An increase in Florida bicycle accidents leaves some looking for answers

June 26, 2013

An increase in Florida bicycle accidents leaves some looking for answers

Article provided by Ingram & Eno, P.A.
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When bicycle accidents on Clearwater's Memorial Causeway Bridge spiked, officials formed a task force to examine the bridge's structure, blueprints, accessibility, safety, traffic rates and layout looking for answers. Some preliminary findings from the task force indicate that they are having a hard time finding a definite causal link between the bridge itself and the higher accident rate.

A recent Tampa Bay Times article about the task force has shined some light on the problem and ruled out a few possible causes for crashes. While the elevation of the bridge does lend itself to higher bike speeds when transitioning to flat roadway again, and there are some roadway surface issues at those same transition points, there are no glaring flaws in the design or construction of the bridge itself that would explain a bump in accident frequency. Since no answer is yet forthcoming, presumably the task force will continue in their search for answers.

Not just a local problem

The issue of bike accidents is not limited to Clearwater, and it's not even limited to just Florida. There are hundreds of fatal bicycle crashes annually across the nation, and hundreds of thousands of injury-causing accidents. These cause an estimated $4 to $5 billion annually nationwide in the form of medical bills, lost wages, property damage and other associated expenses.

Keeping bicyclists safe

Given Florida's temperate climate and gorgeous scenery, as well as high gas prices and global concern about the environment, it is no surprise that there are thousands of bicycles sharing the state's roads each day. Great strides have been made in pedestrian and bicycle safety in recent years as well, with many cities now offering dedicated bike lanes, an increase in public awareness of bicycle traffic and financial incentives for communities (and individuals) who ride instead of drive.

That being said, though, there are still many ways in which the safety of bicyclists and motorists alike can be improved. Drivers sharing the road with bikers, particularly in areas of high bike traffic, should always check their "blind spots" for bicyclists before opening doors, pulling away from the curb, making turns and proceeding through yellow traffic lights.

Bicyclists can also play a role in protecting themselves by:
-Wearing bright colors during the day
-Wearing reflective clothing (or using reflective tape on the bike itself) at night
-Using headlights and taillights (if available) all the time
-Wearing helmets, proper-fitting shoes and other protective gear
-Staying in dedicated bike lanes as much as possible
-Properly obeying traffic regulations, and avoiding the temptation to swerve in and out of slow-moving traffic

Even bicyclists with the best of intentions (who took strides to keep themselves safe) are still sometimes involved in serious bike accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, speak with an experienced Florida personal injury attorney in your area to learn more about your legal rights and options.