South Florida Accident Attorneys Encourage Motorists To Share The Road
When is the last time you drove by a yellow diamond-shape sign with a picture of a bicycle on it reminding motorists and cyclists to share the road? If you remember or know where one is, you should be commended because you are in the minority. Unfortunately, most drivers don’t even remember the last time they saw a sign like this because they don’t focus on sharing the road with bicycles. They think about themselves – where they are going, if they are running late, etc.
The sad fact is that most motorists do not know how to share the road with cyclists very well because they are not taught the right way or because they don’t realize the seriousness of the outcome of their actions. When drivers of motor vehicles break road rules and endanger bicyclists, they can cause serious injuries and even fatalities as a result of their poor choices.
Motorists have been known to cause a South Florida bicycle accident by doing the following:
- Driving distracted
- Speeding
- Not leaving enough distance to pass
- Drifting to the right of their lane
- Running a red light
- Not completely stopping before turning
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Pulling out in front of a cyclist
Although the majority of cycling accidents are caused by drivers of motor vehicles, some bike crashes in Florida are caused by cyclists themselves or from road hazards. In order to try and avoid a Broward County bicycle accident with a motor vehicle, the Broward Sheriff’s Office has tips to remind cyclists what to do to share the road and stay safe that include:
- Wearing a helmet that complies with Snell, ASTM or ANSI standards
- Staying visible by wearing bright clothing
- Making sure your bike is well maintained
- Verifying that you reflectors and lights work
- Watching out for potholes
- Staying alert for vehicles
- Riding in the same direction as traffic
- Staying on marked paths when possible
- Keeping one hand on the handlebars at any given time
- Learning the proper hand signals
- Using the right hand signals in traffic
Sharing the road is an important message that both motorists and cyclists alike need to learn and follow. When people do not share the road, Broward County bicycle crashes can take place and lead to critical injuries.
If you have been injured in a South Florida bike accident due to no fault of your own, you need to talk with a skilled Broward County bicycle accident lawyer to find out about your rights to a financial recovery. You can reach the Law Offices of David Benenfeld at 954-677-0155 to request a free consultation today.
