Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog

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