Miami Bicycle Accident Lawyer – Traffic Laws

Miami Bicycle Injury Lawyer Justin Ziegler has a large amount of experience representing personal injury victims who were injured while riding bicycles. Our law firm currently represents a bicycle rider (cyclist) who suffered serious personal injury. The article was in the Miami Herald and Sun Sentinel. Below is some discussion on bicycle laws.

What is the legal status of a bicycle?

Sections 316.003(2), (10) and 316.2065(1), F.S. speak to this.  A bicycle is classified as a vehicle. A person in control of a vehicle on a street or highway is a driver. As a driver, a cyclist must follow the traffic rules common to all drivers. As the driver of a bicycle, he must also obey regulations adopted specially for bicycles. A person riding a bicycle has all the rights applicable to any driver, except as to special regulations for bicycles.

What is the definition of “Bicycle?”

Florida Section 316.003(2) states “ Every vehicle propelled solely by human power, and every motorized bicycle propelled by a combination of human power and an electric helper motor capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of not more than 20 miles per hour on level ground upon which any person may ride, having two tandem wheels, and including any device generally recognized as a bicycle though equipped with two front or two rear wheels. The term does not include such a vehicle with a seat height of no more than 25 inches from the ground when the seat is adjusted to its highest position or a scooter or a similar device. No person under the age of 16 may operate or ride upon a motorized bicycle.”

It should be noted that a motorized bicycle that satisfies this definition is nevertheless subject to restrictions on sidewalks. Sidewalk riding will be discussed later.

A few march prior to March 2008, Bicycle Accident Lawyer Ziegler recently has had some excellent bicycle accident settlements