What To Do If Hit by a Car While Cycling?
Far too many cyclists are injured or killed in collisions with motor vehicles every year in Florida. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports there were 6,664 cases where a bicycle and a motor vehicle collided in a recent year, resulting in 774 incapacitating cyclist injuries and 156 deaths.
If you have been severely injured in a Gainesville bike accident, the Gainesville bicycle accident attorneys at Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano will be ready to stand up and fight for you. Keep reading to learn what to do if you are injured, or contact our office for a free initial consultation.
Classification of Cyclists Under Florida Law
Under Florida law, bicycles are considered vehicles, just like any car, truck, or motorcycle. This means that, as a cyclist, your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits under Florida’s no-fault insurance law should cover your injuries up to the limits of your policy. However, you might also be able to recover additional compensation from the driver who hit you, provided your injuries meet certain thresholds set by state statute.
What to Do After an Accident
The essential steps you should take if involved in a car and bike accident include:
- Call 911 to bring police and emergency medical personnel to the scene
- Get the name, contact information, license plate number, and insurance information from the driver who hit you
- Take pictures of your injuries, the car that hit you, the damage to your bike, and the area around the crash site
- Save all your medical records
- Do not say anything to the other driver’s insurance company
- Hire a personal injury attorney
How Will Your Medical Bills Be Paid?
Under Florida’s no-fault insurance law, all drivers are required to carry a minimum amount of PIP benefits. If you have an auto insurance policy, you could turn to these benefits to cover your medical bills, along with certain other expenses after a bike accident.
However, many people have fairly low coverage limits on their PIP benefits, or a cyclist may not have an auto policy. If this is the case for you, you might need to look for other insurance options to cover your losses. Your homeowner’s insurance policy might cover specific kinds of property losses, such as the damage to your bike. If you have medical bills not covered by your PIP benefits, you could potentially use your personal health insurance policy to cover the expenses.
Finally, you could potentially turn to your uninsured motorist coverage if you are hit by a driver who does not carry insurance or flees the scene. However, uninsured motorist coverage is an optional add-on in Florida, so you may not have this coverage.
Other Damages You Might Be Able to Receive
If a negligent driver hits you while you are cycling, you can potentially recover compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- Damaged personal property
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional pain and suffering
How a Gainesville Accident Lawyer Can Help
The Gainesville bike accident attorneys at Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano represent cyclists who have been hurt by negligent motorists. Our award-winning lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience fighting for Gainesville residents who have been injured. Call us or reach out to us online now to get the aggressive representation you deserve.