Latest Blogs

For many years, there has been great concern for bicyclists who share a portion of the road with drivers in passenger vehicles, vans and big rigs. Lawmakers in Florida and all across the U.S. have been working to create laws that would be more protective of bikers. In fact, in Florida, a law was passed in 2006 that required those operating motor vehicles to keep a distance of at least three feet away from bikers when passing.

However, a recent News Press article revealed that enforcement of that law has been sorely lacking, as it has been used primarily for educational purposes rather than enforcement. Still, it should be noted that approximately 500 tickets were issued to drivers last year, in comparison with the 114 given in Florida back in 2011.

Ft. Myers personal injury attorneys like Randall Spivey always encourage bicyclists to be as safe as possible on the roads because they have heard the horror stories and seen the devastation that bike accidents can leave behind. Everyone knows that bikers have a right to be on the same roads as vehicle drivers, but even today, many drivers fail to take adequate precautions when traveling by bikers on the road.

From time to time, we hear of a bike accident through some form of media; however, it is important to gain some understanding and insight into how and why these accidents occur. One new study shows that if changes are made to the way in which such crashes are reported, we may be able to keep bikers out of harm’s way by devising ways to make vehicles safer for bikers.

Better Data Can Help Improve Safety Overall

According to The League of American Bicyclists, the number of individuals commuting via bicycle has increased across the country approximately 62 percent between 2000 and 2013. Still, when it comes to reporting the incidents of bicycle collisions occurring between cyclists and automobiles, law enforcement officers continue to use outdated forms. According to CityLab, a recent study indicates that if law enforcement updated their methods of reporting bike collisions, the compiled data could be used to help keep both cyclists and drivers safer by designing intersections and roads with that data in mind.

The study, which was paid for by automaker Nissan, notes that the incident forms used to describe the accident should allow for officers to provide more detailed information about what occurred. Study authors state that if individuals can gain a better understanding with respect to the mechanics of collisions involving bikes, better innovations can be created to keep people safer, such as signals that would allow a biker to know if a driver or passenger may be about to open the vehicle door.

The study notes that the data could easily be gathered by making a change to the current templates used by police officers to record collisions. The current templates have very little accommodation for bikes.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a bike accident, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. right away to discuss the details of your case.