Motorcycle safety is a priority in Florida, and that includes wearing helmets. However, the state’s helmet law is partial, meaning it doesn’t apply to every rider.  While the law does not apply to everyone, a helmet can greatly reduce the chance of a serious head injury or death in an […] The post Florida Helmet Law: What You Need to Know appeared first on FFP Law ..read more

Bicycle accidents happen a lot. There were about 467,000 bicycle related injuries recorded in 2015 alone.  Considering, how little bicycles are used compared to other means of transport, that’s a lot of bicycle accidents. You know what’s worse? Very few of these accidents are ever reported to the Police. Even worse, very few victims of this number take steps to get compensation for their injuries. And the shocker? Less than 20% of those that try to get redress end up with satisfactory compensation, despite overall medical costs and productivity losses of $10 billion. Frankly, it can be a ..read more

Far too many cyclists are injured or killed in collisions with motor vehicles every year in Florida. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports there were 6,664 cases where a bicycle and a motor vehicle collided in a recent year, resulting in 774 incapacitating cyclist injuries and 156 deaths. If you have been severely injured in a Gainesville bike accident, the Gainesville bicycle accident attorneys at Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano will be ready to stand up and fight for you. Keep reading to learn what to do if you are injured, or contact our office for a free initia ..read more

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that 5,946 bike crashes occurred for the most recent year for which data is available. Tragically, 162 people lost their lives in such cycling accidents. Our law firm is dedicated to protecting the health and safety of local community members. Members of our firm regularly cycle to work, for pleasure, and for exercise. They are also members of the Gainesville Cycling Club and have participated in numerous bike tours as part of family vacations. As avid cyclists, we would like to share the following information about preventing ..read more

Orlando Weekly has reported that Florida has the highest number of bicyclist fatalities of all the states. For the most recent year reported, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that 161 cyclists died in Florida crashes. Alachua County has also noticed a sudden uptick in the number of cyclist deaths. However, Florida lawmakers have just passed a new cycling law in an effort to reverse these disturbing trends. The 3-Foot Rule Arguably, the most important part of the new law is the requirement that motorists who pass bicyclists must pass at a safe distance of at least three f ..read more

After a motorcycle accident, it is normal to have a lot of questions about insurance and how to file a claim for the compensation you need to recover. Accident victims can file both personal injury claims and property damage claims after a motorcycle crash. At Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano, P.A., we have more than 100 years of combined legal experience helping injured motorcyclists navigate the complex insurance claims process and secure the full compensation they are owed. Contact us to discuss your insurance claim and learn how we can help. The consultation is a free consultation. What Type ..read more

If you were seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, your own insurance coverage is likely not going to be enough to fully cover the cost of your injuries. When this is the case, you can pursue compensation from the at-fault driver and their insurance company. Although many bikers understand this, they do not always know what types of damages they can seek in a motorcycle accident lawsuit. At Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano, P.A., we help crash victims demand maximum compensation for their losses. Here are just a few of the most common types of damages we pur ..read more

Only 1% of all trips in the US are made on bicycle. If you’re going to get around in the US, it’s more likely that you’d take a taxi or the bus or even roll out in style in your own ride. Bicycles ever hardly feature, if at all. But for such a rarely used machine, the rate at which bicycles are involved in accidents is surprisingly high. A study by pedbikeinfo.org showed that more than 48,000 cyclists were injured in vehicle related accidents in 2013. In 2015, this number jumped to a whopping 467,000. The unfortunate truth is: accidents can occur easily when bicycles are involved, especially w ..read more

The era of personal injury lawsuits is fading fast. Only 4% of personal injury lawsuits ever go to trial. The vast majority of the rest are settled out of court and in most cases, before even going to court at all. And there’s good reason why too. Litigation can be time-consuming, stressful and may end up with you spending a large chunk of what you eventually get as compensation. And there’s the distinct possibility that this amount may be less than what you expected. So, unless you have a very good lawyer or a very strong case, litigation is best used as a last resort. That being said, a will ..read more

Be sure to remember that a bicycle is legally defined as a vehicle in the state of Florida. Therefore, bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws as other vehicle drivers. We have broken down traffic statutes down into bite-sized pieces below to further your understanding of bicycle safety and laws. Fla. Stat. § 316.2065 General Rules to Keep in Mind Obey all traffic controls and signals. For example, stop at stop signs and red lights. Do not ride above the speed limit. The seat-to-people ratio must be 1:1. If there is only one designated seat, two people cannot share it. Keep at least one ha ..read more