Bicycle Accidents

April 27, 2022

News: 28-year-old bicyclist killed in hit-and-run in Waldo

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

WALDO, FL – Troopers are searching for the vehicle and driver responsible for fatally striking a 28-year-old bicyclist early Monday.

According to WCJB, the victim was hit between 12 a.m. and 87 a.m. while riding along Waldo Road near the intersection with 127th Street. He was discovered deceased in the roadway shortly after 7 a.m.

No identifying information on the driver or vehicle involved in the deadly crash is available at this time. Our team will continue to follow this developing story and provide any updates as they are made available to the public.

April 25, 2022

News: 28-year-old cyclist killed in hit-and-run crash in Gainesville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

GAINESVILLE FL – A man was fatally struck by a vehicle in northwest Gainesville while riding his bicycle this morning.

According to WCJB, the victim was riding on Waldo Road near the intersection with Northeast 127th Street when he was hit by an unspecified vehicle.

The bicyclist, an unidentified 28-year-old man, suffered fatal injuries in the crash.

April 6, 2022

News: 2 in critical condition after motor scooter vs. bicycle collision in Ocala

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

OCALA, FL – Two people suffered critical injuries after being involved in a collision at an Ocala intersection on Wednesday.

According to the Ocala StarBanner, a person on a motor scooter was stopped at the traffic signal of Pine Avenue and Silver Springs Boulevard. The light turned green and they made a left turn headed west on Silver Springs Boulevard.

A bicyclist traveling southbound on Pine Avenue crossed the boulevard without stopping. They collided with the motor scooter at the intersection.

March 22, 2022

News: Bicyclist seriously injured by hit-and-run driver in Pasco County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LUTZ, FL – A 31-year-old man from Land O’Lakes was struck and injured by a driver while riding his bike in Pasco County Saturday morning.

According to FOX13, the crash happened at the intersection of Dale Mabry Highway and US-41 around 5:40 a.m.

The man was riding his bicycle on the outside shoulder of Dale Mabry Highway when he was struck by a driver. He was thrown into the roadway where he was struck again by a man on a motorcycle.

March 18, 2022

News: Bicyclist fatally struck by vehicle in Spring Hill

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

SPRING HILL, FL – A person was struck and killed by a driver in a pickup in Hernando County Thursday morning.

According to FOX13, the bicyclist was hit around 5:30 a.m. on County Line Road near Broad Street. A driver in a Ford F250 was heading south in the turn lane of Broad Steet when they crashed into the person, claiming they did not see them.

Authorities closed down the roadways while investigating the fatal crash.

February 18, 2022

News: Woman critically injured after bicycle struck by car in Zephyrhills

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

ZEPHYRHILLS, FL – A woman was critically injured when she was struck by a vehicle on SR-54 on Friday.

An 85-year-old Zephyrhills man was traveling in a sedan eastbound on SR-54 eat of Bough Road reports the Suncoast News. Meanwhile, two bicyclists in the eastbound bike lane were traveling in opposite directions.

As they approached one another, a 40-year-old man on his bicycle moved to allow the woman to pass. While passing, she lost control of her bicycle and fell into the eastbound lane of SR-54 where she was struck by the sedan.

July 22, 2021

10-Year-Old Struck and Killed by Car While Riding Bicycle Near Kissimmee | Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 10-year-old girl was struck by a car and killed while riding her bike Wednesday night across U.S. 192 near Kissimmee, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Reports show that the crash happened around 9:15 p.m. when several children crossed the highway, failing to use an intersection or a crosswalk.

A 71-year-old man driving by hit the child’s bike and she was taken to a hospital for her injuries, but later died.

June 7, 2021

Kevin Clark, Drummer from ‘School of Rock’ Hit and Killed by Driver While Riding Bicycle | Florida Wrongful Death Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Kevin Clark, now 32, who played the drummer in the popular Jack Black film “School of Rock” almost 20 years ago was struck and killed while riding his bicycle at a dangerous intersection on Wednesday, May 26.

He was struck by a driver operating a Hyundai Sonata at about 1:20 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 2:04 a.m. after being taken to the hospital for his injuries.

The 20-year-old driver of the Hyundai was issued several citations, according to police reports.

Riding a bicycle is loads of fun and a great way to get some exercise. Florida has a wonderful climate so that residents can ride pretty much year round, making cycling a passion for many Floridians. Sadly, this hobby can end in tragedy when motorists sharing the roadways fail to take care and watch out for cyclists. The number of bicycle fatalities is climbing across the U.S. In 2019, bicycle accidents increased by 6% according to the National Safety Council (NSC). In the last 10 years bicycle fatalities have grown 10% from 793 in 2010 to 1,089 in 2019 (the latest year data is available.)

The NSC also points out that starting in June, bicycle fatalities start to rise and continue to stay high through September. For 2019, the most deaths from bicycle fatalities occurred in August – 125 and the fewest occurred in January – 63.

If you have lost a loved one or have suffered any type of harm in a bicycle accident that was the result of another driver’s negligence, then you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for all of your suffering and related damages.

Bicyclists are quite vulnerable on Florida’s busy roadways and intersections. When you go out for a ride, you share the road with fast moving cars, large trucks, buses, and other vehicles that can cause severe injuries and even death on impact. For the most part, bicyclists have the same right-of-way as any other motorists travelling on the roads. But despite these laws, most motorists fail to offer bikers the same courtesy as they extend to other vehicles on the road, which is why bike accidents happen so frequently.

What Are The Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

There are many reasons bike accidents can happen, but most often these dangerous accidents happen because of the following:
Cars turning in front of bicyclists and crashing into them at an intersection
Motor vehicles turning right and striking bicyclists in the crosswalk
Drivers passing cyclists too closely and clipping them
Drivers opening car doors while a biker is passing, also called “dooring.”
Drivers failing to yield to bicyclists

What Should You Do After a Bicycle Accident?

If you are harmed in a bike accident, then we recommend taking the following steps:
Call 911 right away – your health is the first and most important priority. You need to get medical care right away.
Make a police report. Never let the at-fault driver talk you out of this very important step as failing to do this can lead to problems later on.
You need to get information from the driver who hit you, like their driver’s license number and insurance information.
If you can, snap some pictures or take some videos of the car that hit you, your injuries, your bike, and the scene of the accident.
If there are any witnesses to the crash, then get their information, too. Police might miss this step, so help yourself by getting their contact information.
Contact an experienced Injury Lawyer at Whittel & Melton at 866-608-5529 or contact us online. You should reach out to us before you make contact with the other driver’s insurance provider.

What Can I Do to Protect Myself in a Bicycle Accident?

Wear a helmet that fits properly
Wear reflective and bright-colored clothes
Use a bike light and reflectors, or even reflective tape
Ride with the flow of traffic
Obey all traffic laws
Always use bike lanes, whenever possible
Perform routine maintenance on your bike to make sure it is good working condition
Make sure you are alert at all times and are not distracted

January 7, 2021

Five Bicyclists Killed By Truck Driver Prompts Legislative Change | Florida Bicycle Accident Attorneys Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Last month five bikers participating in an annual 130-mile ride were killed by a box truck driver on a rural highway in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The driver struck a total of 14 cyclists after he claimed to have fallen asleep at the wheel, even though the cyclists were escorted by a safety vehicle equipped with flashers. Police later determined that the 45-year-old driver had a large amount of methamphetamine in his system when the accident occurred. He is now facing 12 felony charges, including DUI and reckless driving.

This tragedy in Las Vegas has captured the attention of lawmakers and stretches beyond the state of Nevada. Activists are now working on gaining sponsors for a new bill that will change current safety legislation and tie in a “presumed liability” clause taking the burden of proof in an accident off of the bicyclist and placing it on the motorist.

The current argument by activists is that the law favors motorists in these cases, but defense attorneys are on the side that the blame is shared and that cyclists know the inherent risks of riding with motor vehicles present.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Las Vegas in regards to bicycle safety laws, but you may be wondering where Florida stands on similar issues. Our Florida Bike Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are here to provide you with answers to any bicycle law questions you may have. You can call us anytime at 866-608-5529 or contact us online to request a free consultation. Below we have addressed the most commonly asked questions.

What Are Helmet Laws for Bicyclists in Florida?

All cyclists under the age of 16 are required by law to wear a helmet. This law pertains to cyclists, any passengers and those being towed in trailers or semi trailers that are attached to a bike. The helmet riders, passengers, and people riding in trailers or semi trailers attached to bicycles. The helmet must meet the following requirements:

Be an actual bicycle helmet
Fit properly and have a strap to secure the helmet to the head
Meet the federal requirements set forth by bicycle helmet safety standards

When Do Bikers Have to Use Headlights, Tail Lights or Reflectors?

Florida law requires riders to have a working headlight, taillight, and rear reflector if you are riding during non-daylight hours such as before sunrise or after sunset. Your headlights must be visible from at least 500 feet and your tail light and reflector must be visible from at least 600 feet.

What Are The Rules Of The Road For Bikers?

When you are riding on the street you are required to follow the same traffic laws as other motorists, which includes yielding to any traffic signs and signals. You are required by law to stop at stop lights and stop signs and are not permitted to travel through a red light even if there is no traffic approaching.

The law requires you to ride in a bike lane, but if none is available then you are required to ride on the right-most side of the road.

When you are riding on a sidewalk or crosswalk the law treats you as a pedestrian, so you must abide by the same laws that apply to walkers with one exception: you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and call out before you pass them.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports show that Florida is the deadliest state in the United States for bikers. In 2018, the latest year data is available, the U.S. saw a total of 783 bicyclist deaths, and 125 of those occurred in Florida – the most deaths than any other state. Most bicycle deaths can be attributed to failure to yield right of way, bikers not being visible, failure to obey traffic signs or signals, and making an improper turn. Continue reading

April 4, 2019

Woman Driving Without Valid License Kills Student Biking to School

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A woman who was driving without a valid license is accused of fatally hitting a 13-year-old girl Wednesday morning as the teen was riding her bike to school.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 25-year-old woman from Argentina who had been staying in the Kissimmee area.

According to deputies, the woman was driving a minivan around 7:50 a.m. Wednesday when she struck the 13-year-old student in the Poinciana/Kissimmee area.

The eighth grader was on her way to Lake Marion Creek Middle School when she was hit. The child was airlifted to Orlando’s Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital, where she later died.

The man told deputies she has been in the U.S. on a “visitor pass” since October of 2018. She presented an Argentinian identification card to investigators.

Deputies said condensation covered approximately 80% of the woman’s windshield at the time of the crash, obstructing her view.

She has been charged with operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license causing death, a third-degree felony.

If your son or daughter has been killed in a pedestrian or bike accident, this is a tragic time for your family. It is important that you do not accept an insurance company settlement as compensation for your loss without consulting our Florida Injury Attorneys at Whittel & Melton. A sudden death in a family can take its toll not only emotionally, but also financially. Not only are family members grieving an irreparable loss, but they are also struggling to deal with medical expenses and funeral and burial costs, which can add up quickly.

The insurance company does not care about your family’s welfare or your losses. Their goal is to offer you the least amount of financial compensation possible so they can get rid of your claim quickly. During such a challenging time, you need our Florida Wrongful Death Attorneys on your side as we have successfully handled numerous fatal pedestrian accident cases.