This week, the Miami-Dade County commissioners spent a considerable amount of time investigating the death of a Florida cyclist who was struck by a car while riding on the Rickenbacker Causeway. The commissioners debated what caused the accident and what can be done in order to make Miami streets safer for all those who take to the road.

Bicyclist Christopher Lecanne, 44, was riding his bicycle Sunday morning when he was struck by a car on the Rickenbacker Causeway near Key Biscayne.  The bicycle was dragged almost the entire length of the village. The driver of the vehicle, Carlos Bertonatti, 28, was arrested the next day by Miami police and charged with an entire list of charges including: vehicular manslaughter, DUI manslaughter, not having a valid driver’s license, and leaving the scene of the accident. And, he certainly was no stranger to traffic violations either–his driving record boasts forty-two citations in the past twelve years.

Unfortunately, at the time of the accident the closest fire-rescue team was closed. Therefore, an emergency team from South Miami, ten miles away, was sent instead. Because they had to travel so far to get to the scene of the accident, the medical team arrived after Lecanne had died.

County Manager George Burgess was questioned by the commissioners about the station’s part-time hours. During the spring budget session, it was explicitly stated that no public safety concerns would be slashed. To combat this problem, the toll has been raised at the Key Biscayne entrance in order to fund the station and keep them open full time. Additionally, a variety of safety measures were discussed, including lowering the speed limit and having more officers on patrol. It was also suggested that the local police departments unify their radio systems in order to better respond to accidents. Yet the problem essentially remains the same–it has been increasingly difficult to find funding for all of the necessary changes.

Because bicycles, motorcycles, and automobiles share the roadways, it is increasingly important that they watch out for one another. As seen by the example of Christopher Lecanne, bicycle-auto accidents can cause severe personal injury and/or death. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help provide answers to the many questions that an injured individual would likely have regarding their case. If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to damages–and an aggressive personal injury attorney can help you retrieve your deserved compensation. The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell have years of experience representing individuals who have sustained personal injury in accidents, and are ready to help you as well.