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With cycling lanes, bike trails, and bike racks throughout our beachside communities and bustling downtown, Tampa city officials have made a concerted effort to encourage this mode of transportation; it leads the nation for bike-friendly businesses. However, it is also trending for more concerning statistics. Tampa Bay is the fourth deadliest region in the country for pedestrians and cyclists. Last year alone, there were nearly 500 bicycle crashes across Hillsborough County.
If you sustained serious injuries in a biking accident caused by a negligent driver, Kogan & DiSalvo can help. We know that it can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating. Our Tampa personal injury attorneys explore every legal remedy available to recover compensation for your losses. Schedule a free consultation today.
While several cities across the Tampa Bay area have taken steps to make it safer for pedestrians and bicyclists, the American Automobile Association (AAA) still named the region as one of the most dangerous.
The most common causes of bicycle accidents in Tampa and across the region include the following:
As a tourist destination, Tampa roads are flooded with motorists who are unfamiliar with the area. If they are distracted by their GPS navigation screens or looking for traffic signs and exits, they are often oblivious to bicyclists sharing the road beside them. If they turn without looking or signaling, bicyclists may not have time to react and avoid a collision.
Aside from a helmet and pads, nothing else can protect bicyclists from the impact of motor vehicles, structures, or road surfaces.
Bicycle accident injuries range in severity from superficial cuts and bruises to more severe conditions like road rash, strains, sprains, and broken bones. Facial injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), spinal cord injuries, amputations, and damage to internal organs are examples of non-fatal catastrophic injuries resulting from bicycle crashes.
Physical rehabilitation after a bike crash can be a demanding, time-intensive process. Accident victims may require hospitalization, surgery, and physical therapy to restore mobility and function.
After an accident, the first step is to assessthe scene to determine if anyone is hurt. When there are injuries or property damage, everyone involved must remain at the scene and wait for police to arrive.
Exchange information with the driver. If there are witnesses, ask them to provide their name, phone number, or email. Do not admit fault. Instead, allow the police, attorneys, and insurance companies to investigate and gather the facts.
If you can, take photos, including damage to your bicycle. Write down any details exactly as you recall them. For example, describe what happened, the road conditions, weather, and other bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorists who were present.
It can be helpful to draw a map to illustrate the position and direction of everyone involved. Share these details with the police when they take your report. Be sure to note the number of the report so you can obtain a copy.
Even if you don’t have pain or signs of an injury, it is still essential to seekmedical attention. Bicycle accidents often result in delayed onset injuries, which usually don’t have immediate and obvious symptoms but can develop or worsen over time.
A consultation with a Tampa bicycle accident lawyer should be your next step. Representation from an experienced and skilled attorney is essential to protect your interests and pursue the maximum compensation possible based on your injuries and other losses.
These accidents happen quickly, so it is difficult to determine who or what caused them. Our team of Tampa injury lawyers has the resources to obtain critical evidence, such as CCTV video footage, and thoroughly investigate your case to determine if you have grounds to bring a personal injury claim.
We caution clients who have been hurt in bicycle accidents against negotiating with insurance companies without the guidance of an attorney. While they may offer you a quick settlement, it may not be fair or reasonable.
Our legal team can thoroughly assess your losses, including how the accident has impacted your physical and emotional health and well-being. We do this to calculate your damages, which could include past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income, and property damage.
In March 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 837 into law. The Civil Remedies Act directly impacts plaintiffs and their personal injury claims in key ways.
First, Florida is now a modified comparative negligence jurisdiction, barring claims in which the plaintiff is determined (by a judge or jury) to be more than 50 percent at fault. However, if the plaintiff is found 50 percent or less at fault, their recovery is reduced proportionally to their fault. For example, if you were deemed 10 percent at fault for your bicycle accident and received $100,000 in damages, your compensation would be reduced to $90,000.
It’s important to remember that everyone traveling on Florida roadways has a duty to act with care and follow traffic laws to help prevent accidents and keep themselves and others safe. Bicyclists should wear helmets, bright clothing, reflectors, and lights at night. They should also know and obey traffic signs and laws, observing the right of way and using hand signals to alert drivers to their impending movements.
The Civil Remedies Act also lowered the statute of limitations for personal injury claims from four to two years. It’s worth noting because of the time and resources required to prove fault in Florida, where outcomes depend on the evidence and assignment of liability for each party. If you were hurt in a bicycle accident, contact a Tampa personal injury attorney to initiate the claim process as soon as possible.
Florida is a no-fault state. Drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP). So, if you are a cyclist hurt in a motor vehicle collision, you can use your PIP insurance to cover your damages and losses. If you don’t carry PIP, you can apply for coverage under someone in your home or the driver who hit you.
However, PIP only covers up to 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost wages. For individuals with severe or catastrophic injuries, the costs of medical care can present a significant financial burden. You can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver in that case.
A successful bike accident claim can potentially result in the following types of compensation:
Personal injury claims are resolved in two ways: negotiating a satisfactory settlement or litigating your case in court if you cannot resolve it. Our team is ready to take your case as far as necessary to reach a fair outcome.
Bicycle accident claims are challenging. It takes a skilled and dedicated lawyer to build a compelling case. At Kogan & DiSalvo, we leverage our extensive resources to fight for your right to fair and reasonable compensation because bicycle accident injuries can be life-changing.
Having a compassionate Tampa personal injury lawyer on your side can make a big difference in reaching a favorable outcome. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation case review today. We work on a contingency basis, so there are no upfront legal fees.
Total reviews: 956 |
Average rating: 4.9
(Translated by Google) Excellent company I recommend them 100 percent
(Original)
Excelente compañía los recomiendo 100 por ciento
I’m glad that I used Kogan And Desalvo. They truly made me feel like I was family. Very easy to talk to you about anything you needed help with. I especially thank Jay London, esq and Samantha Juerakhan The paralegal to Jay London, and his amazing team. They made this very easy and fast. Love these guys and ladies. 5 star team all the way🥳🥳🥳💚
It took a while, but the results were well worth the wait. My attorney J London was excellent. And his associate Gisseiie, they were the best
Very nice people so professional and they keep you posted of how your case is going.
Jay is amazing! Took my horrible experience and made sure my health and well being came first!
Mr. Kogan is an excellent Lawyer , he surpassed my expectations. I highly recomend him . Thank you again.
I can’t thank Kogan & DiSalvo enough for their help after my accident. From day one, they were incredibly supportive, guiding me through the entire process with care and expertise. I never imagined my case would be worth as much as it turned out to be, and that’s thanks to their hard work and dedication. They kept me informed every step of the way and made sure I understood all my options. If you’re looking for attorneys who truly go above and beyond, I highly recommend Kogan & DiSalvo!
Great law firm, takes care if all your needs, gights gor you
Thank you
Jay and Jennifer were very responsive to my calls. When I had questions, they provided clear answers. They thoroughly explained the settlement process to me and kept me informed every step of the way.
Samantha, embodies what customer service should be like. So friendly, down to earth, caring, resourceful, knowledgeable, and goes the extra mile .
If I’m ever in another accident or know someone that’s been in an accident, I will definitely be referring Kogan & DiSalvo (Samantha and Paul).
Samantha thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to get me and my husband to a successful resolution.
Thank You Again,
Iris
My case with Kogan and DiSalvo, was handled with the utmost seriousness and respect. Mr. George Bakalar, who lead my case from the beginning, along with Miss. Macy and Miss. Victoria were all outstanding individuals. They were able to resolve my case inline with all parameters discussed in my initial interview. More than expected they were personal and listened to all my concerns. I would definitely recommend them to anyone! Have a great day and Enjoy!
Paul Silvestri and his team were great! They took care of everything and made the process stress free. Very pleased with my settlement. I highly recommend Paul Silvestri at Kogan & DiSalvo!
Jennifer was helpful, answered all of my questions and made the process simple.
I am very please on the outcome of my case with Kogan & DiSalvo. It took a while but the results are worth the wait. I want to also thank Amanda who did an outstanding job on my settlement with the crew.
Selecting an attorney is hard. I briefly worked with the “largest firm” and that was a complete mistake. Paul Silvestri of Kogan and DiSalvo immediately built confidence that I was with the “best” firm. He is strategic, smart, listens, takes times to evaluate facts, follows up, is very responsive, and makes you feel like you have a partner during a tough time. The firm has great technology, great support through the app. Christina B is very responsive when other firms never reply!!! Great experience, great firm, don’t go anywhere else!
A big truck sideswiped my car. I had two surgeries due to the accident. I had surgery on my neck and back. I would like to thank Jay London and Christina Bejarano for everything they did for me and my case. Jay and Christina provided outstanding service. They did a great job explaining each step along the way. I highly recommend Jay and Christina; they did a wonderful job.
I got the help I needed,I had a very nice attorney name Kayla,she was so nice and very understanding and helped me through the whole process
They helped me the best they could,I’m happy with the outcome
Samantha Vola handled my personal injury case with care and made sure I was informed what was going on in the whole process. I was very happy with the results.
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