Jacksonville Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Auto vs Motorcycle Accidents
Perhaps because of our year round favorable weather and the reputation of Daytona's Bike Week, motorcycles are very popular in Florida. Unfortunately, riders face countless dangers on the road, particularly from other vehicles who fail to see them and "Share the Road."
Nationally, over 50,000 motorcyclists are injured and almost 2,000 killed in traffic accidents every year. Compared to per mile travel in a car, motorcyclists are 37 times more likely to die than compared to vehicle travel. Motorcycle deaths have been rising in recent years. In 2008, more motorcyclists died in crashes than in any time since the federal government began collecting fatal crash data. At the same time passenger vehicle deaths reached a record low.
In Florida in 2008, the Highway Patrol reports injuries were up more than 14% to 883 resulting from 9,618 crashes. 502 motorcyclists were killed in Florida that year.
An estimated 117 deaths could have been prevented during 2001-02 in Florida if the law had not been changed. Beginning July 2000, Florida eliminated the legal requirement that all motorcycle riders wear helmets. A helmet must be worn only by a rider under the age of 21 who does not have medical insurance coverage of at least $10,000. When the helmet requirement was dropped, biker fatalities climbed by 81% from 2001-2003, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Nationally, fatality rates climbed by 48% during that same time period. Also non-fatal serious injuries increased by 32% in the first year following the repeal of the helmet law. In all, there was a 40% increase in the number of injured motorcyclists admitted to the hospital.
For riders under the age of 21, fatalities nearly tripled in the three years after the law change as there was a marked decline in the use of helmets among young riders.
Comparing the 30 months before and after the law change, there was an increase of 55 percent in the average annual number of motorcyclists killed (181 to 280, respectively).
We all pay the cost. After inflation, the cost of hospital care more than doubled to $44 million in the 30 months after the helmet law was repealed. 20 states and the District of Columbia do require motorcycle riders to wear protective helmets. 35 years ago, all but three states required helmets.
A bit of good news - NHTSA reports that in 2009 motorcycle helmet use nationwide was 67%. In fact the federal agency reports in the past five years, motorcycle helmet use has been increasing steadily.
In certain cases, a crash may result from a defective motorcycle. Defective parts, brakes and tires can all cause a driver to lose control. Helmets can be a defective product as well and fail to protect the biker's head. No matter what caused your accident, an experienced Florida motorcycle attorney can help families and victims receive fair compensation from the at-fault driver or manufacturer.