- Meet Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group
- List of Immediate Steps to Take After a Bike Accident in Jacksonville
- Recent Biking Accident Statistics in Jacksonville FL
- Cycling Laws in Jacksonville FL
- What Can Lead to a Cycling Accident in Jacksonville?
- Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Jacksonville FL
- What Damages Can Be Compensated in a Jacksonville Cycling Accident?
- How Much Is My Jacksonville Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
- Settlements We Received for Our Clients
- What It Takes to Prove Liability in a Jacksonville Biking Accident?
- Why Choose a Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group to Handle Your Bicycle Accident in Jacksonville?
- Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accident Claims in Jacksonville, FL
- Contact a Jacksonville Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today!
- Get a FREE case evaluation today
- Frequently Asked Questions
Cycling is one of the most practical recreational activities that more and more people across the country choose to take on. Yet, it comes with a fair share of risks. While only 1% of Americans ride a bike regularly, bicyclists make up 2% of all traffic fatalities in the USA.
The riding situation in Florida, Jacksonville in particular, reflects the grim stats in America. However, this does not necessarily mean that you should give up on cycling. It means that we would highly recommend learning about your rights and the potential dangers lurking on the streets of your city to protect yourself and your family members!
Meet Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group
Our law firm consists of legal experts who the field has tested on numerous occasions. Over the years in the personal injury industry, we’ve discovered how unfriendly local roads can be to such vulnerable road users as cyclists. The same goes for insurance providers aiming to convince bicycle accident victims to accept a settlement that barely covers their losses.
Every member of our team has a strong belief in justice and is committed to uncovering hidden details that can strengthen a case that others may consider unwinnable. In fact, our growing success rate proves the effort and commitment we put into every claim. Sometimes, a free consultation is what separates you from fair compensation!
List of Immediate Steps to Take After a Bike Accident in Jacksonville
Your life can change in the blink of an eye. One moment, you are enjoying a paced ride, and the next, you are thrown off the vehicle, injured, and confused. Despite feeling stressed and overwhelmed, you should gain strength and handle the situation as follows:
- If you can move without causing yourself harm, you should get away from the middle of the street but stay at the scene.
- Some riders make a major mistake by underestimating the scale of their losses inflicted by the accident. To avoid that, you should report the incident and let the dedicated services assess it professionally.
- You may feel fine right after the collision, but that does not mean that you are absolutely unharmed. Some conditions may have hidden symptoms, so an emergency check-up should be included on your to-do list.
- Keep track of your conversations. Whether you are talking to a police officer, a potential witness, or the involved party, don’t make assumptions and deviate from facts.
- Call a Jacksonville bicycle accident lawyer. A legal expert can evaluate the case for free and instruct you on what to do to not compromise your claim.
Recent Biking Accident Statistics in Jacksonville FL
According to 2024 bicycle death statistics, Florida remains one of the most dangerous states for cyclists in the country. 9,301 bike crashes were recorded across the state in 2024, 3.6% of which took place in Duval County, which Jacksonville belongs to. As many as 318 people were seriously injured in bicycle accidents over the past year, and eight riders lost their lives on local streets.
Can statistical data eliminate all traffic accidents? No, it can’t. However, if you understand existing dangers, you can take the necessary precautions and improve your safety. Here’s the list of the most recent cycling crash facts to brood upon:
- Around 25 people are injured in biking accidents across the state on a daily basis.
- 1 in 7 bicyclists is severely traumatized or fatally injured after a bicycle collision with a motor vehicle.
- December is the deadliest month in terms of bicycle crashes.
- 72% of fatal accidents happen from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 88% of males are fatally injured in bicycle incidents.
- 56% of serious collisions take place at night.
- 46% of cycling accidents occur at intersections.
- 19% of females sustain serious injuries in biking accidents.
- 61% of bicyclists’ actions contribute to an incident.
Cycling Laws in Jacksonville FL
Riding a bike opens up fresh horizons and opportunities in a large city like Jacksonville. However, aside from freedom, you should also value your safety. The more aware cyclists are of their rights and obligations, the more protected they will feel. These are critical cycling laws to remember when cycling in Florida:
- Bicyclists have the same rights as the rest of the motorists.
- Cyclists must obey existing traffic rules, signals, and signs.
- A protective helmet is a must for all riders under 16 years old. For adults, it isn’t mandatory to wear one, although it is highly recommended.
- All vehicles must be fully functional and equipped with proper lights and reflectors. The headlight has to be visible from 300 feet at the least.
- You can’t ride a bike on a sidewalk in Jacksonville unless it is a greenway.
- Bicyclists should keep both hands on the handlebars except for the times when changing direction or coming to a halt.
- Hand signals must be used to alert other traffic participants about lane changes, turns, and stops.
If a person violates cycling rules, they may be charged with a monetary penalty in the equivalent of $25, or their bike will be confiscated for 90 days.
What Can Lead to a Cycling Accident in Jacksonville?
Numerous factors can transform an enjoyable bicycle ride into a terrifying experience. Sometimes, a poorly planned route can completely upend your world due to any of the following misfortunes:
- Dooring accident: When a car door swings open in front of a cyclist, the rider rarely has enough time to react and avoid the obstacle. Even if they do, they can swirl into another lane and get under the wheels of an approaching vehicle.
- Road rage: Field reports state that as many as 80% of drivers behaved aggressively on the road. When the rage is aimed at cyclists, aggressive motorists can tailgate, scream, or inappropriately gesture at the rider. These actions can throw a bicyclist off balance and lead to a serious accident.
- Hit-and-run accident: Vulnerable road users, as cyclists and pedestrians make up 76% of hit-and-run fatalities in the state. This is because when a driver flees the scene of the accident, leaving an injured rider without assistance, serious injuries may transform into deadly traumas.
- Hazards on the road: You shouldn’t underestimate the potential severity of a road defect injury. Poorly maintained lanes, debris, missing signs, and other obstacles can throw cyclists off their bikes at full speed and result in extreme bodily traumas.
Common Bicycle Accident Injuries in Jacksonville FL
Even a simple fall to the ground can cause substantial damage to such a poorly protected road user as a bicyclist. In fact, some injuries are more typical for cycling incidents than the rest. For instance:
- Head trauma: The fact that a cyclist is wearing a helmet does not grant them magical protection. A helmet can soften the impact of the collision but can’t rule out such life-threatening conditions as traumatic brain injuries, severe concussions, and brain bleeds.
- Back trauma: A spinal cord injury can inflict irreversible damage on a rider. While slipped discs can be recovered from in due time, other conditions can lead to permanent paralysis, which will change the cyclist’s life once and for all.
- Fractures: It is an innate instinct to shield yourself with your arms when you’re falling. That is why wrists and arms are among the most frequently broken bones a rider has to heal after an accident.
- Road rash: Compared to other conditions, scrapes don’t seem to be such a severe injury. However, due to the peculiar climate in Jacksonville, wounds get easily infected and take a while to heal.
What Damages Can Be Compensated in a Jacksonville Cycling Accident?
A bicycle accident has a direct effect on a victim’s everyday life. Not only does it impose financial strain, but it also disrupts personal routines and emotional stability. Luckily, if you’ve been hurt because of other people’s negligent actions, you can claim rightful compensation for your losses. You can recover in full the following types of sustained damages:
-
Medical expenses
Treatment costs have a unique tendency to pile up in no time. However, you don’t have to pay for your prescriptions, surgeries, and doctor appointments out of your pocket — the at-fault party has to cover all your medical bills.
-
Loss of income
Some traumas can keep you off work for extended periods if not seriously diminish your overall professional capability. The costs of your lost wages, as well as a potential decrease in earning capacity, can be recovered in a personal injury case.
-
Pain and suffering
Aside from the physical toll, an accident always has a mental impact on the victim. Chronic pain and the inability to live a wholesome life can lead to such serious psychological conditions as PTSD, depression, emotional distress, and anxiety. An experienced Jacksonville bicycle accident lawyer will assist you in obtaining the maximum settlement of such intangible losses as well.
How Much Is My Jacksonville Bicycle Accident Case Worth?
To determine the approximate worth of your claim, you can use an online bicycle accident settlement calculator. However, the tool is designed to evaluate the primary aspects of the case, such as medical costs, property damage, lost wages, and personal suffering. Many cycling incidents contain details that the algorithm can’t fully assess. For example:
- Severity of injuries: When using a compensation calculator, you can input the currently available data. However, there may be future medical expenses that only an expert can correctly estimate. Naturally, the more serious the injuries, the higher the compensation.
- Contribution: The state of Florida abides by modified comparative negligence laws, and Jacksonville does, too. A victim can recover damages after a collision even if they are 49% at fault. However, the settlement reimbursement will deduct the contributory fault percentage. For instance, if you are 25% accountable for the crash and the compensation amount is $100K, you will receive only $75K.
- Insurance coverage: Sometimes, the responsible party does not have insurance, or its limit does not cover the full amount of your losses. In situations such as these, it is crucial to seek guidance from a professional legal advisor to determine the best course of action, thereby avoiding the need for personal payment of expenses.
Settlements We Received for Our Clients
What It Takes to Prove Liability in a Jacksonville Biking Accident?
A seemingly straightforward claim may take unexpected twists and turns that can rob you of the rightful compensation. To make sure it doesn’t happen, you need to build a strong case that usually relies on four pillars:
-
Responsibility
All road users and entities have a legal obligation toward one another. It is aimed at overall traffic safety. For example, Jacksonville drivers owe other participants a duty of care not to violate existing laws and regulations, which may put others at risk.
-
Violation
When a party breaks the rules—a governmental entity does not replace a missing sign or a driver exceeds the speed limit—they breach their legal duty of care
-
Connection
One of the most critical components of a success-oriented bicycle accident case is a direct link established between the at-fault party’s negligence and the victim’s losses. You need to provide digital proof, witness statements, or expert conclusions that support your version of events.
-
Losses
Before ruling on a favorable settlement of the claim, the insurance company or the jury must be 100% sure that the damages you want to recover have a solid base. Various official reports, medical records and bills, receipts, and other documents will back up your request.
Why Choose a Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group to Handle Your Bicycle Accident in Jacksonville?
A bicycle accident often goes beyond scrapes and bruises. In the majority of bicycle accident cases, it stands for months of rehabilitation, thousands of dollars in expenses, and tiresome battles with insurance companies for the compensation you deserve. Our team of legal experts can share this burden with you so that you don’t have to fight on multiple fronts, and here’s how:
- We offer a free case evaluation so you know where you stand with your case.
- We assess the claim from multiple angles to make sure that no detail is missing and nothing can compromise the validity of your case.
- We’ll conduct a personal investigation to obtain critical evidence that will solidify your request.
- We possess in-depth knowledge of local insurance policies so that we can counteract lowball tactics that some providers may use.
- We will evaluate existing and potential future losses inflicted by the accident so that you can recover the maximum settlement.
- We don’t charge any upfront fees. Our services are provided on a contingency fee basis, which requires a previously agreed-upon payment after the claim is successfully finalized.
- If an insurance company is unwilling to issue a rightful reimbursement of your losses, we will take your case to court.
Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accident Claims in Jacksonville, FL
The state of Florida offers a two-year limit from the date of the accident, within which a victim can file a compensation request. While it may seem like a long time, you should always keep in mind that sometimes initial claims get rejected due to insufficient evidence or incorrectly filed forms, so you shouldn’t postpone the application. Besides, there are instances of customized deadlines that depend on the underlying conditions of the accident.
Contact a Jacksonville Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today!
It is hard to predict when your case can take the wrong turn and rid you of fair compensation. Insurance companies are always on the watch and ready to use every single opportunity to minimize or deny you the rightful settlement you deserve. With the right legal team at your side, you won’t have to worry about anything apart from a speedy recovery! Call us for a free consultation, and we’ll ensure that no one can take advantage of you!
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.
