Bicycle Safety in Fort Pierce Florida
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 6,568 bicycle crashes in the State of Florida. 128 of these bicycle crashes occurred in Martin and St. Lucie Counties. Safety often comes second place to entertainment when it comes to riding bicycles. Because Sholtes Law cares about the safety of the Fort Pierce community members and members of the Treasure Coast, below are some safety tips to help prevent bicycle accidents.
Best Practices for Bicycle Safety
To keep yourself and your children safe while bike riding, make sure to follow these safety tips:
- Wear a helmet.
This is a straight forward tip. Wearing helmets saves lives and shows a level of responsibility in the event you need to file a bicycle accident claim. Without a helmet, a claims representative may use your lack of wearing a helmet against you, even when you did not cause the bicycle accident.
- Do not participate in distracted bike riding.
Texting, listening to music, talking on the phone – these activities are distractions when it comes to bike riding. Activities such as the above take your attention away from riding the bike and negatively affect the way you ride and operate the bike.
- Check your bicycle equipment.
Ensure the equipment on the bicycle is in working condition and is not defective prior to riding the bicycle. Check the tires, the gears, the breaks, the seat, and the pedals and any other parts that could cause a bicycle hazard.
- Follow the rules of the road.
Many people fall into the mistake of believing bicycle accident myths. Bicyclists must follow the rules of the road. The Uniform Traffic laws do not only apply to vehicle drivers. These laws apply to bicycle riders as well. If you’re riding your bicycle and you come to a stop sign, please come to a complete stop just as you would if you were driving a vehicle. Be mindful of pedestrians at crosswalks. Follow the traffic signals. Bicyclists have no exceptions when it comes to following traffic laws.
What Does Florida Law Say About Bicycle Safety?
Florida law dedicates an entire section to bicycle regulations. Some of the regulations state that bicycle riders may not carry more persons at a time than the number for which the bike is designed. For example, if your bicycle is a one-seater, it is illegal to allow another rider to ride on the bicycle with you on the back. Same goes for allowing a rider to ride on the handlebars. Another regulation includes the fact that any rider under the age of 16 must wear a bicycle helmet. The helmet must meet federal safety standards.
For Help with Your Bicycle Accident in Fort Pierce, St. Lucie and Martin County, Call Andrew Sholtes.
If you’re the victim of a bicycle accident, contact a Fort Pierce personal injury attorney serving St. Lucie & Martin County. Attorney Andrew Sholtes works hard to protect the interests of the Martin and Saint Lucie County community and will begin working on your bicycle accident case right now. Contact Sholtes Law, PLLC now at 855-534-2509 or contact us online for a free case analysis.
Resource:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.2065.html
https://www.saintlucielawyer.com/top-3-bicycle-accident-myths-in-fort-pierce-florida/
