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Florida is one of several states that has a law that specifically requires drivers to leave bicyclists with at least three feet of space when passing by them on the roadway. The law went into effect back in 2006 in an effort to ensure that motorists properly and safely share the road with cyclists. However, an investigation done by a news organization found that motorists rarely obeyed the law and law enforcement officers rarely ticketed motorists who broke that particular law.

Fort Myers personal injury attorney Randall Spivey knows the  life-changing effects an accident between a motor vehicle and a bicycle can have on all involved. The damages suffered can be substantial, especially since bikes do not provide any level of protection to the rider if he or she is hit by an automobile. In fact, Florida's 2012 crash statistics indicate that there were almost 6,500 bike accidents that resulted in approximately 116 fatalities and over 6,000 injuries. While three feet may not seem like a great deal of space to give a bicyclist, providing the cyclist with that space can be a life saver.

From the time the law took effect in 2006 until 2010, there were only 337 tickets issued throughout the state for "three-foot rule" violations. In 2012, only 84 citations were issued. These low numbers show that the law clearly is not acting as a deterrent for motorists who cross over into bike lanes. Law enforcement officers have provided a number of reasons or explanations as to why there are so few citations written, noting that they often issue drivers citations under the "catch-all" category of "careless driving."

Your Fort Myers personal injury attorney will tell you that bike riders have certain rights under the law, and they are encouraged to work with skilled attorneys to learn about their legal options if they are involved in accidents. Many bicyclists who spoke with the media after the investigation noted that they do not think that many motorists are even aware of the law, nor do they believe that they understand the idea that bike riders should be treated like motorists on the road. Nonetheless, when motorists break the three-foot rule, cyclists can use the violation to demonstrate the motorists' negligence and liability for causing any injuries incurred during their accidents. Although three feet of space is the requirement, some motorist are not even giving bikers that much space when sharing the road.

Some law enforcement officers believe that citing motorists under different statutes like "failure to maintain lane" or "careless driving" is just as effective; however, even those citations are not sufficiently working towards maintaining safe roadways for bicyclists. The amount of bike accidents in the state seems to increase year after year. But if more drivers adhered to the three-foot rule, more accidents resulting in injury and death may be avoided.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a bicycle accident, and you have questions about your rights under the law, contact a Fort Myers personal injury attorney at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. today.