Cyclists and pedestrians need to be careful on the streets of South Florida
In South Florida, cycling accidents involving motorists are frequent and dangerous, according to the Miami accident attorneys of Gamba & Lombana. In January, 44-year-old Christophe Le Canne lost his life after he was run down in a hit-and-run accident on the Rickenbacker Causeway in route to Key Biscayne. Le Canne was hit from behind by Carlos Bertonatti, a 28-year-old who police have filed multiple felony charges against, including DUI manslaughter. It was reported that Bertonatti drove away with from the scene of the accident with Le Canne's bicycle still stuck underneath his car. Further compounding the problem: Witnesses said it took Miami-Dade Fire Rescue nearly 20 minutes to arrive on the scene.
This latest accident has once again reopened the discussion about the need for making South Florida more bicycle friendly. Aggressive and negligent drivers make the streets of Miami-Dade and Broward county some of the most dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians alike. In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 490 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in the state of Florida, and the U.S. Department of Transportation named Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach as the third most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians.
Continue reading "Cyclists and pedestrians need to be careful on the streets of South Florida" »
