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Traveling Florida roadways by vehicle is often a tricky task all on its own. However, if you are a bicyclist, riding on the roads can be quite dangerous. Fort Myers personal injury lawyer Randall Spivey knows that bike riders have a right to be on the road just like motor vehicles; however, not all automobile drivers know how to properly share the roadways with bicyclists by giving them enough room and taking special precautions when traveling. That said, Florida lawmakers are constantly on a mission to make bike riders as safe as possible while on the road.

Unfortunately, there have been a rash of fatal bike accidents throughout Florida in recent years. The incidents set in motion the "Every Bicyclist Counts" initiative. The League of American Bicyclists took the time to look into why and how bicycle accidents were occurring, as well as how they were being reported, whether or not blame was assigned, what was done as a result of the accidents, and how the drivers were treated after the occurrence of the accident. 

What Was Learned From the Data Collected

The League looked at a number of fatalities, including the ones that were reported during the February 2011 through February 2013 timeframe of the initiative. From the information obtained, the League found that the most common type of collision was a rear-end collision, noting that approximately 40 percent of the fatalities included in their data were due to such crashes.

As just about any Fort Myers personal injury lawyer knows, there are two significant ways to create safer roadways. One way is by changing the behavior of the individuals traveling the roadways and the other way is to make engineering changes to the roadways themselves. The data obtained from the initiative also revealed important information with respect to the behaviors of both bicyclists and the motorists involved in fatal crashes. For example, with respect to the motorists involved in the collisions, 42 percent of the drivers included in the data operated their motor vehicles carelessly or in an inattentive manner. Additionally, 36 percent of drivers committed hit and runs, and 12 percent of the drivers included in the data were reported to have been under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the crash.

With respect to the findings related to the cyclists involved in fatal accidents, three primary factors stood out: 33 percent of the cyclists were reported to have been riding the wrong way in traffic; 17 percent of the cyclists were reported to have failed to yield the right of way; and 9 percent of the cyclists were riding on the sidewalk at the time of the accident.

The League has noted that even though the initiative has provided them with some valuable information about bike accidents and fatalities, more data is needed in order to reduce bicyclist injuries and deaths. That said, the League is continuing to work with Congress, as well as federal agencies to make bike riding a safe transportation option for those who choose to ride their bikes on Florida roadways.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a bike collision, and you have questions about your rights under the law, contact a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. as soon as possible.