With cycling an increasingly common pastime, whether it be for pleasure, exercise, or just getting around, Florida’s sunny climate provides ideal conditions for it nearly all year. This, of course, is great, however, lots of cycling unfortunately also means lots of bicycle accidents. At Barthelette Law, we represent bicycle accident victims throughout Florida, and in this article, we’re going to take a look at the bicycle accident statistics for one particular area — Collier County. With its largest city, Naples, having thirty miles of bicycle pathways (in a city of less than fourteen square miles), cycling is a big deal there. So what was the state of play in 2021 when it comes to bicycle accidents in Collier County? Let’s review Collier County’s 2021 bicycle accident statistics!
With all data coming from the NHSTA and the Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, let’s begin with…
Collier County’s Bicycle Accident Statistics
- How many bicycle accidents occurred in Collier County in 2021?
- How many of those bicycle accidents were fatal?
- In what months are most of these Collier County bicycle accidents happening?
- What time of day are most bicycle accidents happening?
- What was the number one cause of these accidents?
- How many cycling accidents in Collier County were investigated by the police?
- What kind of compensation can I get if I’m involved in a bicycle accident in Collier County?
How many bicycle accidents occurred in Collier County in 2021?
In 2021, there were 143 bicycle crashes of which 136 involved cyclists sustaining injuries of some kind.
How many of those bicycle accidents were fatal?
Unfortunately, in 2021, four people died as a result of bicycle crashes in the county. This figure is very much in line with previous years’ statistics (three fatalities in 2020, and four fatalities in 2019).
In what months are most of these Collier County bicycle accidents happening?
There were two noticeable peaks in 2021 — March and December — with 20 and 19 accidents occurring respectively. The month with the least number of bicycle-related accidents was September, with only four incidents.
What time of day are most bicycle accidents happening?
According to the NHTSA’s most recent figures, most bicycle accidents (30%) occur between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. However, those statistics cover weekend incidents — during the week, most accidents (19%) happen between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Either way, the hours around 6 p.m. seem to be a particularly dangerous time for cyclists, perhaps due to fading light and drivers returning home from work.
What was the number one cause of these accidents?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 96% of all accidents involved a single-car collision. Again, according to the NHTSA, 27% of cyclist fatalities occur at intersections, with distracted drivers failing to take proper care when assessing the road for cyclists.
How many cycling accidents in Collier County were investigated by the police?
With alcohol consumption being a worryingly common characteristic of many of these accidents, 72% of incidents were investigated by the Sheriff’s Department, 17% by the Florida Highway Patrol, and 11% by the Police Department.
What kind of compensation can I get if I’m involved in a bicycle accident in Collier County?
Fortunately, Florida law allows cyclists to make a number of claims. From medical expenses to lost wages due to recovery time, there is a wide range of areas that a cyclist claim compensation for. Further to this, a cyclist who has been involved in an accident can also claim damages for their pain and suffering.
If you’ve been involved in a cycling accident in Collier County or anywhere else in Florida and would like a professional opinion on your ability to make a claim, why not get in touch with Barthelette Law. As Florida personal injury lawyers, we have extensive experience handling claims of all kinds for cyclists — you’ll be in good hands.
We hope you enjoyed reading, “Collier County’s 2021 Bicycle Accident Statistics.” If you are interested in reading about Collier County’s 2020 bicycle accident statistics, click here.
All our consultations are free and confidential. Call us today on (561) 246-4137 and see how we can help you.