A few months ago, Law Firms in Jacksonville Fl reported a 12-year-old boy was flown to a hospital after he was hit by a Toyota Tacoma on Ponte Vedra Lakes Boulevard while riding his bicycle. First Coast News reported the crash occurred in the afternoon on Ponte Vedra Lake Blvd. near A1A North, Florida Highway Patrol said.
Law Firms in Jacksonville Fl discovered the victim was not using a crosswalk to cross the street on his bicycle when he was hit by the vehicle. His injuries were not considered serious but he was flown to UF Health as a precaution, police said.
Did you know that hundreds of cyclists are killed each year in traffic related accidents? Federal statistics indicate 722 bicyclist deaths occurred in 2012, up 6% from 2011 and 16 percent from 2010. On a per capita basis, Florida recorded an annual average of about 5.7 cyclist deaths per million residents, by far the most of any state. The national bicyclist death rate for 2012 was approximately 2.3 deaths per 1 million. Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyers want you to realize those are scary statistics.
Consequently, as children go back to school and we see more kids on bikes it is smart to know the rights of bicyclists (whether they are children or adults) and vehicles and how they should interact when they are out on the roadways. The Florida Times Union ran a recent article pertaining to this matter recently. They interviewed several individuals including Lindsey Pavlick, traffic safety project coordinator for AAA The Auto Club Group in Tampa on roadway safety.
“Whether you’re using the road as a motorist or as a cyclist, you have a responsibility to know the laws of your state,” she said. A good starting point is to be aware that in Florida, a bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle. That means that bicyclists and motorists have the same rights to the roadways, and must obey the same traffic laws.
Both AAA and the North Florida Bicycle Club have websites with information on bicycle safety and sharing the road. Here are some of their tips for pedalers and drivers:
SAFETY ADVICE FOR MOTORISTS
THE RIGHT HELMET
Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyers want you to know how to choose the right bike helmet for you. According to Pavlick, wearing a bicycle helmet is one of the most important steps cyclists can take to protect themselves. Law Firms in Jacksonville Fl want to remind you that the Florida law requires a bicycle rider or passenger under the age of 16 to wear a bicycle helmet.
But to effectively reduce the chances of head and brain injury, riders need to be sure their helmets are properly fitted, Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyers want you to know that a helmet that isn’t secure and stable won’t offer much protection if there is a crash.
Law Firms in Jacksonville Fl have but together some tips for riders. Here are some tips for properly fitting a bike helmet from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a car accident while on a bicycle, contact one of the best Law Firms in Jacksonville FL: Edwards & Ragatz for a free consultation. (904)399-1609 or (866)366-1609. Feel free to e-mail our office at info@edwardsragatz.com. www.edwardsragatz.com
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