Joe Osborne & Greg Francis, Personal Injury Lawyers & Founders of Osborne & Francis

Orlando Bicycle Accident Attorneys

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Like other vulnerable road users, cyclists are often disregarded by motor vehicle drivers. While campaigns like “share the road” have attempted to make cycling safer in big cities, it hasn’t really improved. Every year, approximately 130,000 cyclists are injured and 1,000 are killed. Poor infrastructure doesn’t help, but the negligence of drivers is the real issue. Drivers just don’t want to share the road. Unfortunately this thought process leads to more and more injured cyclists, many of which are commuting, just like drivers. 

When a vehicle strikes a cyclist, the cyclist is in a much more vulnerable position and will likely sustain injuries. These injuries often result in high medical debt, a change to one’s quality of life, and a lot of emotional distress. If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, contact Osborne & Francis to schedule a free case evaluation. You can contact us online or call us at 561-293-2600. We’re eager to help you get the compensation that you deserve.

Video Transcript

So you've been in a car accident. What happens next? There are many things that you should do but here are the three most important:

Number One: See a doctor immediately. 

A broken bone is easy to see, but some injuries are not. The most common injuries from car accidents happen in the neck, back, or head. The only way to diagnose and treat them is by seeing a doctor. A doctor can help ease the pain, provide medication, reassure you of how your injury may impact your daily life, and tell you what not to do to make it worse.

A visit to the doctor can also give you legally protected time off to recover and rest your body after an accident, and it documents and provides the evidence you may need for your case. Even a five-mile-per-hour car accident can cause a serious injury. So whether you've had a severe accident or a minor collision, see a doctor. And if you don't have medical insurance, let us know and we'll make sure that you receive the proper care. 

‍Number Two: Write everything down.

Even if it seems small, during times of stress or injury it is common to forget the little details. Make sure you keep note of the pain that you're in. With neck, back, and head injuries, sometimes simple activities such as walking up the stairs or picking up a toddler may cause severe pain. 

You may not be sleeping well at night. Documenting how much you sleep and how often you wake up due to pain is also very important. And lastly, if you have any cuts or bruises, take daily photos as you heal. This will provide visual evidence of the injuries that you've suffered. 

‍Number Three: Do not speak to an insurance company until you've spoken to a lawyer.

Please understand that the insurance adjuster works for a billion-dollar corporation and not for you. Their interests are solely for their insurance company, and their goal is to provide you with the least amount of financial settlement as quickly as possible. When you do speak with them, remember they will record the conversation. Why do they do this? Because they've been trained to ask questions that may confuse you. So talk to us before you talk to them. 

So remember: See a doctor, document everything, and call us before calling the insurance company for your free private consultation. We are here for you. Real tough lawyers fighting real tough issues.

What are Some Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Orlando?

In Florida, there were 5,952 bicycle accidents in 2021, resulting in 5,574 injuries and 169 deaths. That means that only a few hundred people walked away unscathed. Out of those 169 deaths, law enforcement found vehicle drivers responsible for 140 of them, approximately 83%. Accidents caused by vehicle drivers involve negligence. Negligence refers to an act (such as speeding or driving under the influence) that could have been easily avoided by the driver. Negligence isn’t committed on purpose in most cases, but these drivers are still responsible for their actions whether on purpose or not. 

Common negligent acts that cause bicycle accidents include: 

  • Speeding
  • Road rage
  • Driving under the influence
  • Improperly changing lanes
  • Ignoring bike lanes
  • Distracted driving
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Turning without looking
  • Running red lights or stop signs
  • Failure to yield
  • Weaving through traffic
  • Not leaving space when passing

Common Injuries Associated With Orlando Bicycle Accidents

Injuries from bicycle accidents range from mild to severe, but because of how vulnerable cyclists are, they often lean more severe. Bicycle accidents are dangerous because vehicles can pin riders to other vehicles, buildings, or poles, causing devastating crushing injuries that affect the entire body. In the case of a crushing injury, internal bleeding, soft tissue damage, and even amputation can occur. 

The extremities are also left unprotected, and are prone to breaks and fractures. Even a single broken bone can lead to long-term or chronic pain, affecting the cyclist for years to come. These injuries may even make it difficult for them to ride their bicycle again–especially when combined with the PTSD that affects many people involved in accidents. 

Brain injuries like concussions are less common in those who wear helmets while riding, and more common in those who don’t. Brain injuries can range drastically in severity, causing simple injuries with short recovery times and catastrophic injuries that are lifelong. 

The severity of your injuries plays a large factor in how much you’ll receive in compensation, as it directly impacts the cost of your medical treatment, how much your quality of life will change, and the resulting pain and suffering you may experience.

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Receiving Compensation for Your Injuries

We understand that medical debt and other damages cause a large amount of stress. We aim to take that stress off your shoulders and get you the compensation that you deserve for your damages. In a bicycle accident case, there are two types of damages that you can claim, economic and non-economic. Economic damages include losses with a monetary value associated, while non-economic damages are the opposite. 

Economic damages can include:

  • Medical bills
  • Ambulance rides, hospital stays
  • Surgery, physical therapy
  • Specialist visits and checkups
  • Medical equipment
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of earning capacity

Non-economic damages can include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Scarring and disfigurement
  • Disability

Punitive damages may also be awarded, but they’re rare. Punitive damages are awarded to a victim as a way to further punish the at-fault party in cases where gross negligence was present. For example, if this is a repeated offense or their actions were motivated by malice. 

How to Prove Fault in a Bicycle Accident

To prove that a vehicle driver is at fault for the accident and therefore your injuries, you’ll need to be able to prove that they were acting with negligence. You specifically won’t need to investigate the accident, your attorney will do the heavy lifting for you once you hire one. To prove that the driver was acting with negligence, you’ll need to prove: 

  1. The at-fault party owed a duty of care to the victim. In this case, drivers owe a duty of care to everyone else on the road. This duty requires drivers to act with common sense and drive safely to reasonably avoid accidents. 
  2. The at-fault party breached the duty of care. A breach of duty of care could be texting while driving, drinking and driving, speeding, etc. 
  3. The breach directly caused the accident and therefore your injuries. For example, the driver was texting while driving and because of this, the accident occurred and you were injured. 
  4. The victim suffered damages. Damages, such as medical bills, were incurred due to the injuries. 

To prove that the duty of care was breached, your attorney will investigate the accident and use different types of evidence to showcase the at-fault party’s negligence. Common types of evidence used by attorneys include: 

  • Photos and videos from witnesses
  • Photos and videos from security cameras or dash cams
  • Witness statements and your personal statement
  • Expert witnesses
  • Accident reconstruction
  • Medical records

T. Andrews

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“Attorneys Greg Francis and Ryan Fletcher at Osborne & Francis Law Firm represented me in my personal injury case.The defendant drew a line in the sand and was adamant on a settlement amount I was almost willing to accept. After the dust settled and the smoke cleared, we settled for 3 times that amount!!! When they say ‘Real Tough Lawyers,’ they mean it.”

J. Davis

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“I couldn’t have asked for a better lawyer/ firm — everything was done professionally exactly how I wanted. Due to COVID my personal attorney Mr. Garcia was still able to make things work in a timely manner and he never made me feel like he wasn’t working. Overall I’m happy with how my case turned out and I would recommend him and this law firm to anyone. 100% satisfied.”

Alfred

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Quick and fair resolution to a unique case. On advice of my own attorney, I engaged Joseph Osborne of Osborne & Francis of Boca Raton, FL. Mr. Osborne had considerable experience in cases such as mine and the results showed that. Mr. Osborne and his staff were very helpful, kept me up to date, and listened to my input. The settlement was very fair as far as I am concerned.

E. Holland

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Dennis and the other Osborne & Francis staff were amazing! Our case was HUGE and required tender loving care. Everyone on our case did their part by putting all the puzzle pieces together. We were given step by step updates and put at ease when our nerves got the best of us. For every inquiry we made we received a timely response...You are appreciated!

C. Smith

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“I am so thankful for EVERYONE, the entire staff at Osborne & Francis Law, for mentoring me through the mediation process with my hip replacement failures. I didn't realize how MUCH pressure they relieved me of by helping me deal with the reality of this traumatic time in my life, as it was OVER so quickly with a positive result. My family is grateful to have their mom HAPPY & FOCUSED on the future, rather than worrying over what happened in the past! FAST FORWARD, we are LIVING LIFE to the fullest once again!”

Erica F.

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"Best personal injury attorney around, I could not be happier! I was seriously injured in a car accident and Osborne and Francis helped me through the entire process. I was blown away by how knowledgeable the staff and attorneys are at this incredible law firm. I would not hesitate to recommend this law firm to friends and family!"

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Contact Osborne & Francis for a Free Case Evaluation

If you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, it’s time to act. With help from Osborne & Francis, the compensation that you’re owed is around the corner. To learn more about our attorneys or to schedule a free case evaluation, please contact us online or at 561-293-2600.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Boca Raton

925 S. Federal Highway,
Suite 175
Boca Raton, FL 33432

Phone: (561) 293-2600
Toll Free: (888) 900-1330
Fax: (561) 923-8100

Orlando

2707 E. Jefferson Street
Orlando, FL 32803

Phone: (407) 655-3333

Lakeland

114 E. Parker Street
Lakeland, FL 33801

 Phone: (863) 201-4567

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707 North Flagler Drive
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

 Phone: (561) 485-4166

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