Rear-End Bicycle Accidents

Drivers are often impatient when it comes to sharing the road with a bicyclist. As such, they may engage in actions like following the bicycle too closely, or trying to speed around the cyclist, along with other maneuvers that put these cyclists in danger. Rear-end bicycle accidents can occur when a motorist loses his or her patience, or is just distracted, speeding, or otherwise acting negligently. When a rear-end bicycle accident occurs, serious injuries often result, and those responsible for such harm should be held accountable. The Miami bicycle accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon are dedicated to making sure victims receive the financial compensation they need in order to cope with the costs of recovery. We understand the stress of being involved in this type of accident, and the ongoing struggle victims face in recovery and rehabilitation from their injuries. As such, we make sure to provide the utmost compassionate and comprehensive legal representation possible for our clients during this time. Our firm assists victims injured in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County, as well as throughout the South Florida area. If you’ve been injured, or a loved one has passed due to a rear-end bicycle accident, please contact our office today to schedule a free consultation to speak with a lawyer.

When a motor vehicle hits a bicyclist from behind, the result is often devastating for the bicyclist, due to their lack of protection while on a bike. A rider can either be thrust forward and be injured by their own bike or be ejected over their handlebars into another vehicle in front of them or on to the pavement. In heavily populated areas like Miami and the surrounding South Florida cities, many bicycles share the roads with cars, increasing the likelihood of collisions. The most common causes of a rear-end bicycle accidents include:

• Left hand turns. If a cyclist is moving into traffic in order to maneuver to the left lane and turn left, they are often vulnerable to being rear-ended.
• Lack of bike lanes. Not all roads have a designated bike lane, therefore cyclists often share the road with vehicles in traffic. This increases the likelihood of a car hitting a bicyclist and causing a rear-end accident.
• Distracted drivers. Motorists who are distracted by a phone, eating, or just their own thoughts, can veer into a bike lane and collide with a cyclist.

Many of these kinds of accidents are preventable if a driver exercises the due care they are supposed to while behind the wheel. Therefore, when these irresponsible drivers cause another’s injury with their negligence, they should be held responsible.

Cyclists injured in a rear-end accident can suffer broken bones, head trauma, and other injuries that have a significant financial impact exceeding what insurance benefits, if any, are available to them. If a bicycle accident is caused by another motorist’s negligence, a victim may pursue a personal injury claim in order to recover compensation for expenses related to their injuries. To show negligence a plaintiff-victim must establish that the defendant breached his or her duty of reasonable care, causing the plaintiff’s injuries, which resulted in damages. For instance, if a motorist is texting while driving, swerves into the bike lane and hits a cyclist, that motorist would likely be found to have not acted as a reasonable and prudent driver under the law. Bicyclists have the same rights to the road as drivers of motor vehicles, and when a driver violates those rights, he or she can be liable for any resulting medical costs, loss of income, lost earning capacity, or damages that a victim of any other accident endures.

Serious injuries that occur from bicycle accidents take time to heal, some of which cause permanent impairment or even death. Making sure victims and families have the financial support to aid in this healing is our first priority. If you have questions regarding your legal options in the aftermath of a bicycle collision, call the attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon at 877.499.4878, or contact us online today to set up a free, no obligation consultation to learn more about how we can help.