Bicycle helmets are a smart idea if you are a regular cyclist and you want to be as safe as possible on the road. Regardless of your skill or age, wearing a helmet when you are choosing to cycle on the roads in Florida can be a wise decision. Even if you’re confident in your abilities, other drivers can put you at risk on the roads.
Florida has one of the most unfortunate long-running reputations as being one of the most dangerous states for riding a bicycle. With the number of cycling accidents that occur each year and the number of drivers that carry little to no insurance, getting involved in a cycling accident can be a difficult process in Florida.
Florida Bicycle Helmet Law
At this time there is no current universal bike helmet law in Florida. If you’re above the age of 16, you can ride without a helmet legally. If you’re younger than 16, you will need to be wearing a helmet that meets all federal safety standards and it needs to be fastened your head securely with a strap.
If you are involved in a personal injury case while riding a bicycle, you may be surprised to know that you might not be entitled to the same amount of compensation if you decide to abstain from wearing a bicycle helmet. Cyclists can pursue damages against another person or entity that causes the accident, but if you were not wearing any type of protection, this could damage your case. The issue becomes whether and to what extent your failure to wear a helmet played a role in the injuries you suffered.
Although wearing a helmet is not a legal requirement in the state of Florida, choosing to put a helmet on can help to protect you from a serious injury as well as ensure that you can access improve levels of coverage in the worst-case scenario.
This post was written by Kelly-Ann Jenkins of Jenkins Law P.L. Kelly-Ann is an St Petersburg Personal Injury Attorney She focuses on personal injury, car accidents, and bicyclist injury. The information on this site is not intended to and does not offer legal advice, legal recommendations or legal representation on any matter. Hiring an attorney is an important decision, which should not be based on advertising. You need to consult an attorney for legal advice regarding your individual situation.
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