Bicycles are an environmentally friendly way to get around, and they are growing in popularity. Bicycles are also a great source of exercise, and with the rise in health consciousness across the United States, bicycle popularity is at an all-time high. This increase in popularity has led many cities, Tampa included, to add biking lanes and make the roads more biker-friendly. However, cyclists are still at high risk for accidents on the road. 

Bicycle accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Since bicycles are smaller than cars, they can easily go unnoticed by motorists, leading to collisions. Accidents can happen when a motorist absentmindedly opens their door in the path of the cyclist, when they pull out of the driveway, or when making a turn as a cyclist is trying to cross the street. Regardless of the cause, any accident involving a bicycle can lead to serious injury. The victim of a bicycle accident may come away with broken bones, fractures, concussion, road rash, or any number of other injuries. These injuries accumulate and translate to thousands of dollars of medical bills at the cyclist’s expense.  

According to Floride law, a bicycle is defined as a vehicle, and the cyclist as a driver. This means that cyclists have the same responsibilities as every motorist on the road. These responsibilities include stopping at stop signs/red lights, riding with the flow of traffic, stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks, yielding to the right-of-way when entering a roadway, as well as all other responsibilities bestowed onto all Florida drivers. It is the responsibility of the cyclist as well as the motorist to keep the roads safe for all. However, drivers of cars and trucks are often less vigilant of drivers than cyclists are of the motor vehicles on the road. 

If you or a loved one find yourself involved in a bicycle accident, you’re going to need a team that fights for you. For a Tampa bicycle accident attorney that knows the law and wants to get the compensation you deserve, call Esposito Law Firm P.A. right now.