GOLDLAW – West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers, Car Accident, Slip & Fall – Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb

Category: Bicycle Accidents

bicycle accidents or cycling incidents, injuries or deaths caused on the roadways

  • Palm Beach County to Protect Cyclist and Pedestrian Safety

    Palm Beach County to Protect Cyclist and Pedestrian Safety

    Cyclist and pedestrian fatalities are on the rise in Palm Beach County, and officials want to know why.

    Members of the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency (TPA), the public entity that funds transportation projects, and creates traffic safety programs for the county are on a mission to find a solution to this problem, especially since the number of fatalities in neighboring counties is on the decrease.

    Florida Ranks as Dangerous for Cyclist and Pedestrian Safety

    A 2019 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) using 2017 data said that 783 bicyclists died in traffic crashes across the United States, with 125 deaths. – almost 15% occurring in Florida. Sadly, the number of individuals killed in bicycle crashes has continued to increase. In 2021, there were 197 bike accident fatalities, – an all-time high – according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

    Concern among officials was ramped up after an FDOT presentation that provided accident data for the District 4 region that includes Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties. From 2021 to 2022, Broward County had a reduction of 34% in pedestrian/bicycle fatalities while Palm Beach County rate increased 13 percent. More concerning? From 2018 – 2022, Broward County had a 52% decline, while Palm Beach County increased by 31%.

     Why is Broward Safer for Bicyclists and Pedestrians?

    One of the main reasons Broward has maintained a better safety rate is because the county has a transportation surtax available to fund safety improvements, a funding source that is not available in Palm Beach County. But that does not mean Palm Beach County is dragging its feet when it comes to improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.

    “We are working on it,” said TPA Executive Director Valerie Nelson. “All of this takes time. We need to do our part in raising education.”

     Improvements Coming to Palm Beach County

    According to Nelson, several major improvement projects are on the way. Separated bike lanes that keep motorists and cyclists apart from one another by a physical barrier, instead of just a painted line in the road, are coming. The first project is being built along an almost three mile stretch on Lyons Road/Sansbury Way run from Forest Hill Boulevard to Okeechobee Boulevard. Expected to be finished in the fall of 2023, the $6M project is funded by a $4.2M grant from FDOT and the TPA.

    New bike lanes will also be constructed in the coming years along Cresthaven Boulevard from Jog Road to Military Trail, Prosperity Farms Road from Northlake Boulevard to Donald Ross Road and Camino Real in Boca Raton. More than $15M has been budgeted for those projects.

    High-risk areas will receive enhanced monitoring from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. “High-visibility enforcement” patrols will operate mainly along Dixie Highway, Okeechobee Boulevard, and Lake Worth, as PBSO was recently awarded an additional $50,000 from the county. There is a plan in place, but experts stress that county entities need to be patient. “It takes time to develop safety programs,” said Greg Stewart, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in Broward County, TPA’s counterpart. “You can’t do it overnight, And it involves tough choices involving capacity vs. safety.”

    Notice: If you have been hurt in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, or lost a loved one in such an incident, GOLDLAW may be able to help you get the compensation that you are entitled to. For a complimentary consultation with one of GOLDLAW’s experienced bicycle/pedestrian accident attorneys, please call the office at (561) 222-2222.

  • Neil J. Goldman of Boynton Beach Dies in Bicycle Accident After Being Struck by SUV

    Neil J. Goldman of Boynton Beach Dies in Bicycle Accident After Being Struck by SUV

    A Boynton Beach man is dead after an SUV struck him as he was riding his bicycle in Delray Beach on Friday, February 26.

    Authorities say Neil J. Goldman, 75, was riding his bike southbound on the shoulder of Lyons Road north of West Atlantic Avenue shortly after noon. A 2019 Lexus RX350 moving south on Lyons swerved out of its lane, hitting Goldman.

    He was thrown from his bicycle and landed in the grass swale bordering the road’s west side. Sadly, Goldman suffered serious injuries and was later pronounced dead at the scene.

    The Lexus also came to a stop within the grass swale, and the SUV’s driver, 79-year-old Bella Altman of Boynton Beach, was not hurt.

    Unfortunately, Florida leads the nation in bicyclist deaths, mostly from collisions with larger vehicles. In 2018 alone, there were 6,568 bicycle accidents reported in the state. There are many contributing factors, including the fact that bicycle riding is a popular activity in Florida.

    Other common causes include distracted driving, drowsy driving, impaired driving, speeding, or road rage/aggressive driving.

    Surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim

    Mr. Goldman’s surviving family members, foremost including his spouse if married, could have a potential wrongful death claim to pursue against the negligent defendant driver, Bella Altman.

    Her auto insurance coverage may or may not cover expenses relating to the tragic loss the Goldman family is now suffering through. The only way to know for sure is for the family to hire a wrongful death law firm that is skilled in handling complex auto accident negligence cases like this.

  • 17-Year-Old Bicyclist Dies After Being Struck by DUI BMW Driver

    [vc_row][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]A DUI manslaughter charge has been filed after 17-year-old Sophie Delott was killed while riding her bicycle Friday night, June 29.

    The tragic accident happened on the Indian Rocks Causeway Bridge, around 10:30 PM. According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, 69-year-old Neil Singhal was headed west on the bridge when he suddenly veered into the bicycle lane, striking Delott. She was thrown from her bicycle and suffered life-threatening injuries. Emergency services personnel rushed her to a local hospital, where she later died.

    Singhal was uninjured, and troopers arrested him on DUI manslaughter charges.

    Delott was the only female football player at her high school, Seminole High School, and had recently enlisted in the Marine Corps.

    “Everything she did had nothing to do with wanting to be rewarded,” her football coach Chris Miller said. “It was always about everybody else with her.”

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][norebro_contact_form form_id=”5674713″ form_style=”classic”][norebro_testimonial block_type_layout=”default” block_type_alignment_default=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

  • Maria Yohany Alvarez Jimenez Struck and Killed By Car While Riding Bicycle in Boca Raton

    Maria Yohany Alvarez Jimenez Struck and Killed By Car While Riding Bicycle in Boca Raton

    Maria Yohany Alvarez Jimenez, 26, was killed in Boca Raton on Saturday, February 15, after a car struck the bicycle she was riding.

    Officials from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBCSO) say Alvarez Jiminez was heading west across State Road 7 north of Palmetto Park Road, not long after 9 PM. She was struck by a 2018 Infinity QX60 heading north. The car’s right bumper hit the bike’s front wheel. As a result, Alvarez Jiminez was thrown onto the hood of the car, then hit the side mirror. Local fire rescue crews were called, and pronounced her dead on the scene. Police then spent a few days trying to identify her.

    The driver, Iris Tallerie, and a passenger in the car were unhurt.

    Unfortunately, Florida leads the country in deaths of people riding bicycles. In fact, another bicyclist in Boca Raton died on Wednesday, February 12, after being struck by a train. Deaths of bicyclists over the age of 20 have tripled in Florida since 1975. One study found that 38 percent of these tragic deaths are caused by either a cyclist or motorist failing to yield the right of way. Many drivers who hit bicyclists or motorcycle riders say they simply didn’t see them.

    “Motorists and cyclists play an equal part in sharing the road,” says AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins in a news release. “While motorists need to eliminate distractions and watch for people on bikes, cyclists can do their part by wearing a helmet and bright-colored clothing.”

  • Volusia County Deputy Frank Scofield’s Family May Have a Case Against Man Who Ran Stop Sign

    Volusia County Deputy Frank Scofield’s Family May Have a Case Against Man Who Ran Stop Sign

    On Sunday morning, June 2, Volusia County Senior Deputy Frank Scofield, 58, was riding his bicycle in training for a memorial ride to honor 9/11 victims when a van ran a stop sign and hit him from behind. Sadly he later died of his injuries at a local hospital.

    Scofield was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and was training with a retired police officer from Daytona Beach. They were riding on County Road 415, near Pioneer Trail, when 75-year-old Lajos Toth of Lake Helen ran a stop sign. Toth was driving a van, and collided with Scofield’s bike so hard that it was ripped in half, according to Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

    “The impact was so incredible that it broke his bike in two and ripped his seat post off,” Chitwood said. He also told reporters that Toth was driving about 40 MPH, and the tragic accident caused Scofield a severe head injury he never recovered from.

    A Navy veteran, Scofield began working for the Sheriff’s Department in 1995. He was a firearms instructor and member of the dive team and marine unit.

    “When he shook your hand with those big hands of his, you knew he was your friend,” Chitwood said. “On the flip side of it, if you were breaking the law, you would also know he’s not the kind of guy you would want to come after you because he would come after you with everything that he had.”

    Chitwood added that Scofield was devoted to his community. Mr. Scofield leaves behind a wife, three children, several grandchildren, a sister and many cousins. His family may have a wrongful death claim to pursue under Florida’s established negligence laws for lost wages, funeral expenses, and pain and suffering.

    “He died doing what he loved,” Chitwood said. “He was passionate about doing the right thing and making a difference in this community – he was one of a kind.”