ORLANDO BICYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY
A bicycle crash can leave you with serious injuries, unanswered questions, and an insurance company looking to shift blame.
The Jaspon Firm helps injured cyclists in Orlando and Central Florida investigate what happened, identify available insurance coverage, and pursue compensation when a driver or another party caused a preventable crash.
- Direct attorney involvement from Jeremiah Jaspon
- Help preserving crash-scene, video, witness, and insurance evidence
- Clear guidance about fault, medical documentation, and next steps
- No attorney’s fees or costs unless there is a recovery
Bicycle accidents can cause devastating injuries
People riding bicycles have little protection when a car, truck, bus, motorcycle, or rideshare vehicle collides with them. A crash that causes limited damage to a vehicle can still cause a cyclist catastrophic harm. Medical care, surgery, rehabilitation, lost income, and long-term limitations can quickly become part of life after a serious bicycle accident.
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Broken bones, orthopedic injuries, and joint damage
- Spinal-cord, neck, and back injuries
- Road rash, lacerations, scarring, and crush injuries
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Facial injuries and dental trauma
- Psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress
- Fatal injuries requiring a wrongful-death evaluation
Common causes of bicycle accidents in Orlando
Many bicycle crashes happen because a driver fails to see, yield to, or safely pass a cyclist. Orlando’s busy roads, intersections, tourist traffic, parking areas, and nighttime conditions can create additional risks.
- Distracted driving and cell-phone use
- Speeding or aggressive driving
- Failure to yield at intersections or crosswalks
- Unsafe lane changes and turns across bike lanes
- Drivers passing too closely
- Opening a parked vehicle door into a cyclist’s path
- Drunk or drug-impaired driving
- Running stop signs or red lights
- Backing up without checking for cyclists
- Commercial, delivery, bus, or rideshare-driver negligence
- Dangerous road conditions, debris, or construction zones
- Defective bicycle components or unsafe vehicle equipment
Florida bicyclists have rights and responsibilities on the road
Florida law generally treats a bicycle as a vehicle, meaning bicyclists have rights and responsibilities on public roads. Drivers must share the road safely with cyclists. Florida’s safe-passing law requires a motorist overtaking a bicycle to pass at least three feet to the left when doing so safely. Read the current safe-passing statute.
A cyclist’s conduct can be relevant to a claim, but it does not automatically excuse a driver’s negligence. Insurance companies may argue about helmet use, lights, lane position, visibility, speed, or whether a cyclist was outside a bike lane. The full evidence should be evaluated before accepting an insurer’s version of events.
What to do after a bicycle accident
- Call 911 and get medical help.
Your health comes first. Law enforcement can also create an initial report of the crash. - Identify the driver and witnesses.
Get names, insurance information, license-plate details, and witness contact information if you can do so safely. - Photograph the scene and preserve your bicycle.
Take photos of the vehicle, bike, helmet, clothing, injuries, road conditions, signals, and any bike lane or markings. Do not repair or discard the bicycle before it is documented. - Follow medical advice and keep records.
Save medical bills, appointment information, prescriptions, work restrictions, and notes about how the injuries affect daily life. - Use caution with insurer statements and early offers.
Do not guess about fault or the full extent of injuries. A signed release can end the claim before future treatment needs are known.
Insurance coverage after a bicycle crash
Insurance coverage can be more complicated than it first appears. Possible sources may include the at-fault driver’s policy, a commercial policy, your own auto coverage, a household policy, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, health coverage, or another policy connected to the crash.
Florida PIP benefits may be available in some bicycle-versus-vehicle situations, depending on the facts and available policies. Initial services and care generally must occur within 14 days after a motor-vehicle accident to qualify for PIP medical benefits. Review the current Florida PIP statute.
Evidence can make the difference
- Police reports, 911 calls, and witness statements
- Traffic, business, dashcam, doorbell, and helmet-camera video
- Photos of the bicycle, vehicle damage, road layout, bike lane, signs, and lighting
- Vehicle event data, phone records, or commercial-driver records when relevant
- Medical records, diagnostic imaging, provider opinions, and rehabilitation documentation
- Evidence of lost income, damage to the bicycle, and daily-life limitations
Compensation in a bicycle injury claim
Every claim is different. The value depends on liability, medical evidence, available insurance, lost income, treatment needs, and the effect of the injuries on your life. A claim may seek compensation for medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning ability, damaged property, pain and suffering, scarring, disability, and other legally recoverable losses.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident lawsuit in Florida?
Many Florida negligence claims are subject to a two-year limitations period. Exceptions, different claim types, government-entity rules, and the facts of the crash can affect the deadline. Speak with an attorney promptly about your specific situation. Review the current Florida limitations statute.
Bicycle accident questions
Can I recover compensation if I was not wearing a helmet?
Not wearing a helmet does not automatically prevent an adult cyclist from bringing a claim. The circumstances and medical evidence matter, and an insurer’s argument should be evaluated carefully.
What if the driver says they did not see me?
That statement does not decide fault. Video, witnesses, roadway markings, speed, lighting, vehicle data, and the driver’s conduct may all help explain the crash.
What if the driver who hit me is uninsured?
There may still be options, including uninsured-motorist coverage on an applicable policy. A case review can identify the potentially available insurance.
Can I bring a claim if I was partly at fault?
Possibly. Florida generally applies modified comparative fault in negligence cases. A recovery may be reduced by an injured person’s share of responsibility, and the facts must be evaluated individually.
How much does a bicycle accident lawyer cost?
The Jaspon Firm handles injury cases on a contingency-fee basis. There are no attorney’s fees or costs unless there is a recovery.