According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, 52,000 riders of bicycles, tricycles, and unicycles were injured in traffic accidents, and 716 riders were killed. In 2008 more than 69,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic accidents in the U.S. Children and elderly people often fall victim to such accidents, and the resulting damage can be horrific: brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, lost limbs. If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, you should consult an effective Palm Beach personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Many of the accidents that lead to injury to pedestrians and bicycle riders involve motorists who were speeding, distracted, or impaired by the use of alcohol or drugs. Bicycle riders in particular often fall victim to people who pull out of their driveways without looking carefully, or people who open their car doors directly in a rider's path. The NHTSA reports that in 2008, alcohol was a factor in more than a third of the accidents that led to the death of a bicycle rider, and in nearly half of the accidents that led to a pedestrian's death.

If you are a pedestrian or bicycle rider who has been injured in a traffic accident caused at least in part by someone else's negligence, or if someone you love suffered injuries as a result of such an accident, you should discuss your case with a Florida personal injury attorney. The injured person may be able to receive financial compensation for medical expenses, for any lost wages or resulting decrease in future earning power, as well as for the pain and suffering associated with the injury. If the conduct that led to the injury was particularly blameworthy, the party responsible might also have to pay "punitive damages," which are intended both to punish the wrongdoer and to act as a deterrent.

Under Florida law, pedestrians and riders who may have been somewhat negligent themselves may still be able to recover partial compensation, based on the other party's degree of fault. An experienced attorney can help you understand what evidence must be gathered and preserved in order to clarify who was at fault and to what extent, and work to recover the maximum compensation possible on your behalf.

If you have been injured in a pedestrian or bicycle accident and are dealing with the aftermath of what may be severe injuries, please contact The Law Offices of Jamie L. Allen--an experienced Broward County, Palm Beach County and Sarasota County bicycle accident attorney. For a free consultation, simply fill out and submit our online form, or call one of the numbers below:

Fort Lauderdale Office: (954) 793-4170
Sarasota Office: (941) 227-4350
Boca Raton Office: (561) 948-4384
Toll Free: (888) 954-3454