Since bicycles are considered vehicles by Florida law, if you are hurt in a bicycle accident due to the negligence of another driver, you have the right to sue the at-fault driver for economic (“special”) and non-economic (“general”) damages. Punitive damages could also be on the table in extreme cases, but you should talk to a lawyer to discuss that option.
Economic damages are your compensation for the out-of-pocket expenses related to the injuries you sustained in the bicycle accident including:
- medical bills,
- lost wages, or
- property damage.
Non-economic damages are harder to quantify. They often include future harms or injuries that lack specific “replacement” values. You and your lawyer will assign values to these items by their impact on your quality of life, such as:
- loss of capacity to earn,
- loss of consortium (companionship or familial love),
- pain and suffering.
Learn More: