Miami Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Miami’s streets get busy very quickly, which also makes them potentially dangerous. In fact, at one point Miami-Dade County had the highest number of pedestrian and bicycle crashes in Florida — and it continues to see a high number of bicycle accidents compared to other parts of the country. If you’ve been injured in a bike accident in Miami through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, though, recovering financially is often just as difficult as recovering physically. The legal process is complex, and insurance companies do everything they can to minimize claim payouts. This is where the experienced Miami bicycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner can help. 

While bike accidents can have profound consequences, partnering with the right legal team can significantly improve your chances of securing the financial support — and the justice — necessary for a full recovery. The bike injury claim process involves strict deadlines, extensive documentation, and negotiations with insurance companies who prioritize their bottom lines over yours. However, the skilled bicycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner possess the resources to thoroughly investigate your case, gather compelling evidence, and build the strongest argument possible to maximize your compensation.

Why You Need a Miami Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Due to the risky nature of bicycle usage on roads shared with much larger vehicles, accidents resulting in injuries can happen easily. In these situations, it’s important to work with a legal advocate who understands the nuances of both the local law and your damages. 

Steinger, Greene & Feiner work with victims in Miami, specifically, so we know how to navigate Florida law like we do its roads and bike paths. If you’ve ever biked uphill, you know what a challenge it can be. Insurance companies often present bike accident victims with similar uphill battles while seeking compensation for their injury claims. To minimize their financial liability, they will often question the severity of injuries, dispute the link between the bike accident and the injuries claimed, and extend a low settlement offer.

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we’re dedicated to advocating for bike accident victims in Miami by protecting their rights and fighting for the compensation they deserve when insurance companies won’t. 

A proficient bike injury lawyer can:

• Provide courtroom representation if needed
• Investigate the incident thoroughly
• Pursue claims against negligent parties
• Collect and analyze evidence used to justify your claim
• Seek compensation for injuries, damages, and suffering
• Handle negotiations with insurance providers

Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Miami

Bicycle accidents are all too common in Miami — and all too serious. Certain aspects of bicycle design contribute to increased rider risks, and we know firsthand that bicycle accidents can occur for a variety of different reasons.

Distracted driving — that is, engaging in any sort of activity that diverts one’s attention from driving — is one of the most common causes of bicycle accidents. It is so common that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles partnered with law enforcement to make it illegal for drivers to text on their wireless devices while driving.

Some of the other most common causes of bicycle accidents in Miami include:

1. Drunk Driving

Intoxicated driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, dulls the senses and slows reaction times, impairing decision-making abilities.

2. Speeding and Reckless Driving

Running late for an appointment is no excuse for excessive speeding or reckless driving. Accidents resulting from these sorts of behaviors usually result in more severe damage to both the body and the vehicle. 

3. Failure to Yield

Failing to abide by the rules of the road ‚— such as disregarding traffic signs or ignoring right-of-way — can result in severe consequences for you and other motorists or pedestrians on the road. Since bicycles are smaller than the other vehicles around you, they may be more difficult to see. Always be alert for cyclists on the shoulders of the road or in crosswalks.

Injuries Commonly Sustained in Bicycle Accidents

Because of the size disparity between bicycles and vehicles on the road,  injuries resulting from bike accidents can be severe and require immediate or ongoing medical care.

Some of the most common injuries in bicycle accidents include:

• Fractures, or Broken Bones
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Lacerations
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Death

If you or someone you care about was injured on a bike after being struck by a vehicle, call the bicycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene, and Feiner immediately. Recovering from these types of personal injuries takes time and money. We give you both. We’ll save you time otherwise spent navigating the legal complexities of your injury claim, and we’ll make sure that you’re awarded the maximum compensation possible to pay for costly medical expenses related to your injuries.

Steps to Take After a Bicycle Accident

Safety should be your priority following a bicycle accident. Call 911 or the Miami Police Department to report the accident and receive prompt medical care — no matter how insignificant your injuries may seem. Your medical report initiates a paper trail documenting your injuries which may later prove useful in your claim or if you sustained a long-term injury whose symptoms don’t appear right away. 

Next, you should document the accident. Use your cell phone to capture eyewitness accounts and record videos of the damaged vehicles and surrounding accident scene. Take photos of any injuries you or a loved one may have sustained and communicate with others involved, noting their contact and insurance information.

Last, contact a reputable bike accident lawyer for assistance navigating the legal intricacies involved with accidents. They will help you with the next steps in your recovery by making sure you receive the highest compensation possible for damages sustained. A savvy bike injury lawyer will advise you to never admit fault at the scene of the accident. You should avoid discussing your case with anyone but your lawyer — and never post anything about it on social media. Anything you say or post publicly can and will be used by the opposing counsel to diminish your case. Your attorney-client relationship, on the other hand, is confidential.  

At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our Miami bicycle accident lawyers fight relentlessly for your rights to help you recover physically and financially from your injuries. 

How a Miami Bicycle Accident Lawyer Can Help

The bicycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner take a professional approach when counseling bike victims in Miami.

The process starts with a free consultation in which we take time to learn about you and the circumstances of your bicycle accident so that we can provide sound legal advice and guidance. Our conversation will inform the scope of your injury claim, which we will then help you file with your insurance company. While claim values vary based on the severity and circumstances of the accident, we fight to maximize your compensation for complete financial recovery.

Next, we conduct a thorough investigation, gathering key evidence like police and medical reports, photos/videos, eyewitness statements, expert testimony, and interviews with your family. This evidence is used to calculate damages. It is the foundation of your claim and will later be used as leverage during negotiations with your insurance company. 

Never provide your insurance company with a recorded statement or accept their settlement offer before consulting with an attorney. Insurers’ first offers are notoriously low, and accepting them forfeits your opportunity for a better, more fair amount. Instead, contact the reputable Miami bicycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner.

Determining Liability in Bicycle Accidents

Depending on the outcome of negotiations with insurance companies — as well as other circumstances of your case — we will advise if you should file a lawsuit to prove your offender’s negligence in court where we will represent on your behalf. 

Negligence is defined as a failure to act with a reasonable duty of care resulting in harm, and it plays a significant role in determining fault and liability. Holding negligent parties accountable in court not only upholds justice; it also makes Miami a safer place by preventing similar accidents from occurring in the future.

To prove negligence in a bicycle accident case, the victim and their lawyer must demonstrate:

• The driver owed a duty of care to the bicyclist and other road users.
• The driver breached this duty of care through action or inaction.
• The breach directly resulted in the accident and subsequent bicyclist injury.

If you were partially responsible for the accident that caused your injury, Florida adheres to the standard of modified comparative negligence. This legal principle allows for a nuanced determination of fault, acknowledging that both the driver and bicyclist may bear responsibility if both parties acted negligently. For instance — in a scenario where a bicyclist is not adhering to traffic laws and is struck by a distracted driver, the court may determine shared responsibility for the resulting accident and disperse compensation accordingly.

Types of Compensation Available

The compensation you’re eligible to receive from your personal injury case will vary depending on the type of case. It will also depend on the nature and extent of your injuries. The bike injury lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner will discuss the details of your case and give you an estimate based on similar cases that they’ve handled. 

There are several types of damages from which you can seek compensation in a bike injury case:

• Economic: These are measurable losses with a monetary value. Common examples include medical expenses, rehabilitative care, property damage, lost wages, mental health treatment, and prescription medication.
• Non-Economic: These are intangible losses that affect a person’s well-being but have no direct monetary repercussions. Common examples include pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional trauma, scarring and disfigurement, amputation, and loss of companionship or consortium.
• Punitive: Punitive damages don’t seek compensation for losses but instead are awarded in cases of gross negligence to discourage future misconduct by the defendant. To qualify for punitive damages, your lawyer must provide convincing evidence of the defendant’s wilful wrongdoing. The maximum amount of punitive damages permitted by Florida law is $500,000 or 3x your compensatory damages — whichever amount is greater.

The Miami bicycle accident lawyers at  Steinger, Greene & Feiner will prove damages by gathering as much evidence as possible, including pictures/videos, eyewitness testimony, expert testimonies and projections, and even character witnesses from family and friends. With evidence on our side, we make sure the compensation you’re awarded reflects the total damages you suffered.

Statute of Limitations for Bicycle Accident Claims In Florida

If you’ve been injured in a bike accident, it’s important to seek legal action promptly. Every state has its statute of limitations which confines the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases is two years, which means you have two years from the date of the accident (or the date you discovered your injuries) to file a lawsuit against the defendant. 

If you file a lawsuit once the statute of limitations has expired, you forfeit any compensation you might have otherwise received. That said, act quickly to preserve your rights and maximize compensation. 

Contact the bicycle accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner today. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you sue if you get hit by a car on a bike?

Yes — if you’ve been hit by a car while riding a bike, you may be eligible for compensation related to your injuries. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we’ve helped over 32,000 injury victims obtain justice by holding negligent parties accountable and awarding victims the maximum compensation they’re owed under Florida law. Our case results speak for themselves.

Does car insurance cover bicycle accidents?

In no-fault states like Florida, car insurance typically covers cyclists injured in accidents with motorists through uninsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection. Additionally, cyclists may be covered by personal health insurance or bicycle-specific coverage through homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policies.

In Florida, drivers must carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP). The state requires initial claims to be filed through the policyholder’s insurance. Due to the high rate of uninsured drivers in Florida, uninsured motorist coverage is highly advisable. When filing an insurance claim, cyclists must have made contact with the at-fault vehicle, and a police report must be filed.

Get Expert Representation from a Miami Bicycle Accident Lawyer

If you’ve been injured in a bike accident and are wondering how you’re going to pay for all your medical expenses, we provide guidance. The resourceful Miami bike accident lawyers at Steinger, Greene & Feiner will put an end to the stress of uncertainty and get you started on the road to recovery. 

We relieve you of the burden that comes with navigating complex legal processes and insurance negotiations. While insurance companies add insult to your injuries with questionable strategies aimed at minimizing payouts, we’re your advocate for maximum compensation. With decades of experience on our side, we’re by your side. Contact Steinger, Greene & Feine for a consultation today.