-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Zimmet-blog-post-image_common-causes-of-bicycle-vs-car-accidents-scaled-1.jpg","height":1148,"width":2560},"url":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/common-causes-of-bicycle-vs-car-accidents-in-florida\/","about":["Bicycle Accident"],"wordCount":962,"articleBody":"Your safety, health, and well-being should be a top priority when you jump on your\u00a0bicycle and hit the Florida roads. Yes, you want to have fun, but don\u2019t put your safety at risk.According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 800 cyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2018. And that doesn\u2019t even take into consideration the thousands of people who were injured.While there\u2019s nothing you can do to guarantee your safety when riding your bike, knowing the most common causes of bicycle vs. car accidents can help protect you.Here are five mistakes that motor vehicle operators often make that can result in an accident against you as a cyclist:Mistake 1: Aggressive driving against the cyclistSome of the most common forms of aggressive driving include:Cutting a bicyclist offDriving in a bicycle laneExcessive speedingAlong with the above, road rage is a concern for all cyclists on Florida\u2019s roads.\u00a0For instance, if a driver becomes upset that they have to share the road with you, they could attempt to knock you to the ground.If you see someone driving in an aggressive manner, do whatever it takes to create space between yourself and the driver.Mistake 2: Distracted drivingDespite the many\u00a0laws in place, distracted driving remains a major concern throughout Florida\u00a0as well as the rest of the United States.There are\u00a0many forms of distracted driving that can endanger a cyclist,\u00a0including but not limited to:TextingTalking on the phoneOperating vehicle controlsConversing with passengersEatingDrinkingTaming rowdy kids or petsSometimes, it\u2019s easy to spot a distracted driver, such as if someone is swerving. If you\u2019re a cyclist sharing the road with cars, look out for the above signs of a driver who is not paying attention.Mistake 3: Driving under the influenceDriving under the influence of alcohol,\u00a0drugs, and\/or prescription medication greatly increases the risk of a bicycle vs. car accident.When a driver is under the influence, their judgment is impaired and their reaction time is slowed. Furthermore, it can cause them to fall asleep at the wheel.In many cases, the signs of drunk driving are similar to distracted driving, including swerving in and out of lanes.Mistake 4: Drowsy driving can cause bicycle vs. car accidentAnyone can get tired while driving\u2014and this doesn\u2019t only happen during the evening and nighttime hours. Of course, some people are more likely to drive drowsy, such as those who work at night or\u00a0 commercial truckers.Keep in mind that fatigued driving at night puts a bicyclist at extra risk, since you are harder to spot in the dark.Make sure you have\u00a0bicycle headlights and tail lights and wear brightly colored reflective clothing to make it easier for tired night drivers to see you on the road.Mistake 5: Failure to follow the rules of the roadYou may not be able to control reckless drivers, but you can protect yourself by following Florida’s defensive bicycle traffic laws.While most\u00a0drivers take great pride in following the rules of the road,\u00a0this doesn\u2019t always hold true. Instead, someone may decide to ignore traffic laws, even though it puts everyone else in danger, including bicyclists.Here are some of the many ways that a driver could violate the rules of the road:Running a red lightFailing to make a complete stop at a stop signFailure to use a turn signalFailure to yield to pedestrians and bicyclistsSpeedingAs you can imagine, drivers who violate traffic laws put you\u2014as well as everyone else on the road\u2014at risk of an accident.Even though you don\u2019t have any control over other drivers, you can control what you do. And for that reason, it\u2019s critical that you closely follow Florida\u2019s bicycle traffic laws.What to do after a bicycle vs. car accident in FloridaAs hard as you may try to maintain your safety, you could one day find yourself dealing with\u00a0severe and\/or delayed injuries\u00a0after a bicycle vs. car accident.If this happens, there are several key steps you must take:Stay where you are to assess your injuries and administer first-aid, if possible.Call 911 or request that another person does so on your behalf.Accept medical treatment at the scene, while also letting the paramedics transfer you to the hospital by ambulance.Receive medical treatment and follow the advice provided by your doctor.Keep all medical records as proof of your injuries in your\u00a0bicycle accident claim against the driver.Once you understand your injuries, long-term prognosis, and impact on your life, it\u2019s time to turn your attention to two details:The cause of the bicycle vs. car accidentYour legal rights in\u00a0demanding financial compensation\u00a0from the Florida driver.If the driver was responsible for the accident, such as if they were under the influence, don\u2019t hesitate to take steps to protect your legal rights.You have the right to seek full compensation and have an\u00a0experienced bicycle accident attorney\u00a0negotiate for a settlement that covers all your damages including injuries, medical care, and lost wages.Should you have questions or concerns about what to do after a bicycle vs. car accident in Florida, the\u00a0Daytona Beach bicycle accident lawyers at Zimmet & Zimmet offer you over 40 years of experience and can easily point you in the right direction.\u00a0Contact us online today or give us a call\u00a0to schedule your free consultation.Have you been injured in an accident or fall? Do You have question and want to know your legal options. Call 386-255-6400 for a free consultation and remember there is NO FEE unless WE Win."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Common Causes Of Bicycle vs. Car Accidents in Florida","item":"https:\/\/www.zimmetzimmet.com\/blog\/common-causes-of-bicycle-vs-car-accidents-in-florida\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]