In Sarasota, the state is embracing shared scooters and bikes, offering local residents and tourists eco-friendly options for traveling around the city. There are many advantages to a bike sharing program and VEO schemes, such as reducing automobile traffic congestion and the environmental impact, as well as improving city transportation systems.
The city’s e-scooter programs are intended to replace car trips, replace vehicles, reduce traffic on narrow and busy sidewalks, as well as offer local residents the opportunity to utilize the city transportation systems.
Bike rentals are becoming increasingly popular, but with increased numbers of bike-share programs such as VEO, more bicycles are taking to the road each day, and bicycle accidents are increasingly likely. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident, then we strongly recommend seeking legal advice from a skilled Sarasota personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.
What Is A Bike Share (VEO) Scheme?
A bike-sharing program is a scheme that aims to encourage local residents to replace car trips with shared scooters and bicycles. In Sarasota and various other locations, there is a citywide mobility plan which offers local residents effective and eco-friendly options when it comes to traveling around the city. VEO uses geofencing technology and real-time data as well as a first mile, and last-mile trip integration to connect it with other forms of local transport.
The government monitors the bike share program closely, and users of bicycles or scooters in the city must follow certain rules, including:
- Wearing a helmet.
- Yielding to pedestrians.
- Never riding vehicles whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Steering clear from narrow and busy sidewalks.
- Obeying all traffic laws, stop signs, and signals.
- Riding with the flow of traffic.
- Parking within designated areas, utilizing parking corrals.
At VEO, the company employs VEO representatives to maintain parking areas as well as replace vehicles and return misplaced scooters and bikes to parking corrals. VEO offers you the ability to pick up a bike or standing scooter from one of their designated areas, travel across the city center in a safe and comfortable manner, and drop off the bike or scooter in one of their other parking areas.
This citywide mobility plan is also being carried out across various other locations across Florida, allowing tourists eco-friendly options and ways of traveling on bikes and scooters, as well as reducing car trips.
What Are The Most Common Causes Of Bike Share Accidents?
While the city of Sarasota has taken measures to develop bike lanes and cycle paths exclusive for bicycle riders, sometimes it is necessary for cyclists to share roads with other larger vehicles. With more vehicles on the road, bicycle accidents are increasingly likely to occur. Some of the most common causes of bike share accidents in the city of Sarasota are:
Collisions
This is the most common cause of bike share accidents and can occur in a number of ways, including vehicles attempting to overtake scooters and bikes, vehicles turning into the path of a cyclist, vehicles pulling out of a junction, and even vehicle doors opening in front of an oncoming cyclist.
With this type of accident, often other road users are failing to use their mirrors properly to check for cyclists and scooters before making a maneuver, as well as ensuring they leave plenty of space between themselves and the cyclist.
Poor Road Conditions
This includes potholes and badly maintained roads. When roads are poorly maintained, there is an increased chance of losing balance or control over scooters and bikes due to the uneven surface.
Spillages Or Debris
Sometimes larger vehicles such as lorries can emit spillages and debris when traveling at high speeds or on long journeys. Unfortunately, when spillages and debris are left on the road, cyclists are increasingly likely to skid, fall off their bike, and potentially injure themselves.
Reckless Or Negligent Driving
A negligent driver or driver that speeds or drives recklessly on the road is not abiding by the Highway Code or their duty of care to be aware of themselves, their surroundings, and other users while on the road.
If you have been involved in a bicycle accident and it wasn’t your fault, then you may be able to claim damages. Contact The Law Place to speak with an accident attorney today.
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Common Injuries As A Result Of A Bicycle Accident
There are many possible injuries that can occur as a result of a bike share accident. Some of the most common injuries are:
Head Injuries
This is perhaps the most dangerous of all injuries, as it can have life-changing impacts. These injuries are often much more severe if the cyclist involved in the accident wasn’t wearing a helmet. Facial and dental injuries are also more likely to occur in this instance too.
Soft Tissue Injuries
With cycle accidents, the most common soft tissue injuries usually occur around the back, neck, or legs.
Sprains, Fractures, And Broken Bones
These injuries can often take weeks or months to recover from. A broken collarbone is also one of the most common injuries amongst bike accident casualties.
Whiplash
A common injury for most road accident victims, whiplash can be defined as a neck or back injury commonly sustained as a result of a sudden stop of a vehicle, causing the head to jerk back and therefore injuring the neck.
Cuts, Bruises, And Abrasions
Cyclists skidding or grazing against the road surface often causes these types of injuries.
Pain And Suffering
This accounts for any emotional distress and trauma you may face as a result of a cycling accident.
Loss Of Life
In the most severe cases, it is possible that loss of life can occur as a result of a bicycle accident.
Injuries resulting from scooters and bikes can often appear much worse than other larger vehicle accidents. This is because when bicycle accidents occur, cyclists have very little protection between themselves and the other vehicle, and therefore it can take longer for cyclists to recover from injury.
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Possible Damages You May Be Able To Claim For Following A Bike Share Accident In Florida
Depending on the type of accident involving scooters and bikes, if it wasn’t your fault, then you may be able to claim for damages. These damages may include:
- Medical expenses – This includes any medical bills and expenses from the past, present, and future.
- Loss of income – If the injuries sustained from a cycling accident, have prevented you from being able to return to work, then you may be entitled to claim for these damages.
- Pain and suffering – If you have suffered from upset and distress, which has left you with mental trauma from the accident, then you may be able to claim damages for pain and suffering. This damage is particularly hard to prove, so it is worthwhile seeking legal advice from a criminal defense attorney in Sarasota if you wish to claim.
- Punitive damages – If the behavior of the person that caused the accident was found to be particularly spiteful and negligent, then you may be awarded compensation for this.
- Wrongful death – If you are unfortunate enough to lose a family member or loved one as a result of a bicycle accident, then you may be entitled to damages that cover loss of consortium, as well as funeral expenses, and loss of their income.
In order to assess what damages you may be eligible to claim, we strongly advise you speak to a criminal defense attorney. An attorney will work alongside you to evaluate your case and the types of damages you may be able to claim for.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Contact The Law Place In Florida Today!
If you have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a city’s e-scooter accident that wasn’t your fault, then you should seek legal advice as soon as possible. A highly skilled lawyer will put together a personal injury claim and will work to prove negligence and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Here at The Law Place, we have over 75 years of collective experience in handling cases like yours, so you can rest assured your claim will be left in knowledgeable hands.
Call our city offices today and arrange a free case evaluation.
