Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

Spring in Florida brings with it clear skies and warm days. Just around the corner, summer, with its days of ice cream and long nights is waiting. That means that both motorists and parents need to be alert to the fact that in a few short weeks children will be bicycling, skateboarding and skating on Florida’s streets, often only a few feet or inches from fast-moving vehicles.

Children with bicycles can be a cause of worry for parents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 750 bicyclists were killed annually between 1995 and 2000. According to The Safe Kids U.S. Summer Safety Ranking Report, 2,143 children died in the summer months (May 1st to August 31st) in 2004 due to largely preventable injuries. This averages out to about 17 children a day.

When it comes to summer injuries, bicycles are a big factor. According to The Safe Kids U.S. Summer Safety Ranking Report, preventable injuries to children spike seriously in the summer. Bicycle injuries can lead to paralysis, brain damage, spinal cord injury, and other serious disabilities. Worse, the report finds that bicycle accidents are the second most common cause of childhood death and injury during the summer months. In fact, childhood injuries and deaths related to bicycling increase 45% in the summer over the annual monthly average during the rest of the year.

Based on the findings of this report, Safe Kids Worldwide has suggested that parents take some precautions when school lets out. Parents can reduce the possibility of bicycle injuries by:

*Supervising. Parental or adult supervision can reduce childhood bicycle accidents and can ensure that quick help is available in case an accident does take place.

*Setting boundaries. Children who play in their own backyards are close to help in case they need it. Plus, Florida has many biking and hiking trails that can take young bicyclists off the roads and away from motorists.

*Choosing the right helmet. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a properly-fitted helmet has cut the risk of brain injury by up to 88 percent. If you are not sure what sort of helmet is right for your child, speak to a professional.

*Staying aware of unsafe products. Product recalls and reports of defective products are common today. Make sure that your child is not riding a bike that has been reported unsafe and is not wearing a helmet that has been recalled.

*Teaching children the rules of the road. Make sure that your children know how to ride bicycles safely.

The state of Florida has a number of laws surrounding the bicycle, which in the state is legally defined as a vehicle. Florida attorneys, police officers, and doctors all agree that if more bicyclists adhered to the rules of the road, there would be fewer bicycle accidents on the roads each year. Florida’s cities and municipalities have their own ordinances about bicycles. Copies of these ordinances can be obtained from the local law enforcement agencies. It is also important for bicyclists to become familiar with the state regulations regarding bicycles. Some highlights of these laws include:

Section 316.2065, F.S. (Regulations Regarding Bicycles):

*Like drivers of other vehicles, bicyclists have to obey all traffic laws, controls and signals.

*Each bicycle can only carry the number of people for which the bicycle was designed.

*Each bicycle must have a fixed, regular seat when in use.

*Each bicycle must have functioning brakes. These brakes must allow the bicycle to stop within 25 feet when riding at 10 miles per hour.

*At least one hand of the bicyclist must be kept on the handlebars at all times while the bicycle is being used.

Section 316.2065, F.S. (Regulations About Riding on Sidewalks):

*If a bicyclist chooses to ride on sidewalks, the bicyclist has the same responsibilities and rights as a pedestrian.

*Bicyclists on sidewalks must give an audible signal before passing pedestrians and must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.

Section 316.2065, F.S. (Regulations About Lighting):

*Any bicycle ridden between sunset and sunrise must have, at absolute minimum, be a front white light that is visible from 500 feet and a red reflector and a red light on the rear that is visible from 600 feet. Additional lighting can greatly enhance safety.

Section 316.2065, F.S. (Regulations Regarding Roadway Position)

*If a bicyclist is not traveling at the speed of traffic he or she must ride near the right-hand curb of the road. The bicyclist may only leave this portion when passing, when making a left turn, or when striving to avoid road hazards.

*A bicyclist riding on a one-way street with may ride near the left-hand edge of the road.

*Bicyclists who are riding together can ride no more than two abreast unless on bicycle-only paths. If on a roadway where two abreast interferes with the normal flow of traffic, bicyclists shall ride single file

Sub-section 316.155(2) and 316.157(2), F.S. (Regulations About Signaling Turns)

*About 100 feet before an intended turn, the bicyclist must signal for the turn.

*A bicyclist must signal a turn right by extending the left hand and arm up or by extending the right hand and arm to the right side of the bicycle horizontally.

Other regulations may apply. Bicyclists should make themselves aware of the laws of their state and parents teaching their children to ride a bicycle are responsible for teaching their children safety rules and laws. Local law enforcement and local bicycle clubs have full details surrounding laws.

The University of Florida Police Department has registered more than 30 000 bicycles, which is quite a considerable number for a campus with over 50,000 faculty, staff and students. Earlier this month, the University of Florida also worked to increase awareness about bicycle safety, to curb the bicycle accidents that can happen on the busy campus.

The University passed out flyers and the campus newspaper published stories to draw attention to the issue. According to the University of Florida Police Department, a key problem on campus are bicycle-pedestrian collisions. This is simply because many students and faculty walking to and from class as well as many bicyclists rushing to the same classes can create accidents. Although pedestrian-bicycle accidents are rarely fatal, they can be a cause of personal injuries.

Of course, when students and other members of the University of Florida take their bicycles on the road, off-campus or onto the campus areas where cars are more frequent, fatal accidents can occur. Whether trying to prevent motorist-bicycle accidents or pedestrian-bicycle accidents, the University of Florida Police Department has the same message to everyone on campus: Remain aware of surroundings. According to the University of Florida Police Department, most collisions involving bicycles could be avoided if bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists all showed greater caution and greater awareness of what is going on around them.

One of the major culprits, according to campus authorities, are cell phones, and other distractions. Many students will chat on their phones, eat their lunches, listen to ipods and otherwise distract themselves while riding bicycles. This can dramatically reduce response time and can create any number of dangerous situations.

Another problem that the University of Florida Police Department sees is to have a warning system on hand. When coming up behind a pedestrian, it is mandatory to give warning, either with a bike bell or verbally. Otherwise, the University of Florida Police Department advises that everyone stay in designated pedestrian or bicycle lanes and generally exercise some caution. Since bicycle accidents can lead to brain injuries and other serious injuries, the University of Florida Police Department offers special classes to those bicyclists who have at least one citation.