Articles Posted in Bicycle Accident

On Thursday morning, a car struck and killed a 15-year-old cyclist close to Thompson Avenue and Kitten Trail in Hudson, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The collision occurred near Hudson High School shortly after 6:30 a.m.

According to troopers, a 31-year-old Hudson man was driving eastbound on Kitten Trail in a Dodge Charger when he collided with the rear of the bicycle. The motorist apparently failed to notice the teen boy because it was dark outside.

According to officials, the teenager was brought to a nearby hospital where he eventually passed away from his injuries.

This is the second accident with a week that has involved a teen bicyclist in the Tampa Bay area.

Last week, a 15-year-old boy was struck by a school bus while riding his bike near Pipkin Road in Lakeland just before 7 a.m.

The Central Florida Aerospace Academy student was taken to Lakeland Regional Health where he was pronounced dead.

These two incidents reinforce the need for parents and caregivers to talk to their teens about bike safety. Here are a few tips from our Tampa Bay Area Bicycle Accident Injury and Death Lawyers about bicycle safety for everyone.

• Wear a helmet. Bicycle-related incidents cause serious injuries to many individuals in the US each year, most of which might have been prevented with the use of a helmet. Make sure you wear a properly fitting helmet on every ride to avoid injury to the brain. Ensure that the interior of the helmet bears a Snell or CPSC sticker. These indicate that the helmet satisfies requirements established by reliable safety organizations.
• Respect traffic signals and stop at all stop signs, just like you would in a car. You should always yield to pedestrians, stop at red lights, and be extra cautious when navigating intersections.
• Ride in the same direction as cars. Never ride in the opposite direction of traffic.
• Whenever possible, ride in bike lanes or on approved bike routes; not the sidewalk.
• When pulling out of a driveway, alley, or curb, always stop and look both ways for traffic.
• Always use the crosswalk and heed traffic signals when cycling across busy intersections.
• Avoid riding too close to parked vehicles as doors may unexpectedly open.
• Avoid cycling after dark or at dusk.
• Always pass to the left of other bikers or persons on the street, and yell, “On your left!” to alert them to your presence.
• There should only be one person riding a bike at a time; never share a seat or ride on the handlebars. When traveling with a passenger, it is easy to lose your balance or abruptly swerve into oncoming traffic.
• Never wear headphones while biking — it is very important to always hear everyone else on the road.
• Signal stops and turns. All signals should be made using your left arm:

Turn left: Hold your arm straight out to the left and ride forward at a leisurely pace after looking behind you.

Stop: After looking behind you, make an upside-down “L” shape with your arm pointed downward and bend your elbow to stop.

Right turn: Check your blind spots and then steadily accelerate ahead while bending your elbow and raising your arm in a “L” form. (Alternatively, extend your right arm straight from your side body.) Continue reading

To help increase traffic safety, the city of Tampa is announcing new “quick build” initiatives, which includes new bike lanes.

Ybor City’s Avenida de Cuba (14th Street) now has bike lanes and parking. They are a component of Tampa’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to end traffic fatalities.

These new bike lanes extend through Columbus Drive to Lake Avenue in the V.M. Ybor Neighborhood, which has historically been a dangerous area.

Cyclists in the area are praising the new bike lanes, stating that anyone can use them comfortably, no matter your age or if you are biking to work, a sports cyclist, a young child getting some exercise, or even those riding scooters.

The city is funding these renovations with grant money from the US Department of Transportation’s new Safe Streets For All program, which was given to the city earlier this year.

Data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) shows that in 2022 Hillsborough County saw 305 bicycle accidents, resulting in 14 deaths and 271 injuries. In Pinellas County for the same year, 388 bicycle crashes were reported resulting in 9 deaths and 374 injuries.

What Should You Do After a Bicycle Collision in Tampa?

Following a bike accident, you must first assess any physical injuries you may have received and seek necessary medical care. After that, get in touch with our Tampa Bicycle Accident Attorneys Whittel & Melton so that our experienced personal injury attorneys can guide you through the next steps. In Florida, your medical costs and lost wages should be covered by personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. We can explain more about your coverage options when you contact us for a free consultation. To properly submit a claim, we will need detailed records of the incident, including the following information:

• Accident date, time, and place
• How the accident happened (as you remember it)
• Statements from witnesses and/or a police report
• Pictures or videos showing the scene of the accident
• Pictures of the injuries you received, as well as damage done to your bike

An accident involving a bicycle might have many causes. The most frequent reasons for bicycle accidents are inattentive driving, wayward turns, dooring, crashes in driveways, bad weather, and intoxicated driving. Continue reading