Coral Gables Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Coral Gables is a great place to ride. Whether you’re commuting through Miracle Mile, coasting past the Biltmore, or heading home from campus, the city offers smooth roads, shaded paths, and scenic neighborhoods. But even in a bike-friendly place, one reckless driver can change everything.
If you’ve been hit while riding, you’re probably still trying to get your head around what happened. The pain, the damage to your bike, the bills—none of it makes sense at first. That’s okay. You don’t need all the answers today. You need a bicycle accident lawyer in Coral Gables—start with Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia. Call us at 305-845-4470 or contact us online for a free consultation with one of our lawyers. We’ll help you figure out your next move.
Why Choose Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia?
After a bike crash, most people don’t look for a lawyer first. They look for a way to stop the chaos. That’s where we come in. When you call Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, you won’t get a switchboard or a script. You’ll get someone who listens, asks real questions, and helps you figure out what your claim could cover—and whether you even want to move forward.
We’re proud to be a Coral Gables bicycle accident law firm that puts people first. We focus on honest conversations, real support, and outcomes that actually help you move forward. You’ll hear from us when there’s news. You’ll get straight answers when you ask tough questions. And you’ll be treated like someone whose story matters—because it does.
We also bring years of experience with Florida bicycle accident laws. We know how to read a police report, where to look for hidden video footage, and what to say when the insurance adjuster says, “Well, bikes don’t have the right-of-way here.” We’ve heard it all. We’re ready for it.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Coral Gables
Bike accidents don’t just “happen.” Most of them trace back to a moment when someone behind the wheel stopped paying attention. Some of the most common causes we see include:
- Drivers turning left or right without checking for cyclists
- Failing to yield at intersections or roundabouts
- Speeding through residential or downtown areas
- Distracted driving—texting, scrolling, GPS tapping
- Dooring incidents, especially in high-parking areas
And sometimes, the road itself creates the danger. A broken curb, a pothole, a missing bike lane marking—these small things can create major hazards. Whether your crash involved a driver, a dangerous street, or something else entirely, we’ll look at every angle.
Injuries Cyclists Often Face After a Crash
There’s no such thing as a minor bike crash. When a car hits a cyclist, it’s not a fair fight. Even at low speeds, a crash can cause serious damage. Helmets help, but they can’t prevent everything.
Some of the injuries we often see include:
- Broken bones
- Head trauma
- Spinal injuries and nerve damage
- Road rash and skin infections
- Torn ligaments and soft tissue damage
- Psychological effects like anxiety or panic attacks
Some cyclists recover in a few weeks. Others face months of medical appointments, physical therapy, or surgery. And for many, riding a bike again feels impossible—physically or emotionally.
Florida Bicycle Accident Laws: What You Should Know
Florida law treats bicycles as vehicles. That means you have the right to ride on the road, to use bike lanes, and to expect drivers to treat you with the same caution they’d give another car. It also means drivers must yield when required, pass with at least three feet of space, and look before opening a door into traffic.
Florida also requires anyone under 16 to wear a helmet while riding. But even if you weren’t wearing one, that doesn’t automatically put you at fault or cancel out your claim.
When a driver ignores those rules and hits a cyclist, they may be held legally responsible. In some cases, other parties—like property owners or city agencies—can also share fault. Florida follows a comparative negligence system. If you’re found partially at fault, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault, but that doesn’t block you from recovering altogether unless you were more than 50 percent at fault.
So if someone tells you, “You were riding too close to the curb,” or “You weren’t wearing a helmet,” that doesn’t automatically end your claim. Let us take a look before you decide anything.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Bicycle Accident?
Liability in bicycle accidents isn’t always as simple as “the driver did it.” Sometimes, the story behind the crash points to multiple parties.
We may bring a claim against:
- A negligent driver
- The driver’s employer, if they were working at the time
- A property owner who created or failed to fix a hazard
- A city or public agency responsible for unsafe road design or maintenance
We will take time to investigate what actually caused the crash—not just what’s written in the first report. We look for surveillance video, knock on nearby doors, and talk to witnesses ourselves.
What a Bicycle Accident Claim Can Cover
Most people think about hospital bills first. But an injury settlement for cyclists can go far beyond the ER. Florida law allows injured cyclists to recover for a wide range of losses, including the things you don’t always see on paper.
Your claim may include:
- Emergency treatment and hospitalization
- Surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up care
- Prescription medication and medical equipment
- Lost wages from time off work
- Reduced earning ability if you can’t return to your usual job
- Pain, discomfort, and physical limitations
- Emotional trauma, fear, or loss of enjoyment in daily life
- Permanent injury or visible scarring
If your crash left you unable to ride again—or changed how you work, parent, or live day to day—we’ll make sure that part of your story gets told, too.
Long-Term Effects That Often Get Missed
Some injuries take time to fully show up. A sore knee might turn into something more serious. A concussion might leave you dealing with memory trouble or migraines. The fear that sets in when you try to ride again? That counts, too.
We don’t stop at the surface. We will work with medical professionals, therapists, and life care planners to understand what your future might look like—so your claim reflects everything the crash set in motion, not just the first doctor’s visit.
Even if you feel “okay” now, don’t write off that lingering pain or anxiety. We’ve seen how often those quiet symptoms become bigger problems down the line.
Talking to the Insurance Company
Insurance companies act fast—and not because they want to help. Their goal is to close the claim quickly, often with the smallest payout possible. They may ask for a statement or offer a low settlement before you’ve even seen a specialist.
Before you say yes to anything, let a bike injury lawyer in Coral Gables look the offer over. We’ll tell you what’s missing, what could come up later, and whether the offer matches what you’re facing. And if the insurance company tries to downplay your injuries or point the blame at you, we know how to push back.
How We Build Your Bicycle Accident Claim
Building a strong claim means telling the full story—clearly, carefully, and with evidence to back it up. We will start by collecting every piece of information that matters:
- Police reports and crash diagrams
- Video footage from traffic or security cameras
- Photos of the scene and your damaged bike
- Medical records and expert opinions
- Witness interviews and field visits
If needed, we’ll bring in accident reconstruction experts or specialists who can explain the long-term cost of medical care you’ll need. No two crashes are the same, and we don’t treat them that way.
Frequently Asked Questions
When you’ve been injured in a bicycle accident, you no doubt have questions. We’ve answered some of the ones we often hear.
Do I really need a lawyer for a bike accident?
Having a lawyer often makes a significant difference in a bicycle case. Insurance companies take claims more seriously when an attorney gets involved, and you’ll have someone focused on the full scope of your recovery.
What if I wasn’t wearing a helmet?
You can still have a case. Florida doesn’t require adults to wear helmets, and lack of a helmet doesn’t automatically make you at fault. We’ll look at what actually caused your injuries.
What if the driver left the scene?
Hit-and-run cases are tough but not impossible. We may be able to help you file a claim under your own insurance policy or track down additional sources of recovery.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
We work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything upfront. We only get paid if we recover money for you.
Talk to a Coral Gables Bicycle Accident Lawyer Today
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you call. If you were hit while riding, we’ll help you understand your rights, your options, and what to expect if you decide to move forward. No pressure. Just real answers from a team that knows how to handle these cases—and treats you like a person, not a file.
At Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, our personal injury lawyers in Coral Gables stand with cyclists who never should’ve been hurt in the first place. If you’re looking for clear guidance after a crash, let’s talk. Give us a call today – 305-845-4470.