Tampa Bicyclist Killed in Hit & Run Accident
Posted on Sep 6, 2013 2:53pm PDT
Last month, a 23 year old motorist was arrested for a hit and run
bicycle accident that caused a fatality. According to reports, the bicyclist was traveling
along an overpass on U.S. 92 when he was struck by the oncoming Ford Ranger
pickup truck and then was sent flying over the guardrail. The victim died
after falling over 80 feet into a retention area underneath the overpass.
The Hillsborough County police investigators were able to match the chipped
paint from the accident with the hood of the car owned by the young driver
and he was arrested not long after their discovery.
Sadly, traffic accidents in Florida are all too common, with far too many
victims being injured or killed on a regular basis. Particularly for those
traveling on bicycles, there is great concern with how the roads can be
made into a safer place for these travels. What many motorists don't
realize is that by state law the bicyclist has the same rights on the
road that a car would when traveling, including the right of way, yielding,
passing, etc. Not only that, but there is a law in place which explicitly
states that a motorist must remain at least 3 feet away from the riders
side when on the road.
According to the executive director of the Florida Bicycle Association,
accidents such as this are bizarre and it is extremely hard to tell how
the motorist was unable to see the bicyclist prior to the crash. Jim Shirk,
chairman of the Hillsborough County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee
claims that he is very familiar with that particular section of road where
the accident occurred. Shirk shares that although there is a bike lane,
at points needs to be repaved, and at others there is often shattered
pieces of glass, making it a dangerous place for the bikers to ride through.
After assessing the accident, Shirk believes there is a good chance that
the victim was required to exit the bike lane due to the unsafe debris
on the road, therefore entering into the regular lanes on the overpass.
He claims that accidents like this are a tragic reminder to drivers alike
that they must share the roads with bicyclists.
In the event of a tragic accident such as this, the family will have the
option to seek financial compensation from the person responsible from
the incident by filing a
wrongful death claim. What this means is that the court will in a way place a monetary
amount for the death of a families loved one. They will take into account
not only the pain and suffering that the family has experienced, but also
the loss of income, funeral expenses and the like. For example, a stay
at home mother may have just lost her husband in an accident, and by receiving
compensation it will help take care of the many associated costs for his death.
If your loved one has been killed in a bicycle collision or another incident
such as a
car accident or
motorcycle accident, please
contact Smith & Stallworth, Attorneys at Law today for the highly experienced legal professionals you deserve on your
side. While not monetary amount will ever make up for the loss you and
your family have experienced, it can help you begin the steps to moving
past the tragic event. At our firm, we will do whatever it takes to prove
the negligence of the responsible party and fight relentlessly on your
behalf for compensation. Please contact a Tampa injury attorney today
by calling our office!