J. Steele Olmstead, P.A.
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Bicycle Law FAQs

[raw][toggle title=”Can I ride without a helmet?”]Sure. Can I have insurance on your life? Florida is the second deadliest place in the United States for cyclist. This is led by Orlando and Tampa where it’s down right scary in some places to be on the road on a bicycle. Do you really want to take that chance? You can fix broken bones. Broken brains… not so much. Here’s another equation: typical good helmet from a local bike shop is $60. The minute law enforcement shows up and you appear confused or disoriented after a crash, the officer will order you a free helicopter ride: cost: $13,000. When you get to the hospital, CT scans of your brain will be ordered, you will get some fancy monitoring equipment, may get an ice pack, etc. — average cost of questionable traumatic brain injury triage and initial treatment: $11,000.00 to $20,000.00. Izzat enough zeroes for you? Wear a helmet: it’s way cheaper and you get to keep your personality.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Can I ride on the sidewalk?”]Sure, but pedestrians have the right of way. Don’t forget call out to them that you’re approaching from behind. Always check with your local city ordinances. Some cities have opted to ban bicycles on sidewalks even though the streets have no bike lanes or there are no bike paths. Bad cities! Bad city of the month: Clearwater, Florida. No bicycling on the sidewalk there.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Can I ride after I’ve been drinking?”]Did you really ask me that? See the bicycle laws section of our site. Bicycles are vehicles, like cars. So, you can get a ticket if you are drunk. Keep it safe, drive a bicycle sober.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Where can I ride?”]Wherever you want to really. Just act like a car when you are on the road: ride with the traffic, signal when you turn or stop, obey the stop and yield signs.. you know … car stuff. Ride the sidewalks unless your city says not to. Just call the local police and they’ll tell you. Oh, don’t forget there are miles and miles and miles and miles of car-free paved “rails-to-trails” trails and off-road parks in every county.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”I’ve just been in a bike crash. What should I do?” last]
If you have been injured, please seek medical attention immediately.

If you have been in a collision with another vehicle (bicycle or motor vehicle), call 911 if you are hurt, and at the least, call the local law enforcement department to report the incident. Unless an ambulance is called and arrives first. If the cyclist (you) is injured, everyone involved in the crash must stay at the crash until law enforcement arrives. Get the information of the car or other party/parties, including name, phone number, address, insurance information, and license plate number (if applicable). If anyone stops and says they “saw the crash” or saw anything, get their name and all their contact information or at least take a picture of their license plate with your cell phone.

You will be blamed for the crash. We always are. People in cars think they do nothing wrong. It’s simply too hard for them to accept you might be badly injured so they will twist facts/logic/rights/sequencing in their head to make the injured cyclist at fault. Do not argue with the other party/parties about who was in the right or get into a fight. You do not know if the other party carries a weapon, especially on the back roads or the road rage hot spots in Florida. Heated arguments can lead to confusion when law enforcement arrives, and participating in a physical fight can lead to your arrest.

Best thing? Keep quiet, call me on my toll free number: 1-800-535-3002.

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run collision, take down the license plate number (if applicable) and a description of the vehicle and its operator. Note the time and location of the incident and report it immediately to law enforcement. A decent cell phone camera can be a big help here.

Once police arrive, do not argue with them if they take an action you disagree with (for example, if they ticket you when you believe you are not at fault). Be polite and get the officers’ names. I will make sure you will have the opportunity to present your side of the story in court. Law enforcement will generally not ticket the car driver and may not enforce the statutes. I am working on an act to pass in the legislature to correct this. Don’t worry if the officer fails to ticket the car driver. The law is still on the books and we can still use it in court.

If you have been in a non-life-threatening collision that does not involve another vehicle, you can report it to police via a non-emergency number. Why would you do this? Many municipalities keep track of bike collisions and their locations to help them address problem areas. If poor road conditions (such as potholes or poorly constructed train tracks) contributed to the collision, consider informing the city or county’s road, street or public works department about the issue. If you have questions call me: 1-800-535-3002.[/toggle][/raw]

Contact J. Steele Olmstead

  • (813) 727-0257 cell/text
  • (813) 979-4949
  • (727) 570-8020
  • (352) 688-3777

Statewide toll-free:

  • (800) 535-3002
  • Email
  • Contact Us
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Concussions • Dazed • Knocked Unconscious

When the human brain is damaged by any force from a fall, a bicycle or motor vehicle crash, life is changed.

I can help you.

ANY injury to the brain, no matter how mild, is called traumatic brain injury (TBI). A concussion is a brain injury.

Continue reading . . .

Contact J. Steele Olmstead

  • (813) 727-0257 cell/text
  • (813) 979-4949
  • (727) 570-8020
  • (352) 688-3777

Statewide toll-free:

  • (800) 535-3002
  • Email
  • Contact Us
    • Tumblr
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Rss

Billboard/TV lawyers mishandling your personal injury case

Insurance companies know that Billboard/TV lawyers simply don’t have enough lawyers to prepare, review, work up and take all of their client’s cases to trial. Insurance companies therefore almost always settle their cases with Billboard/TV lawyers for what the insurance company wants to pay, not what the case is worth. Billboard/TV lawyers are simply high-volume “mills” for low-value settlements.

Lawyers, like any professionals, can severely affect your life. A bad medical doctor can cripple you. A bad accountant can take your all your money. A bad architect or engineer can design a building that collapses killing everyone.

Why would you get such a professional from a billboard or a television ad?

If you (or someone you know) made the mistake of hiring a billboard/t.v. lawyer and that lawyer pressured you to settle your case for less than what it should have received, call me.

Contact J. Steele Olmstead

  • (813) 727-0257 cell/text
  • (813) 979-4949
  • (727) 570-8020
  • (352) 688-3777

Statewide toll-free:

  • (800) 535-3002
  • Email
  • Contact Us
    • Tumblr
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Rss

Brain Injury Danger Signs

Danger Signs in Adults

In rare cases, a dangerous blood clot may form on the brain in a person with a concussion and crowd the brain against the skull. Contact your health care professional or hospital emergency department right away if you or someone close to you has any of the following danger signs after any bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body: [icon_list icon="exclamation-triangle" color="#ab4100"]
  • A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
  • Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination.
  • Repeated vomiting or nausea.
  • Slurred speech.
[/icon_list] The people checking on the injured person should take them immediately to the hospital Emergency if the injured person: [icon_list icon="exclamation-triangle" color="#ab4100"]
  • has one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other.
  • has convulsions or seizures.
  • cannot recognize people or places.
  • is getting more and more confused, restless, or agitated.
  • has any unusual behavior.
  • loses consciousness (even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously and the person should be carefully monitored).
[/icon_list]

Danger Signs in Children

Take your child to the hospital emergency department immediately if they received a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and: [icon_list icon="exclamation-triangle" color="#ab4100"]
  • have any of the danger signs for adults listed above.
  • will not stop crying and cannot be consoled.
  • will not nurse or eat.
[/icon_list]

For more information

  • Signs and Symptoms Checklist
  • Fact Sheet on Children and Toddlers
  • Facts for Physicians (pdf)
    — U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC)
  • Facts about Concussion (pdf)
    — U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Billboard/TV lawyers mishandling your personal injury case

Insurance companies know that Billboard/TV lawyers simply don’t have enough lawyers to prepare, review, work up and take all of their client’s cases to trial. Insurance companies therefore almost always settle their cases with Billboard/TV lawyers for what the insurance company wants to pay, not what the case is worth. Billboard/TV lawyers are simply high-volume “mills” for low-value settlements.

Lawyers, like any professionals, can severely affect your life. A bad medical doctor can cripple you. A bad accountant can take your all your money. A bad architect or engineer can design a building that collapses killing everyone.

Why would you get such a professional from a billboard or a television ad?

If you (or someone you know) made the mistake of hiring a billboard/t.v. lawyer and that lawyer pressured you to settle your case for less than what it should have received, call me.

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