A cyclist’s routine ride turned into a nightmare due to alleged negligence by a bridge maintenance company. On June 14, 2024, Thomas Kimmeth filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Florida Drawbridges, Inc.

According to the complaint, Kimmeth was riding his bicycle eastbound on the Ocean Ave / Boynton Beach drawbridge on November 11, 2023. Suddenly and without warning, his bicycle came to an abrupt stop due to a hazardous gap in the bridge’s surface. This unexpected halt threw Kimmeth over his handlebars and onto the roadway, resulting in permanent injuries. The plaintiff claims that this accident was caused by Florida Drawbridges’ failure to properly inspect and maintain the bridge.

The lawsuit details how Florida Drawbridges is responsible for the inspection, maintenance, observation, service, and repair of the Ocean Ave / Boynton Beach drawbridge located at 739 East Ocean Ave, Boynton Beach. The plaintiff alleges that an expansion joint on the bridge had deteriorated due to exposure to South Florida’s harsh weather conditions. This deterioration created a gap slightly wider than a bicycle tire but too narrow for automobile tires. Despite being easily noticeable through basic inspection or casual observation by bridgetenders who frequently walked past it, this hazardous condition was left unaddressed.