The hard truth is that when a bicyclist or motorcyclist gets into a “fight” (or accident) with a car or truck, they will always lose. Riding a motorcycle or bicycle are both very common in Florida all year round, especially with mild winters. Therefore, trucks and cars need to pay special attention to these smaller vehicles to avoid an accident.
Find out more about motorcycle accidents with a West Palm Beach personal injury attorney here.
Trucks and Bikes Don’t Mix
Although heavy trucks like 18-wheelers and box trucks, including garbage trucks and dump trucks, make up just a few of the vehicles on the road, they are responsible for a disproportionate number of accidents that involve bicycles or pedestrians. The problem is far worse in urban areas, like Port St. Lucie or West Palm Beach.
Usually truck and bike crashes involve the smaller vehicle hitting the side of the truck. This is usually because the truck turned in front of a bicyclist. Accidents also occur when someone opens a car door right in front of the bicyclist. Often, when an accident occurs, the cyclist is “sucked” under the truck, causing more damage than just a simple collision.
Learn more about the facts on auto Vs. bicycle accidents.
Specific Instances in Florida
The nicer weather in Florida also makes pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists more likely to be out and about, which in turn means the potential for more accidents.
Here are just a few examples of deadly collisions that have involved a vehicle and bicyclist in Florida:
- An accident took place on December 17, 2015 between a cement truck and a bicyclist. The truck was heading east and making a right turn when the collision occurred. The bicyclist was heading west on Davie Boulevard near Fort Lauderdale. The bicyclist was sucked under the truck and killed at the scene.
- On November 16, 2014, a bicyclist was killed after he collided with other cyclists and flew in front of a passing truck. He was in a group of over 300 cyclists in Weston at the time of the accident. He was pushed into a lane where the truck was driving and died at the hospital.
- A seven-year-old boy was hit by a school bus on January 26, 2016 in Gainesville. The bus was stopped, letting children off, and then began driving again when the accident occurred. The child was crossing the path of the stopped school bus just before the accident. He was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in serious condition. Find out more about that story here.
- A truck struck a 72-year-old bicyclists in Ocala on January 14, 2016. He was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center in critical condition. He was riding on the paved shoulder of U.S. 27 when a truck driving by an Orlando resident struck him.
What many of these accidents have in common is that the driver could have prevented the accident if they were only paying better attention and specifically watching out for bicyclists.
A Growing Problem in Growing Cities
Unfortunately, bicyclists are a growing percentage of all traffic deaths in the United States. View the specific figures here.
Experts predict that this problem will continue to grow as well. This is partly because commerce is bringing large trucks to cities and even residential areas at higher rates.
This is also happening while people are being encouraged to get outside in an effort to maintain healthier lifestyles.
Many cities are also incorporating bicycle lanes and other road improvements to encourage cyclists to get out on the street with the other traffic. It is unclear whether this encouragement will help with safety or increase accidents.
How a West Palm Beach Personal Injury Attorney Can Help with Your Deadly Collision
If you have been involved in an accident, a West Palm Beach personal injury attorney can help.