Florida bike helmet law only applies to riders under 16

Bike riders of all ages should wear helmets to protect them from serious head injuries; however, the Florida statute covering bike regulations only requires riders to wear helmets if they are under the age of 16:

 

s 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations

(3)(d) A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap and that meets the federal safety standard for bicycle helmets, final rule, 16 C.F.R. part 1203. A helmet purchased before October 1, 2012, which meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 Bicycle Helmet Standards), the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation (1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling), or any other nationally recognized standards for bicycle helmets adopted by the department may continue to be worn by a bicycle rider or passenger until January 1, 2016. As used in this subsection, the term “passenger” includes a child who is riding in a trailer or semitrailer attached to a bicycle.

(e) Law enforcement officers and school crossing guards may issue a bicycle safety brochure and a verbal warning to a bicycle rider or passenger who violates this subsection. A bicycle rider or passenger who violates this subsection may be issued a citation by a law enforcement officer and assessed a fine for a pedestrian violation, as provided in s. 318.18. The court shall dismiss the charge against a bicycle rider or passenger for a first violation of paragraph (d) upon proof of purchase of a bicycle helmet that complies with this subsection.

 

Even if you wear a helmet, you can still sustain other injuries

One of the most common types of injuries resulting from a bicycle accident is a head injury. This is because, often, cyclists are thrown over their handlebars and have little control over the way they land.

Of course, bicycle riders can help prevent head injuries by wearing helmets. Head injuries can come in the form of bumps, scrapes, gashes, or even fractures of the skull, leading to a greater probability of a resulting brain injury.

 

Even though wearing a bike helmet can go a long way in preventing serious head injuries, but bike accidents can result in other major injuries. The types and severity of injuries sustained in a bike crash will depend on some of the following factors:

• type of impact;
• whether a helmet or other protection was involved;
• speed of the parties involved;
• whether motor vehicles were involved; and
• condition of the roadway or trail (potholes, construction sites, etc.).

 

Other types of bike injuries

• Spinal cord injuries.

Because of the nature of exposure when we ride bikes, spinal cord injuries can result when a bicycle crash victim lands on his or her back, neck, or head with the proper amount of force. This can lead to vertebrae fractures or even paralysis.

• Facial injuries.

Common facial injuries resulting from bike accidents include the loss or damage of an eye, broken jaw, broken nose, chipped teeth, and extreme scarring that can last a lifetime depending on the severity.

• Broken bones and fractures.

The legs, arms, shoulder, back, neck, hip, and almost any other bone in the body could be at risk of suffering a fracture. Multiple bone breaks are not uncommon and could lead to extensive treatment, rehab, and recovery.

With no barrier or protection between you and a motorist or an object such as a tree, street, or building, the chance of suffering fatal injuries is possible. When someone you love has been the victim of wrongful death such as this, The Franzen Firm may be able to help.

 

Bike injury attorney Adam Franzen knows Florida bicycle laws.

If you have sustained injuries in a bicycle accident that was not your fault, contact The Franzen Firm today. There are many stipulations in the state of Florida regarding bicycle accidents. Adam Franzen knows the laws and can help you after a bicycle accident. Contact him immediately after an accident at (954) 462-5790. You can also visit his website to learn more about how he can help you with your bicycle and other personal injury cases.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 23rd, 2016 at 4:01 am and is filed under Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.