Biking: it’s probably not something you associate with a high risk for accidents, right? If you combine something like drinking with bicycling, though, an accident suddenly becomes much more likely.
So, what happens if you drink while biking? What happens if there’s an accident and someone is injured in the process? While you may not think “biking under the influence” is criminal – like drinking while driving is. You might be surprised by the way the law regards bicycling and drinking in Florida.
Here’s what you need to know.
Is Drinking While Biking a Crime?
Drinking and driving are obviously taboo – and so is drinking while bicycling. According to Alcohol.org,
“You can get stopped for riding a bicycle if you are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol in all states. If an individual is exhibiting behavior that indicates they are extremely intoxicated, police officers have the right and responsibility to detain that person if it is suspected that they are dangerous to themselves or others.”
Impaired driving of ANY vehicle can cause accidents and injuries. While biking is a popular way to get around in Pensacola and the surrounding areas, both bikers and drivers must be careful to avoid accidents while sharing the roads.
Drivers, for their part, must be extra careful and not rely on bicyclists to stay in bike lanes. Especially because there are no bike lanes throughout much of Florida. Bicyclists, meanwhile, need to be responsible “drivers” as well. An unsteady bicyclist can cause all kinds of problems and may create an accident if they’ve been drinking.
Impaired Bicycling Hurts Your Chances of Compensation in the Event of a Crash
If you are in a crash, being impaired could affect your chances of getting the settlement you want. While Florida allows crash victims to recover compensation for their injuries (even in cases where they were only partially at fault), the pure comparative negligence standard may complicate things. This standard states that it is the jury’s responsibility to determine the plaintiff’s level of negligence before they move on to the damages portion of a trial.
To put this in plain language: being drunk is the same thing as being negligent in the state of Florida. If you’re injured while drunk on a bicycle, the jury may rule that you are not eligible to collect damages in your case.
Working With a Personal Injury Attorney After Your Accident
While avoiding drinking while biking is the best way to ensure you won’t wind up in this unfortunate situation, our Pensacola personal injury attorneys can help you navigate your case, should you find yourself needing legal assistance.
Contact Ward & Barnes, P.A. today to learn more about our personal injury services. And to find out how we can help you if you were injured in a drunk bicycling accident. #calluspensacola