Hit and Run Bicycle Accidents

Bicyclists, as well as pedestrians, are much more vulnerable when traveling South Florida roadways than drivers or passengers of cars or trucks. Injuries sustained by bicyclists when they are involved in a collision with a motor vehicle tend to be much more serious, and more often fatal, than those that result from a collision between two cars. Hit and run bicycle accidents are that much worse, as bicyclist victims are left, not only to seek medical attention on their own, but also feeling as if they do not have legal rights against a responsible driver. However, that is not always the case. Miami bicycle accident attorney Robert Dixon of the Law Offices of Robert Dixon assists victims in pursuing legal action following a hit and run bicycle accident. Our team can help investigate the situation and aid in locating the vehicle that was involved. We also have extensive experience dealing with insurance companies and claims arising out of such incidents involving commuter and recreational cyclists. Hit and run accidents are complex, and proper legal representation is important in helping you pursue the financial compensation you need for your injuries. Our firm represents clients throughout South Florida, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, in personal injury as well as wrongful death claims. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a bicycle accident, contact our office to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal options.

Statistical data groups pedestrians and bicyclists together in calculating fatalities that result from hit and run accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administrated has reported that approximately one out of five fatal pedestrian accidents are caused by a driver that flees the scene, a ratio that may apply to bicyclists as well. Hit and runs occur when a driver involved in an accident does not stay at the scene. Under Florida law, any motorist involved in a collision that results in injury must stop as soon as possible, and as close to scene of the accident as possible. The law also requires a driver to provide injured victims with their name and address, as well as vehicle registration numbers and driver’s license numbers. Even drivers who are uninsured must give reasonable assistance to an injured victim to ensure that they receive necessary medical attention. Someone may flee the scene of a bicycle accident for a number of reasons, including lack of proper insurance. The driver may also be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or may not even know he or she hit a bicyclist who was using the bike lane or sharing the road. The reasons for leaving an injured bicyclist are irrelevant, as that victim is now left to seek medical treatment, if they can, alone.

Although hit and run drivers still may be difficult to identify, new technology makes finding those drivers easier than in the past. Contacting the police is the first step in locating those responsible for hit and run bicyclist accidents. Through use of witnesses, cell phone recordings, street cameras and other surveillance, as well as vehicle descriptions, officers may be able to identify a hit and run driver. Even if such identification is not successful, bicycle accident victims have other options, such as through their own insurance policies.

If you have been injured in a hit and run bicycle accident, or lost a loved one in a collision of this nature, you may not know what to do. Of course, the very first step is to seek proper medical attention and notify the police. After that, it is advisable to contact a knowledgeable lawyer who can help you seek financial compensation from those responsible for harming you. The Law Offices of Robert Dixon is a personal injury firm with vast experience representing clients who have been injured in bicycle accidents, as well as other types of motor vehicle collisions. If you have questions in the aftermath of a hit and run accident, call our office at 877.499.4878 or contact us online to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with an attorney. We serve clients in communities including Miami, and West Palm Beach.