- Meet Our Tampa Bicycle Accident Attorneys
- 2024 Tampa Bicycle Accident Statistics
- What Do You Have to Do After a Biking Accident in Tampa?
- What Are the Main Causes of Tampa Bicycle Accidents?
- What Are the Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Tampa?
- What Are the Types of Damage You Can Recover After a Tampa Bicycle Accident?
- Our Case Settlements
- Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bicycle Accident in Tampa?
- Bicycle Laws in Tampa
- How Can a Tampa Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help You Obtain a Fair Settlement?
- Statute of Limitations for a Bike Accident Claim in Tampa
- Contact an Expert Tampa Bicycle Accident Attorney Today!
- Get a FREE case evaluation today
Tampa is a gorgeous city with multiple attractions, affordable living conditions, and lots of sunshine all year round. However, growing numbers of seasonal tourists and daily commuters who prefer cycling to other means of transportation significantly contribute to spiking rates of bicyclist fatalities.
In fact, according to a recent study, Tampa is one of the most dangerous cities for bicyclists in America. A biking accident can become a source of piling medical bills, days spent off work, emotional distress, and even wrongful death. So, you must know your rights and have an experienced bicycle accident lawyer at your side to defend them and restore justice.
Meet Our Tampa Bicycle Accident Attorneys
Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group is a time-tested legal team with a thirst for justice. Over the years in the field, many of our legal advisors developed a taste for cycling and are aware of all the existing issues in local biking infrastructure. Moreover, we know all the ins and outs of Tampa traffic laws, which means that there isn’t a case our lawyers wouldn’t be able to handle.
Since most bicycle accident victims have excessive expenses to deal with as the claim is in the process, our law firm offers a unique type of contingency-based cooperation. We don’t take any payments before the case is successfully resolved!
2024 Tampa Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to recent reports from the Federal Highway Administration, at least one bicyclist gets injured in a crash in Tampa on a daily basis. Despite the ongoing effort that the local authorities put into improving cyclists’ safety on the streets of the city, the recent traffic accident statistics are anything but bright.
Cycling Incident Trends Over the Past Few Years In Florida and Tampa
The table below reflects the current bicycling situation in the state and the city through sheer numbers:
| Florida | Hillsborough Country | |||||
| Bicyclist Fatalities | % of all Traffic Deaths | Serious Injuries | Bicyclist Fatalities | Serious Injuries | % of all Traffic Deaths | |
| 2019 | 161 | 5.1 | 6224 | 12 | 507 | 5.8% |
| 2020 | 170 | 5.1 | 5574 | 14 | 446 | 7% |
| 2021 | 197 | 5.7 | 5958 | 20 | 425 | 7.8% |
| 2022 | 222 | 6.3 | 6808 | 18 | 435 | 8.4% |
The start of 2025 has brought 20 more bicycle accidents to the county. Luckily, no fatal incidents have been reported. Around 73% of bike collisions take place on roadways with higher speed limits. Tampa’s authorities state that a decrease in local speed limits to 20mph would help save 9 out of 10 lives.
It is hard to point out a single, most vulnerable bicyclist group in the city, but over 74% of injured victims were under 25, and they were driving through poorly lit areas during darker hours of the day.
What Do You Have to Do After a Biking Accident in Tampa?
The amount of stress that a crash inflicts on Tampa bicycle accident victims makes it quite challenging to focus and come up with a logical strategy for what to do right after the incident. However, it would be helpful if you did the following:
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Try to stay calm
The whole commotion of the collision affects people differently. However, the more composed you can remain, the better. Don’t rush to apologize, even out of politeness — it may be used against you as a partial admission of fault.
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Call the emergency services
Dial 911 as soon as you can. They will dispatch the police and medical staff immediately. Let the medics check you for signs of hidden injuries and make sure they document all well. A police report, along with detailed medical records, is a valuable piece of evidence.
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Gather contact information
If you seem to be in a satisfactory state, you may want to ask the involved parties for their contact details, such as their full name, address, insurance number, and driver’s license number. Talk to the witnesses and record their statements, too.
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Call a bicycle accident lawyer
A qualified legal representative will take over the case so that you don’t have to deal with anything other than your complete physical and mental recovery.
What Are the Main Causes of Tampa Bicycle Accidents?
With Tampa’s population on the rise and its growing cycling traffic, some accidents caused are more frequent than others. These are the prevalent factors that contribute to countless crashes across the city:
- Distracted drivers: People talking on the phone, texting, and exchanging a few words with a passenger are prone to momentary lapses of attention that lead to dangerous road situations.
- Impaired drivers: Drivers operating under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and other illegal substances are exceptionally careless and often violate traffic rules, causing catastrophic, if not fatal, bicycle accidents.
- Suddenly opened car door: An average dooring bicycle accident can become a source of severe injuries and even casualties. A cyclist who gets hit by the door can lose balance and get right under the wheels of upcoming traffic.
- Hit-and-run accidents: The number of hit and run crashes across the state has reached an alarming number of 2400 over the past 10 years.
- Riding conditions: Poor road state can also cause bicycle accidents with traumatic consequences. A bicyclist should remain alert when riding on shared lanes and streets covered in potholes and debris.
- Weather conditions: A sudden storm can make the surface extremely slippery, and strong winds interfere with a cyclist’s balance while on the road.
What Are the Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Tampa?
Some bicycle injuries are less severe than others, but typically, bike accident victims sustain the following types of traumas:
- Head injuries: Many injured parties suffer from different kinds of TBI after bicycle accident, ranging from mild concussions to complex skull fractures. To reduce the severity of the trauma, you should wear a protective helmet at all times.
- Back traumas: Back and spinal cord injuries are also common among bike riders since the area is the largest though the least protected. Damage to the back may bring such serious consequences as chronic pain, decreased mobility, and even permanent paralysis.
- Broken bones: Very often, cyclists end up with shattered wrists, arms, ribs, and ankles. The force of the impact with the vehicle and the sudden thrust against a hard surface make human bones fracture.
- Internal injuries: Internal organ damage is invisible, while it is deadly if left undetected. That is why it is so important to seek immediate medical attention after the accident.
- Road rash: When a bicyclist falls off their bike and slides on the asphalt or concrete, skin abrasions are inevitable. Surely, they may not seem as severe as other traumas, but they can still lead to serious infections.
What Are the Types of Damage You Can Recover After a Tampa Bicycle Accident?
Many bicycle accidents leave the victims struggling with various monetary and non-monetary problems. An experienced Tampa bicycle accident attorney can help you recover the following losses:
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Medical expenses
An at-fault party or their insurance company is bound to cover your medical bills. Whether these are emergency visits, surgeries, meds, or assistive devices, a cyclist can claim full compensation for these costs.
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Lost wages
Some injuries require extensive recovery and rehabilitation, meaning that the injured bicyclist can’t go to work. Loss of income or decrease of their earning potential belongs to monetary damages they can recover.
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Property damage
In the majority of cases, bicycles, phones, and protective gear get seriously damaged in an accident. It means that the cost of repairs or complete replacement must be reimbursed.
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Pain and suffering
Physical pain, along with emotional distress and the following loss of joy in life, aren’t exactly countable losses. However, based on the severity of the accident, you can use a bicycle accident settlement calculator and evaluate those in a monetary equivalent as well.
On top of economic and non-economic damages, you can also apply for punitive damages. These are more exemplary measures taken against the extremely negligent party to punish them and prevent similar instances in the future.
Our Case Settlements
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Bicycle Accident in Tampa?
It is natural to assume that motor vehicle operators are the only parties accountable for all bicycle accident cases. They may be speeding, road raging, ignoring traffic rules and regulations, or missing a stop sign, which may initiate a potentially dangerous road situation. However, there are other potentially liable parties to consider, too:
- Local municipalities and the state of Florida: You can hold the state or the city liable for an accident if hazardous road conditions lead to damages and injuries. If the traffic light malfunctioned or there was no proper signature installed, which could have prevented the crash, governmental entities would be responsible for your losses.
- Bicycle manufacturer: Defective bikes can be the primary reason for your accident. It takes proper evidence and a reliable legal advisor to prove that the vehicle was faulty from the start, but you can make the manufacturer compensate for your damages.
- Pedalcyclists/pedestrians: Other cyclists and pedestrians can also initiate a crash by cutting you off, stepping into the lane abruptly, or misbehaving in any other way.
A well-versed Tampa bicycle accident lawyer will advise you on which liable party to pursue to receive the maximum compensation.
Bicycle Laws in Tampa
Florida law defines bicyclists as rightful participants in the traffic. This means that bike riders have the same rights as other vehicle operators. They also have the same obligations with a few exceptions. For instance:
- Bicyclists can use sidewalks on condition that they give the right of way to pedestrians, ride at walking speed, and use a sound signal upon approach to a person on a sidewalk.
- Cyclists can use shared lanes, sticking to the furthest rights of the lane.
- Bike riders over 16 years aren’t required to wear a protective helmet.
- Bicyclists must use hand signals when on the road to warn other users about making turns.
- All bicycles must be equipped with fully functional lights and reflective elements.
- Cyclists must be alert on the road, so they shouldn’t use devices and wear only a single earphone at a time.
- Riding under the influence of alcohol or other substances is forbidden.
How Can a Tampa Bicycle Accident Lawyer Help You Obtain a Fair Settlement?
Personal injury attorneys specializing in bike accidents can be invaluable, especially if your bicycle accident claim is anything but simple. Qualified legal experts will assist you with the following:
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Case evaluation
A trained lawyer can assess hidden and non-obvious expenses, point out liable parties, and develop unique strategies to claim a fair reimbursement.
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Evidence attainment
While a victim may have limited access to valuable proof, a professional lawyer may have access to alternative resources of evidence.
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Insurance company negotiations
Most insurance companies are less than willing to offer the fairest compensation you deserve. However, reliable legal representatives are persuasive enough to shield you from a potential lowball offer.
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No-win, no-fee approach
Such law firms as ours work on a contingency fee basis. No hidden costs and upfront charges — your lawyer will get paid only after winning the case.
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Court representations
Although rarely, some bicycle accidents face trial. If the at-fault party or their insurance provider refuses to issue rightful reimbursement, your legal advisor will represent you in court.
Statute of Limitations for a Bike Accident Claim in Tampa
Not everyone knows that there’s an expiration date weighing over their accident claim. In the State of Florida, it is two years from the day of the injury. However, you shouldn’t postpone filing your case if you want to recover rightful compensation for the sustained damages.
Some incidents may include various conditions that can alter the timeframe for the request. A skilled Tampa personal injury lawyer will provide you with more information depending on the details of your case.
Contact an Expert Tampa Bicycle Accident Attorney Today!
The Florida law system is not easy to navigate on your own without proper legal assistance, especially when you are trying to heal and recover after such a traumatic experience as a biking incident. Our bicycle accident attorneys have been helping accident victims for decades now.
Contact our team today, and we’ll stand up for your rights and pursue the rightful settlement you deserve!
Share the details of your situation with us so we can begin advocating on your behalf. We customize our approach to fit the unique needs of each client.
