Tips for Bicyclists in South Florida
If you or someone you love were recently injured in a bicycle accident, our team of bicycle accident lawyers can help with all issues that may arise in your bicycle accident claim. We offer trustworthy legal advice to help address any legal issues that apply to your bicycle accident claim. At Suarez and Montero, our bicycle accident lawyers have more than 20 years of experience successfully representing bicycle accident victims in all types of cases. We have an exceptional team that can provide you with the guidance you are looking for after being injured in a bicycle accident or other type of injury. Before exposing yourself to the risks of road cycling, it is critical to make certain that you protect yourself.
Here are some tips for bicyclists in South Florida:
- Many people are unaware just how important your own car insurance coverage can be if you are injured in an accident involving a car while riding your bike. There are multiple types of insurance coverage you’ll want to have in place before you ride including uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments coverage, health insurance, etc. Uninsured motorist insurance coverage can help pay for you if the person who hit you did not have insurance or did not have adequate insurance or assets to fully cover your damages and losses. Med Pay coverage will cover reasonable and necessary medical expenses up to a set limit regardless of fault. Additionally, make sure you have a good health insurance policy in place before you ride to pay for your medical expenses. The insurance company for the driver that hits you will not pay for any of your medical care until the very end of your case so it’s important to protect yourself and avoid exposure to medical bills during the pendency of your claim.
- Obey the rules of the road just as if you were operating a motor vehicle. Always follow the traffic laws, all traffic signals, and any signs.
- Wear your helmet and safety equipment: including glasses, reflective gear, and gloves. Always carry a phone and identification. Use lights and reflectors, especially at night.
- Unless you are avoiding hazards, passing another vehicle, or preparing to make a left-hand turn, try to ride with traffic and stay on the right side of the road and as far to the right as you can safely ride.
- Always play it safe and ride in the lane of travel on narrow roads, hills and streets that do not have shoulders adequate for biking. Take the lane and ride with the flow of traffic. If you take the lane, be mindful of motorists approaching from behind. By taking the lane, the motorists will have to wait for a safe passing zone, rather than attempting to squeeze by, placing you in a dangerous situation.
- Always use the appropriate hand signals to alert motorists of your intentions. Always signal your intentions as you approach an intersection.
- Always try to make eye contact with the drivers at intersections.
- Ride as straight as possible to make yourself more visible to motorists. Darting in and out of vehicle traffic is extremely dangerous.
- Never assume that motorists are going to give you the right of way or that they even see you.
- Ride in a manner that is defensive. Stay focused and be always aware of your surroundings.
Contact Our Accident Lawyer in Miami Today!
Bicycle accidents are extremely common in South Florida. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident in South Florida due to another driver’s negligence, the bicycle accident attorneys at Suarez & Montero are here to help you get the compensation you rightly deserve. The goal at our firm is to help our clients get all the necessary medical care they need and do everything we can to help the client reach a full recovery. Once a client has reached maximum medical improvement, we then move forward with preparation and submission of a comprehensive demand package to the insurance carrier, with the goal of obtaining the maximum available financial recovery to make our client whole again. The Law Offices of Suarez and Montero is a personal injury law firm with locations in Miami and Broward. Our firm is 100% dedicated to helping victims in personal injury cases and has been doing so for over 20 years. If you or someone you love has been involved in a bicycle accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
We serve clients throughout Florida including those in the following areas:
Miami-Dade: Aventura, Coral Gables, Doral, Fontainebleau, Hialeah, Homestead, Kendall, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Lakes, North Miami, Tamiami, and Westchester.
Broward: Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, and Weston; and Palm Beach County including Boca Raton, Lake Worth