Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
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
If you suffer an injury from an accident with a negligent motorist, or if a family member has been killed in a tragic crash, then it is very important to contact our Florida Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers at Whittel & Melton right away. We can help you understand if you have a valid injury or wrongful death claim against the responsible driver. Call us now at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation.