Bicycling is a year-round activity in Florida as cyclists can take to the road to enjoy the weather, exercise, or commute to work. However, with greater exposure to vehicle drivers, bicyclists are more likely to become involved in an accident, even though vehicle drivers are legally required to share the road with cyclists.
Bike Accidents in Florida
Florida is consistently the most dangerous state in the nation for cyclists. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles records more than 6,000 bicycle crashes and more than 100 cyclist deaths statewide each year, and NHTSA data ranks Florida’s cyclist fatality rate as the highest in the country. South Florida’s dense arterial roads account for an outsized share of those crashes.
Most Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents
Although drivers are supposed to drive alongside cyclists, it’s common to see near-miss accidents between motorists and cyclists. Both motorists and cyclists must learn to share the road in order to prevent an accident. Some of the most common causes of a bike accident include:
- Right turn across the bicyclist’s lane
- The motorist turned left on a non-dedicated left-turn intersection
- Cyclist or motorist failed to stop
- A vehicle or cyclist passed on the right
About 7% of all bicycle accidents occur at intersections. Others also occur due to negligent behaviors, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Tailgating
Another common type of bike accident is when a cyclist is “doored.” This means a driver or passenger opened the door in the cyclist’s path, causing the rider to crash into it.
Bicycle Accident Injuries
Similar to motorcycle accidents, many cyclists will suffer serious, life-changing injuries after an accident. Even the smallest collision can cause a cyclist to be thrown off their bicycle and onto the hard concrete of a road or sidewalk. Even with safety gear, like a helmet and pads, cyclists can endure various injuries, including:
- Head trauma
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Internal organ injuries (e.g. ruptured spleen, renal bruising, traumatic hernia, etc.)
- Road rash
- Dental fractures
Head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury and death in cycling crashes.
Florida Bicycle Laws That Protect Riders
Florida law treats a bicycle as a vehicle, and it gives riders specific protections that matter after a crash.
- The three-foot rule. Drivers must give cyclists at least three feet of clearance when passing (Fla. Stat. § 316.083). A sideswipe or clip while passing is strong evidence of a violation.
- Full lane rights. When a lane is too narrow for a car and a bicycle to share safely, a cyclist may ride in the full lane (Fla. Stat. § 316.2065).
- PIP covers you on a bike. Unlike motorcyclists, a cyclist hit by a car can claim Personal Injury Protection benefits through your own auto policy if you own a car, a resident relative’s policy if you do not, and otherwise the PIP on the vehicle that hit you. PIP pays 80% of your reasonable medical bills, but only if you get treatment within 14 days of the crash, and it stops at $2,500 unless a physician, dentist, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse determines you had an emergency medical condition, which opens up the full $10,000 (Fla. Stat. § 627.736).
- Two years to sue. Florida’s statute of limitations for negligence claims is two years from the crash (Fla. Stat. § 95.11). Dooring, right-hook, and left-cross crashes are fault fights, so the earlier the evidence is preserved, the stronger your claim.
If the insurer argues you contributed to the crash, for example by riding without lights or outside the bike lane, Florida’s comparative negligence rule (Fla. Stat. § 768.81) reduces your recovery by your share of fault. It does not eliminate it, as long as you were not more than 50% at fault.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Bicycle Accidents
Who pays my medical bills after a bike crash with a car?
Your PIP coverage pays first, even though you were on a bicycle. It pays 80% of reasonable medical bills if you are treated within 14 days, capped at $2,500 unless a physician, dentist, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse finds an emergency medical condition, which makes the full $10,000 available. Damages beyond PIP, including the rest of your bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, come from the at-fault driver’s bodily injury coverage or your own uninsured motorist coverage.
What if the driver fled the scene?
Hit-and-run crashes are common in cyclist cases. You may have a claim under the uninsured motorist (UM) coverage on your own auto policy or a resident relative’s policy, as long as UM was purchased rather than rejected in writing and the policy’s terms cover you, and we run a parallel investigation using traffic cameras, doorbell video, and paint transfer to identify the driver.
Was I at fault if I wasn’t in the bike lane or wearing a helmet?
Not automatically. Florida law lets adult cyclists ride without a helmet, and cyclists may leave the bike lane to avoid hazards or make turns. These are comparative-fault arguments insurers make to shrink your claim. They reduce recovery only to the extent a jury actually assigns you fault, and they never bar your claim unless you were more than 50% responsible.
