North Port Bicycle Accident Attorneys

Many people love to ride their bicycles, and North Port is one of the best places to take advantage of the great weather almost year-round.

While cycling is a popular form of transportation or recreational activity that allows for fun exercise, thousands of North Port residents suffer injuries in accidents every year. Bicyclists may face life-long consequences such as permanent disability or even death when struck by a motor vehicle.

If you are one of many bicyclists hurt in an accident, a negligent driver may have left you with severe injuries and feel uncertain about taking the next steps. Our team of North Port bicycle accident lawyers at Boohoff Law have years of experience helping our clients obtain full compensation for medical bills, lost income, and the emotional effects that can arise after a serious bicycle collision.

Discover how our lawyers can use their knowledge to handle your bicycle accident claim and obtain maximum recovery for your losses.​​​

Common Causes of Cycling Accidents in North Port

North Port contains miles of road bike lanes, plus mountain bike trails such as along Myakkahatchee Creek.

Still, many factors may contribute to a bicycle accident, including a car rear-ending a bicyclist or failing to leave enough room between their vehicle and a bike rider. Although one main factor or a combination of many factors may contribute to a bicycle accident, most are due to some form of driver negligence. If you were in an accident due to another person’s negligence, you can seek compensation for your injuries and losses.

Several factors may contribute to a bicycle accident, including:

• Driver inattention
• Speeding
• A driver failing to yield
• Dangerous environmental or road conditions
• The number of bicyclists on the road
• Riding at night
• Impaired driving
• Distracted driving
• Failing to obey traffic laws
• Unsafe lane changes
• Opening a car door in the path of an oncoming cyclist (also known as dooring)

In many bicycle accident cases, victims who fail to obtain proper representation from an experienced attorney do not receive a compensation award that reflects the full extent of the damage they’ve suffered. Hiring a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in these situations can give your case the best chance at a successful outcome.

If you were in a bicycle collision with a negligent motorist, our team of skilled bike accident lawyers is ready to determine and prove how negligence contributed to an accident.​​​

What Steps to Take After a Florida Bicycle Accident

After a bicycle accident, the first step you should take if you suffer serious injuries is to request emergency help by calling 911. Even if you feel fine and believe that you have no injuries, you should still consider seeking a medical evaluation from a qualified professional. Failing to seek medical attention within two weeks following an accident may result in you losing your chance of claiming compensation for your losses. Regardless of whether you’ve suffered any injuries, you should contact the police and wait for an investigating officer to arrive at the accident scene.

Take these steps after a bicycle accident in North Port:

• Get to safety by moving away from the road.
• Contact the local police or emergency services if you or anyone else has suffered injuries. A police report may also be valuable in crash cases.
• Obtain information from all parties involved, such as drivers licenses, contact information, photos of the defendant’s vehicle and license plate
• Gather contact information from any witnesses
• Take pictures of your injuries, damage to your bicycle, or videos of the accident scene.
• Write down details of the accident, including information about all vehicles involved.
• Contact a North Port bicycle accident lawyer to assist you with your case.

When riding your bike, it is essential to carry some form of identification and a cell phone for an emergency. Never speak to the at-fault party’s insurance company, admit fault, or make statements about the accident. Contact a North Port bike accident attorney from Boohoff Law as soon as possible after an accident to guide you through the often complex claims process.

Understanding Why Our Experience Matters With Bicycle Accidents

Florida has a no-fault statute when it applies to auto insurance. Therefore, auto insurance companies generally handle a bicycle accident. However, some bicycle accident victims do not have their own insurance because they may not have a car. Finding an attorney who cares about the outcome of your bicycle accident case can help ensure you get the compensation you are entitled to. While no attorney can guarantee results based on past results, knowing someone with the experience of Boohoff Law is handling your case will help put your mind at ease.

Common Injuries Suffered in Bicycle Collisions

Bicycles have just as much right to ride on the road as motorists. Cyclists do not have the same safety protections as occupants of motor vehicles, so whenever a bicycle and car collide, they risk suffering life-altering injuries. Victims of traumatic injuries resulting from bicycle accidents may face enormous financial and emotional challenges that can become difficult to manage.

Some of the most common injuries bike accident victims sustain include:

• Head injuries: A head injury may be as minor as a bump or gash or something more severe like a skull fracture resulting in a brain injury. Under Florida law, bicycle riders 16 years of age or younger must always wear a bicycle helmet while riding.
• Brain injuries: Cyclists may sustain a brain injury even if there is no visible injury to the head. A traumatic brain injury like a skull fracture or concussion can leave an accident victim with permanent disabilities.
• Facial injuries: Victims of bicycle accidents may sustain significant damage to their face, including cuts, bruises, a broken nose, road rash, or permanent scarring, Injuries resulting in a fractured jaw, lost, or broken teeth may require extensive and expensive cosmetic surgery.
• Internal injuries: Internal damage such as spleen, liver, or kidney injuries are incredibly serious and can become dangerous if not treated promptly. Symptoms of these injuries are often delayed and can take days to discover. For this reason, seeking medical attention following a bicycle collision is crucial.
• Bodily trauma: When a car rear-ends a bicycle, the rider may experience whiplash or a torn ligament in their knee joint. Nearly all cyclists in accidents sustain soft tissue injuries, including swollen or bruised ligaments or muscles. Examples of severe bodily trauma cyclists can sustain in an accident include broken legs, wrists, hands, ribs, and internal bleeding.
• Back and neck injuries: A bicyclist may suffer neck and back injuries in an accident where extreme force strikes them. Landing on their back or rolling after a collision can damage the spinal column or herniate discs. A spinal cord injury resulting from a bicycle crash may often lead to full or partial paralysis.
• Broken bones: Fractures or broken bones can be incredibly painful and even temporarily put the accident victim out of work. These injuries are debilitating and require prompt medical treatment.
• Wrongful death: Speeding, distracted driving, or impaired driving are all examples of factors that may increase the likelihood of a fatal bicycle crash. When cyclists do not survive an accident, their family members can file a wrongful death claim. Our North Port bicycle accident lawyers can help you handle all aspects of your claim so you can focus on emotional healing.

When you suffer injuries in a bicycle accident, seek proper medical attention as soon as possible, even when you think you only sustained minor injuries. In severe cases, open wounds may become infected, requiring weeks of healing and additional treatments. Many different parties may be liable for the costs of the victim’s injuries caused by a bicycle accident.

Our bicycle accident lawyers at Boohoff Law can help you examine all options available in your case to assist you in recovering compensation for your losses as soon as possible.

Determining Liability After a Bicycle Accident

The first step a personal injury lawyer will take in handling your bicycle accident claim is determining the negligent party. Working with a bike accident attorney will give you the greatest chance of obtaining the maximum compensation award you are legally entitled to in your case. Many individuals, including companies, may be found liable for your accident.

To determine the negligent party in your case, your bicycle accident lawyer will have to prove:

• The defendant owed a duty of care to the victim
• The defendant breached that duty
• The defendant’s breach of care resulted in the accident
• As a result of the accident, you sustained damages and injuries

A bicyclist is hard to hear or see when moving along a roadway, making a catastrophic accident more likely if motorists don’t look for them. Victims of bike accidents may face severe injury or death in the event of a collision. After a bicycle accident, victims who’ve sustained injuries may require extensive and expensive medical treatments, be forced to take time off work, or suffer a permanent disability that completely alters their lives.

Examples of parties that may be liable for a bicycle accident are:

• A negligent or reckless driver
• The vehicle manufacturer
• The manufacturer of a defective bicycle or safety equipment
•  Companies responsible for inadequate road maintenance or poor road work
•  State or government agencies

Bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries to cyclists, which is why you shouldn’t hesitate to contact a North Port bike accident lawyer to discuss your case. Our attorneys have extensive experience helping bicycle accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost time from work, and other expenses related to the accident.

Compensation That Victims May Collect

Victims of bicycle accidents often do not know the extent of their injuries for days, or even weeks after being involved in an accident. While initially victims may think they have only cuts and bruises, there is still the possibility once the shock of the accident passes, they will feel soft tissue injuries, problems with their back, and other pain caused by being thrown to the ground. Typical damages a personal injury attorney can help recover include:

• Medical bills – Cost of treatment of injuries including pain medications, tests, X-rays, and rehabilitation when necessary
• Lost income – Victims who are out of work because of a bicycle accident may be able to recover their lost wages. If the victim is going to be out of work for an extended period, losing their income could be a serious financial hardship.
• Property damage – Bikes are not free and when your bike is damaged because you were involved in a bicycle accident, you have the right to have it repaired or replaced by the responsible party.

Injured cyclists may recover additional damages, including compensation for pain and suffering and permanent scarring, and potentially punitive damages. Talk to your bicycle accident lawyer to discuss the specifics of your case.

Victim Blaming is Common

One of the ways insurance companies will try to get out of paying a fair settlement is to blame the victim for their injuries. There are two ways of doing this, first by trying to show the victim was responsible for the accident, and the other is to show the victim was injured before the accident. Therefore, a bicycle accident victim needs an attorney with experience handling these cases. Your attorney is going to serve as your advocate and fight to hold the responsible party accountable.

Victims Ask About Lawyer Fees

One of the most common questions a victim of a bicycle accident asks is “how much will a lawyer cost me”. This is certainly a legitimate question and the concern is generally how it is possible to afford a lawyer when you are facing an uncertain return to employment and paying unexpected medical bills. The good news is North Port bicycle accident attorneys will come to your home, or hospital and provide a free consultation. Should you be able to reach an agreement to have them represent you, they will typically take the case on a contingency basis. This means that unless we are successful in obtaining a settlement, you pay nothing for legal fees upfront, and all fees are recovered by the law firm as a percentage of your settlement. When you need someone who will act as your advocate, fight to get you the compensation you deserve after a bicycle accident, and answer your questions, contact Boohoff Law immediately at (877) 999-9999. Make sure you have someone protecting your rights, whether you were the victim or you lost a loved one in a bicycle accident in North Port.

Client Testimonial

“My first impression of Tatiana and her staff is the reason why I chose her even though I live in Metro Orlando area. I felt like I could trust her as she walked me through every step. Tatiana’s expertise and her staff’s sense of urgency and professionalism is what made me a happy client. Her expertise gained me the best outcome in my case, and not that I would like to say if it ever happens; however, if I or my family have another accident I will be hiring her and her company again. Thank you Boohof Law Firm for all your teamwork!”

-Yana O.

Review: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bicycle Accident FAQs

​If I was in a bicycle accident with a motorist, do I have the same rights as a pedestrian?

When cyclists ride on the road, they must abide by the same rules as drivers in cars, which means cyclists are treated as motor vehicles if they are involved in an accident with a motor vehicle while riding on the road. Additionally, just as a driver should be responsible for striking a pedestrian, a cyclist is treated as a motor vehicle in cases where they collide with a pedestrian on the sidewalk.

Do I have a claim against a car owner if they opened their door and hit me while riding past?

Motorists have to exercise care while exiting their vehicle, including looking out for oncoming pedestrians and bike riders. If you were riding in a bike lane and doored by someone exiting a parked vehicle, you may have a claim against the car’s owner.

What’s the deadline for filing a bicycle accident case in Florida?

A person injured in a bicycle accident has four years from the accident date to file a bicycle accident claim against a negligent party. Talk to a North Port bicycle accident lawyer to go over the specifics of your case and determine if you still have time to file a personal injury claim.

Can I wear my headphones while riding my bicycle?

Florida prohibits headphone use while riding a bicycle. Bicycles must abide by the same rules as other vehicles while on the streets. On the sidewalk, cyclists have rights, but they also have responsibilities to pedestrians. Headphones can prevent cyclists from hearing traffic or an audible warning. Refrain from wearing your headphones while riding your bike so you can avoid causing or becoming involved in an accident. ​​

What types of damages can I recover for a bicycle accident injury?

In a bicycle accident case where a victim sustained injuries due to another parties’ negligence, the victim may receive compensation for the cost of treating their injuries, medications, tests, X-rays, and rehabilitation costs.

If a bicycle accident injury causes someone not to return to work or recover lost wages, they may also recover compensation for the financial hardship that results. After an accident, you may recover compensation to repair or replace your damaged bike.

Consulting a bicycle accident lawyer is the best way to determine the forms of damages you may recover in your bicycle accident claim. 

Contact a North Port Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today

A bicycle accident is a stressful experience, and the claims process is even trickier to navigate on your own. If you were involved in a bicycle accident and sustained injuries due to another person or entity’s negligence, you need guidance through the legal process. Due to the complex legal standards and protections that apply to bike riders, you need a North Port bicycle accident lawyer to help you.

Let our bicycle accident lawyers at Boohoff Law use our skills and experience to fight for the compensation you deserve after a traumatic crash. Contact our office at (941) 888-0848 for your initial consultation with one of our North Port bicycle accident attorneys today.

North Port

14900 Tamiami Trail
North Port, FL 34287
(941) 888-0848