According to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the accident occurred just before 7:15 p.m. on McDaniel Road, south of Audrey Johnson Road in Taylor County. The man was riding an electric bicycle when a mechanical failure caused a violent crash:

• The chain on the front sprocket dislodged, wrapping around the pedal.
• This mechanical failure caused the rear tire to lock up, resulting in the rider losing control of the bicycle.
• The e-bike veered off the travel lane into a ditch, where it overturned, ejecting the rider.
• Both the bicycle and the man came to rest in the ditch; he sustained critical injuries.

Emergency crews from the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Perry Fire Department, and Century EMS assisted FHP on the scene.

Electric bicycles are becoming increasingly popular across Florida for their convenience and environmental benefits. However, they also present unique mechanical risks due to:

• Higher speeds and heavier frames than traditional bicycles
• Complex electrical components and drivetrain systems
• The potential for sudden failure of critical parts, including brakes, motors, and chains

When high-performance components like sprockets and chains fail mid-ride, particularly on a powered bike, the consequences can be catastrophic.

Could This Be a Case of Product Liability?

Yes, this incident may involve product liability, particularly if a defective part or poor design contributed to the crash. Manufacturers and sellers of electric bicycles have a legal duty to ensure their products are safe for normal use. If the chain detachment and subsequent wheel lock were caused by:

• A manufacturing defect
• A design flaw (e.g., inadequate tensioning or chain retention systems)
• Improper assembly or materials
• Lack of adequate safety instructions or warnings

Then the injured rider or their family may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of the e-bike.

What You Can Do After an E-Bike Accident

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an electric bicycle accident, especially one involving a possible mechanical failure, here’s what you should do:

1. Preserve the evidence: Keep the e-bike and all damaged components. Do not repair or discard anything.
2. Document the scene and injuries: Photos, witness statements, and medical records are crucial.
3. Seek immediate medical treatment: Some injuries may not show symptoms right away.
4. Contact an attorney experienced in product liability law: A lawyer can investigate whether the manufacturer or seller may be responsible.

At Flanagan & Bodenheimer Injury and Wrongful Death Law Firm, we are committed to holding manufacturers accountable when defective products cause harm. If you or a loved one was injured in an electric bicycle accident, call us today for a free consultation. We’ll review the facts, preserve critical evidence, and determine whether you have a valid claim against the manufacturer or seller.

We have plenty of people who ride bicycles in Florida. However, bicycle riders face a higher risk of serious injury or death in the event an accident occurs. One way to curb these injuries and fatalities is to wear a helmet while riding.

However, there are often many questions about what Florida law requires when it comes to helmet requirements. Here, we want to discuss what the law says about this issue as well as the more common injuries bicyclists incur in a crash.

Florida Bicycle Accident Statistics 

Bicyclists are very vulnerable on the roadway. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 6,590 total bicycle crashes during the latest reporting year across the state. Out of these incidents, there were 160 fatalities and 6,183 injuries.

When looking at those statistics, we can see that bicyclists have a high probability of sustaining an injury in an accident. One of the best ways to prevent serious injuries is to wear a helmet. However, Florida does not have overly stringent helmet laws for bicyclists.

Are Bike Helmets Required in Florida?

Under Florida law, bicycle riders or passengers must wear a helmet only if they are under 16 years of age. If a rider or passenger is under 16, they must wear a helmet that is properly fitted that securely fastens to the passenger’s head by a strap.

In addition, the helmet must meet federal safety standards that are defined under the Code of Federal Regulations (16 C.F.R. Part 1203). Any person over the age of 16 is not required to wear a helmet when they ride a bicycle.

What Are the Most Common Bicycle Accident Injuries?

Bicycle accidents can lead to severe injuries, particularly when they involve a passenger vehicle. Even when a cyclist is wearing a helmet, there is no way for the human body to withstand the force of a vehicle slamming into it. Our law firm handles a wide range of car accident cases in Miami, including collisions with pedestrians, motorcycles, and bicycles.

Therefore, it is not uncommon to encounter the following cyclist injuries in the aftermath of a crash:

• Spinal cord trauma (possible paralysis)
• Internal organ damage or internal bleeding
• Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries
• Broken or dislocated bones
• Severe lacerations or road rash

Who Can Be Held Liable for Bicycle Accident Injuries in Florida?

These injuries can lead to significant medical expenses. Florida is considered a “no-fault” state when it comes to car accidents, meaning that those injured turn to the personal insurance carrier for coverage. If the injured cyclist does have this type of coverage, they will be required to file a claim with their personal carrier.

However, bicyclists and pedestrians injured are not required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) to ride. In these cases, the injured cyclist can file a claim against the driver responsible for the incident. If the injuries reach certain thresholds, then the injured cyclist could file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover more compensation.

This can only happen if there are:

• Significant scarring
• Disfigurement
• Loss of a bodily function

Statistics on Bicycle Helmet Safety

Data shows that, if correctly worn, a federally approved bicycle helmet is about 70% effective in preventing damage to the head and brain upon impact. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, “riders with helmets had an 85 percent reduction in their risk of head injury and an 88 percent reduction in their risk of brain injury.” These statistics show just how helpful helmets are for bicyclists. Whether the law requires a person to wear one or not, helmets should be worn.

Injured in a bike accident in Florida? Contact our Miami bicycle accident lawyers online or give the team at Flanagan & Bodenheimer a call at (305) 638-4143.

About Flanagan & Bodenheimer

Flanagan & Bodenheimer has recovered millions of dollars in Miami personal injury and wrongful death cases. Our attorneys also handle Fort Lauderdale personal injury and wrongful death cases. Our main offices are located in Coral Gables, FL and Hollywood, FL. Learn more about our lawyers here.

These are complicated questions, but they are important. If you were the operator of a vehicle involving a bicycle versus car accident, you may need to speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

Bicycle Accident Stats Can Be Alarming

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were 6,590 total bicycle crashes during the latest reporting year across the state. Out of these incidents, there were 160 reported fatalities and 6,183 reported injuries. Those numbers are astounding, and they show just how vulnerable a bicyclist is in these incidents.

When it comes to bicycle accidents, people usually discuss the injuries to the cyclist. However, those inside vehicles can also be seriously injured, particularly if the incident causes them to crash into another vehicle or a stationary object.

When Is a Bicyclist Liable for a Crash in Florida?

What the numbers above do not show is who was at fault for the incidents. While there are certainly many bicycle accidents in which a vehicle driver is at fault, there are also times when a bicyclist causes a crash. Bicyclists in Florida are required to follow all traffic laws and they should always operate their bicycles safely.

Florida bicyclists have several laws they must obey when they are on the roadway, including the following:

• Riding in the same direction as traffic (contrary to popular misconception)
• Staying in the bike lane or as close to the edge of the road as practical
• Always granting the right-of-way to the correct person (not always the cyclist, sometimes a driver)

Most bicycle accidents arise over issues dealing with who had the right-of-way. Proving right-of-way in the aftermath of an accident can be complicated. For example, while riders are required to stay in a bike lane or as close to the right of the roadways practical, they are permitted to leave these areas and enter the roadway to avoid a hazard, to make a left turn, or to pass someone. When a bicycle rider performs one of these actions, drivers are supposed to give them three feet of space.

Drivers are also required to give bicyclists three feet of space when they are passing them or traveling next to them. While a bicyclist may very well be at fault for performing certain maneuvers without indicating their intention to do so, proving this can be difficult.

Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Laws

In Florida, we follow a no-fault insurance system for car accidents. This means that anyone involved in an accident recovers compensation for injury expenses and lost income through their personal insurance policies. Drivers injured in bicycle accidents caused by the cyclist will generally only be able to file for additional coverage from the bicyclist’s insurance or through a personal injury lawsuit if their injuries reach the “serious injury” threshold, meaning the following occurred:

• significant disfigurement
• permanent limitation of use of a body organ or member
• a significant limitation of use of a body function
• bone fracture
• substantially full disability for 90 days