Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent veto of a bill that would have provided e-bike safety regulations, this South Florida community passed its own ordinance for micromobility safety.
The Village of Pinecrest recently launched its e-bike safety training, which was approved by councilmembers in May, to promote education and safe riding on sidewalks and streets.
Ira Leesfield, the Founder and Managing Partner of Leesfield & Partners, has been an advocate for e-bike regulations in Florida since the micromobility devices surged in popularity immediately preceding the pandemic.
“This is chaos,” Mr. Leesfield said in an interview with Fox 35 Orlando about the veto. “If you go into any municipality on a Friday night, you’ll see people doing wheelies, weaving in and out [of traffic]. And neither the governor, no you, nor I … can tell an e-bike operator where to operate his or her e-bike. What is safe?”
If it had been passed, Senate Bill 382 would have created a 10-mph speed limit for e-bike riders when within 50 feet of a pedestrian on sidewalks and shared paths and mandate audible signals when passing these individuals. Additionally, the bill outlined requirements for the creation of a task force to monitor crash statistics and data collected by police throughout the state to make future recommendations.
Pinecrest held its first safety training sessions just a week after the would-be launch date of SB 382. The new ordinance establishes speed limits within village limits, fines for violators, and additional safety requirements.
“The classes are designed for young riders and their parents or guardians,” Village officials said. “Attendance by both the rider and parent/guardian is required, and participants will be asked to sign a safety acknowledgment form.”
Local media has reported a rise in e-bike accidents involving severe injuries, often linked to inconsistent helmet use. For children in particular, the consequences of these crashes can be life-altering. Data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission showed that there were 117,600 injuries from these devices treated in emergency rooms from 2017 to 2021. In that time, 25% of these incidents involved young people from 15 to 24 years old. From 2020 to 2021, the agency found that there was a 66% increase in injuries as the popularity of these devices continued to soar.
Schools, safety organizations, law enforcement, medical professionals, and bicycle advocacy groups should work together in promoting education and responsible riding. Public awareness campaigns, rider training, appropriate helmet use, and consistent enforcement are essential components of any meaningful safety strategy.
Parents should understand that many e-bikes are capable of speeds far beyond those of traditional bicycles. These are not toys. They require maturity, training, and a clear understanding of the rules of the road.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners has gained state and nationwide recognition as a top Florida personal injury law firm with 50 years of experience obtaining record results for injured clients and their grieving families. Our firm handles wrongful death and severe injury cases ranging from motor vehicle accidents, bicycle crashes, negligent security incidents, cruise ship excursion injuries and more throughout Florida. Operating out of a state with some of the highest crash rates in the country, our attorneys have seen just about every injury that can occur on the road.
As the longest-serving personal injury law firm in Coconut Grove, Leesfield & Partners has secured million-dollar results for injured cyclists and pedestrians. In a bid to raise awareness about road and pedestrian safety, Mr. Leesfield has periodically posted public safety advisories on the digital board outside of the firm’s Miami office, which sits on U.S. 1 and is seen by thousands of commuters each day. Additionally, Mr. Leesfield has also teamed up with organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Friends of The Underline through his charitable organization, The Leesfield Family Foundation.
The firm is currently representing a 21-year-old man who was severely injured on an e-scooter. As a result, he suffered a serious gash to his forehead and fractured his left arm.
This case is being handled by Partner Justin B. Shapiro.
Trial Attorney Bernardo Pimentel II is representing a man who was ejected from his bicycle following a Monroe County crash with a commercial truck driver.
“This driver’s one moment of inattention has left my client with life-altering injuries,” Mr. Pimentel said. “This frightening incident has left him in severe pain, causing a disruption to his daily life and happiness.”
Previous Cases
A case involving a bicyclist who was hit while stopped on the shoulder of the Overseas Highway in Key West resulted in a $5,350,000 settlement for the client. In that case, the bicyclist who was stopped on the side of the road was hit by a driver who was distracted by their car’s GPS.
A pedestrian-involved incident handled by the firm resulted in the maximum recovery amount of $6 million awarded to our injured client. In that case, a woman was walking back to her office following a mid-day break when she was struck by a truck making an illegal left turn whose driver claimed not to see her in the marked crosswalk. The woman had severe injuries including skull fractures and brain hemorrhages as a result of the driver’s negligence.
For a Toronto family, a vacation to Fort Myers turned into a nightmare after a pickup truck driver failed to see a young wife and mother attempting to cross the street. Leesfield & Partners attorneys recovered an $8.5 million settlement for the family following a $27 million arbitration award.
Another pedestrian-involved incident handled by the firm resulted in a $2.9 million recovery.
The firm previously recovered $3 million for a mother and son injured in a bicycle incident.
If you or a loved one has been injured on Florida roads, don’t wait. Call a Leesfield & Partners attorney today at 305-854-4900 for a free consultation.
