Bicyclist Killed After Being Struck By Tractor-Trailer In Hillsborough County

In early May 2025, a 37-year old bicyclist was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer near Sydney Dover Road in Hillsborough County. According to law enforcement, the bicyclist ”failed to yield” to the tractor-trailer, crossing into its path and being struck. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene, and while we are used to stories of tractor-trailer drivers being at fault in these types of crashes, it does not appear that the driver bore any liability in the accident.

Comparative Fault May Play A Role

When an accident involving a large vehicle and another road user occurs, one often assumes that the driver of the larger vehicle is at fault. Vehicles like tractor-trailers or commercial buses are so much larger than a pedestrian or bicyclist and stop much more slowly; if the two meet in an accident, the pedestrian is more likely to be killed or suffer serious injury than they would be in a crash involving a car or SUV.

That said, it is crucial to keep in mind that a plaintiff can legally bear a share of responsibility for their own injuries. This is known in Florida law as comparative fault – and if a plaintiff is held to be more than 50 percent at fault for their own injuries, they cannot legally recover damages in Florida. In this case, it appears from the available information that the bicyclist might have borne a share of the liability in causing their own injuries, given that he allegedly failed to yield to the much larger vehicle.

Was This A Wrongful Death?

Even if a plaintiff is found to be partially liable for their own harm, this does not mean that a bereaved family could not seek damages for wrongful death. In Florida, wrongful death is a claim brought when the “wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract” or warranty causes a death that would not have happened otherwise. This type of claim must be brought by the personal representative of the decedent’s estate on behalf of the surviving family – specifically, a surviving spouse, parents, and/or children above all else.

While no claim may ever come out of this specific case, it is worth remembering that in civil court in Florida, a party must be found liable via a preponderance of the evidence, rather than being found guilty ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ in criminal court. In other words, one may still be able to pursue a wrongful death claim in civil court even if the deceased bore some share of the liability – as long as it is not greater than 50 percent.

Contact A Tampa Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney

While the accident near Sydney Dover Road appears to simply have been a tragic accident, sometimes tractor-trailer accident cases are much more complex, making it difficult to assign liability to any party. If you are in this type of situation, a Tampa tractor-trailer accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group may be able to help you determine how to go forward. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

msn.com/en-us/news/us/bicyclist-hit-by-tractor-trailer-dies-in-hillsborough-county-crash/ar-AA1EleJ2