Bicycle accidents in Florida happen more than we would like to think. In fact, 677 bicyclists were killed and 48,000 were injured nationwide in 2011, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Florida accounted for 125 of the bicycle traffic fatalities during that year.
While any bicycle accident can be serious, hit-and-run bicycle accidents are simply horrific. When drivers do not stop and check on cyclists they hit, but rather continue traveling down the road, it is downright despicable. Sadly, many bicyclists are victims of hit-and-run accidents in Florida and nationwide.
There are many reasons why drivers choose to flee accident scenes instead of stopping, including:
- Driving intoxicated
- Driving without a license
- Driving without insurance
- Texting while driving
- Breaking other road rules
Typically, drivers who hit cyclists choose to flee because they are negligent, aggressive, drunk, drowsy, distracted, or are breaking the law. They fear being punished. When the driver leaves an accident scene, a bicyclist has often suffered serious injuries and is in need of medical attention. Some of the injuries a cyclist can sustain in a Sarasota bicycle accident include:
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- Broken bones
- Knee injury (e.g., ACL tear, torn meniscus)
- Femur fracture
- Herniated disc injury
- Broken ribs
- Broken collarbone
- Spinal cord injury
- Disfigurement
- Paralysis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Death
No cyclist ever knows if he or she will be struck by a hit-and-run driver and injured. Therefore, it is best for all cyclists to wear bicycle helmets, even if the law does not require it. Additionally, injured cyclists should do their best to take note of the color, make and model of the car, as well as any other information about the vehicle or the driver involved. Cyclists injured by hit-and-run drivers should quickly call police to take an incident report, investigate, and track down the driver who fled the scene.
Following a trip to the emergency room, injured bicyclists should also contact an experienced Sarasota bike accident attorney for legal advice. Many cyclists who have been struck by drivers who fled do not realize that they still have options to make a financial recovery, and a skilled injury lawyer can help explain your rights. To find out more, contact Mallard Perez following a Sarasota bicycle accident injury at 888-409-3805 for a free consultation.
