Bicycle Accidents – Insurance Coverage and Florida’s Rules of the Road

Each year, thousands of people are tragically injured or killed in bicycle accidents across the country.  Florida, with its year-round biking weather, leads the nation in bicycle accidents and fatalities.  Unfortunately, statistics show that bicycle accidents are on the rise despite increased bicycle safety awareness campaigns. 

The most serious bicycle accidents are those involving collisions with motor vehicles.  Motorists and bicyclists both play a vital role in preventing these types of collisions.  Florida has specific laws aimed at keeping these types of crashes from occurring.  These laws can be found in the Florida Driver’s License Handbook, and some of them may surprise you. 

Rules for Bicyclists:

1.       Like motorists, bicyclists must obey all traffic controls and signals except when an officer is directing traffic.

2.      Unlike motorists, bicyclists may also operate on sidewalks, but they must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and in crosswalks and must give an audible signal before passing pedestrians. 

3.      If bicyclists are not traveling at the speed of other traffic, they must use the bike lane, and if no bike lane is available, they must stay on the right-most side of the road.

4.      Bicyclists may ride out of the bike lane into the travel lane for their own safety due to narrow roads, to avoid obstacles or pavement hazards, or to prepare for a left turn.  

5.      Bicyclists may use the full lane even while traveling substantially below the speed of traffic if the lane is too narrow for both a car and bicycle to share.  

6.      When operating a bicycle on a one-way street with two or more traffic lanes, bicyclists may ride on the left-hand side of the road.

7.      Bicyclists must use directional hand signals to show other drivers that they are about to turn.

8.     Bicyclists must never attach themselves or their bike to any vehicle on the roadway.

9.      Between sunset and sunrise, bicyclists must have a white light visible from 500 feet on the front of their bicycle and a red reflector and a red light visible from 600 feet on the rear.

10.  Bicyclists must have brakes which can stop their bike within 25 feet from a speed of 10 MPH.

11.   All bicyclists and passengers under age 16 are required to wear helmets that meet federal safety standards.

12.  If bicyclists are transporting a child under age four, or who weighs 40 pounds or less, they must use a backpack/sling, child seat, or trailer designed to carry children.

13.  Bicyclists must not leave a child in a seat or carrier when they are not in immediate control of the bicycle.

14.  If bicyclists are riding with others, they may not ride more than two side-by-side unless it is a path or part of a roadway reserved for bicycles. They must ride single file if they and the other rider are impeding traffic.

15.  Bicyclists must not wear headphones/ear-buds while bicycling on the roadway.

16.  Bicyclists must not ride a bicycle when under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Rules for Motorists:

1.       Motorists must give bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance and use caution/slow speed when driving alongside or passing them.

2.      On a two-lane road, motorists must pass a bicyclist as they would a slow-moving vehicle, and only when it is safe to do so.

3.      At intersections, motorists must always assume that bicyclists are traveling straight unless they signal otherwise. Motorists must yield to bicycles in the same manner as any other vehicle.

4.      When turning, motorists must yield the right-of-way to all bicycles coming from the opposite direction.

5.      When crossing a bike lane to make a turn, motorists must yield to any bicyclist in the bike lane and make the turn behind the bicyclist.

6.      Motorists may not follow a bicyclist too closely.

7.      At night, motorists must avoid using high beam headlights when a bicyclist is approaching.

8.     Before opening a car door, motorists must check for bicyclists who may be approaching from behind.

9.      Motorists may not park in marked bicycle lanes.

10.  Motorists must avoid honking their vehicle horn and startling a bicyclist.

The rules of the road are for everyone, and it is important to know and follow these laws.  Parents should make sure teen drivers understand these rules.  Likewise, parents of children that ride bicycles should be sure these rules are followed.

If you or a loved one is involved in a bicycle accident involving a motor-vehicle, it is important that you speak to an experienced personal injury attorney right away.  Not only can you potentially recover compensation for your injuries from the at-fault party, but your own car insurance policy may provide important coverage to you even though you were not operating a car at the time of the crash.  If you need assistance understanding whether your insurance policy provides coverage or if you need help determining whether another party may be at fault for the crash, contact the experienced injury attorneys at Baggett Law today.