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Unfortunately, bicycle accidents are quite common in Florida and elsewhere throughout the United States. But what some people may not realize is that Florida law imposes certain legal obligations on motor vehicle drivers with respect to their interaction with bike riders. Bicycle collisions can occur anywhere and at any given moment. However, Fort Myers personal injury attorneys know very well that car and bike crashes often occur at intersections.

Florida Intersections Can Be Dangerous For Cyclists

Why do a large percentage of bicycle accidents take place at intersections? There are plenty of reasons for intersection collisions between bikes and automobiles, but some of the more common reasons include negligent and aggressive drivers, drivers who fail to yield and drivers who run red lights.

Some motor vehicle drivers fail to look both ways prior to making turns, and when that occurs, they may actually end up cutting cyclists off. Other drivers are simply inattentive and do not watch out for cyclists. Such negligence can play a major role in the occurrence of bike and auto collisions. Likewise, a person who drives aggressively might see someone on a bike who is traveling in the same direction and try to outrun him or her to the intersection so that the driver won't have to wait for the cyclist to cross the roadway.

Despite the fact that there are laws with respect to yielding the right of way to others, many motor vehicle drivers do not heed those laws. Drivers often look both ways when it comes to looking for other motor vehicles; however, many drivers fail to observe cyclists who may be riding on sidewalks or in special bike lanes; and accordingly, they do not yield for those riders at intersections. That failure to yield can lead to very serious accidents between bikes and cars.

Automobile drivers who run red lights also contribute to the occurrence of collisions between bicyclists and motor vehicles. Some drivers believe that they can make it through the intersection before the light changes, while other drivers run red lights on purpose. Whatever the case may be, Fort Myers personal injury attorney Randall Spivey warns that the results can be deadly if a collision occurs.

What Can You Do to Avoid an Intersection Crash?

There are a number of things that bicyclists can do to avoid intersection accidents. First of all, cyclists must know and obey the rules of the road in order to avoid legal liability. That said, a cyclist should always be alert and watchful for motor vehicle drivers in the same manner that auto drivers should lookout for bicyclists. 

Additionally, because bikes are much smaller than motor vehicles, cyclists are advised to increase their visibility by adding and/or using front and rear lamps on their bicycles and wearing bright and/or reflecting clothing that will aid motor vehicle drivers with seeing them on the roadways.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle collision, let one of the Fort Myers personal injury attorneys at the The Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., help you fight for your rights.