Motorists and Bicyclists Must Adhere to Same Traffic Laws to Ensure Safety
As most bicyclists in the Sunshine State already know, Florida consistently ranks as one of the deadliest states in the country for bicyclists. According to 2022 data from the Florida Department of Highway and Motor Vehicle Safety, there were 213 fatalities in bicycle crashes in Florida and 6,738 accidents in which a bicyclist suffered injuries. A significant number of these accidents could have been prevented had motorists adhered more diligently to the laws governing their interactions with bicyclists, and if bicyclists themselves had been attentive to their surroundings and complied with the relevant regulations for cyclists in Florida.
Requirements for Motorists Sharing the Road with Bicyclists
In Florida, bicyclists are granted certain protections under the law, particularly in relation to motorists’ responsibilities when sharing the road with them. Drivers are required to give at least three feet of clearance when driving next to or passing a bicyclist. This crucial traffic law, aimed at safeguarding Florida’s bicyclists, is often overlooked or entirely disregarded, as motorists frequently fail to provide adequate space, if at all. In addition, bicyclists have the same rights as any motor vehicles when it comes to making a turn, meaning a car attempting a left-hand turn must yield to a bicyclist with the right of way rather than force the bicyclist to wait.
Doing Your Part to Ensure Your Own Safety by Following Florida’s Bicycle Laws
Bicyclists also have to do their part to ensure their own safety especially considering the sometimes aggressive behavior of Florida motorists, particularly on roads where there is no bike lane or sidewalk. Bicyclists do not always enjoy the right of way on Florida’s roads and must adhere to the same traffic laws as motor vehicles to ensure their safety. This includes refraining from disregarding stop signs or traffic signals. As a bicyclist in Florida, following all traffic laws, particularly obeying all traffic signals, is paramount to ensuring your safety on the road.
Contact Schwed, Adams & McGinley
If you are a cyclist and you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Florida, you will need an experienced personal injury attorney who has represented cyclists who have been injured by Florida motorists in the past in order to help you to recover maximum damages for your injuries. At the law firm of Schwed, Adams & McGinley, P.A., we have achieved great success in representing clients in collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles, and other situations in which our clients were riding a bike and were injured, during our attorneys’ 200 combined years practicing law. Contact us today at (877) 694-6079 or contact@schwedlawfirm.com for a free consultation regarding your situation.