Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
A bicyclist from Cape Coral was recently released from Lee Memorial Hospital following a September accident on Northeast Pine Island Road, according to the Fort Myers Beach Observer.
According to officers, the bicyclist was heading west on Pine Island Road inside the marked bicycle lane when a passing SUV drifted over and hit the bicyclist. The bicyclist was thrown from his bike and landed on the windshield of the SUV. It all happened at about 7:00 p.m. He was transported to the hospital with life-threatening head injuries and was trauma-alerted in critical condition.
Our Cape Coral bicycle accident lawyers understand that there have been nearly 20 traffic accident fatalities in Cape Coral already this year. In 2012, the city recorded only 10 traffic accident fatalities; 11 in 2011. Clearly, we’re not doing so well this year. Think of it this way: Every trip begins and ends by walking and/or biking, so every effort should be made to ensure that pedestrians and bicyclists remain safe out there.
Florida Safety Facts:
-Florida’s bicycle fatality rate (per 100,000 people) is 6.52 per million, and that’s three times the national average.
-Florida’s pedestrian fatality rate of 2.19 per 100,000 is almost double the national average.
-From 2007 to 2009, nearly 60 pedestrian and cyclists have died on Lee County streets.
-Lee County ranks 23rd out of the 360 metro areas in the nation when it comes to being hazardous for walkers.
-Close to 10 percent of U.S. households do not own an automobile. For Florida households that number is 8 percent and for the City of Fort Myers it is approximately 20 percent.
In the state of Florida, bicyclists have the same rights to the roadways as motorists and they are required to obey the same traffic laws. These laws include stopping for stop signs and red lights, riding with the flow of traffic, using lights at night, yielding the right-of-way when entering a roadway and yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks.
One of our most common problems is getting drivers to recognize these rights. Motorists need to not only be aware of bicyclists along our roadways, but to treat them the same as any other driver.
We encourage all road users, including motorists and bicyclists, to respect each other and foster a safer transportation environment. Remember that a car weighs 2 tons or so, while the average bike is a mere 20 pounds. In any collision, any physical interaction between car and bike, the bike always loses.
If you can pinpoint the moment when a bicyclist is starting to irritate you – because you can’t see where he is going or because he’s moving slowly and is making you late – picture him as a family member or friend. That might calm you down.
Work together and stay safe.
Call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-800-646-1210.
More Blog Entries:
Lee County Officials Target Bicycle Safety, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, May 13, 2013
South Florida Bicycle Crash Reduction Goal of $10.5M Grant, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, September 18, 2013
