Florida Motorcycle Collision Lawyers
Motorcycle Accident Causes
Maybe it is because of Florida's favorable weather or the reputation of the Daytona Beach Bike Week, but our state has more motorcycle riders than many other states. As the number of riders has increased, so have the number of fatal accidents.
Motorcycle crashes have been steadily climbing in our state and nearly doubled from 2000 to 2008. At the same time, there has been a corresponding increase in deaths among motorcycle riders and passengers in Florida.
In 2007, there were 550 motorcycle fatalities in the state and nearly 9,000 injuries resulting from crashes. Nationally, there were 5,154 motorcyclists killed in 2007.
Per vehicle mile, motorcyclists are about 35 times more likely than a motorist to die in a traffic crash.
What is the cause of most motorcycle accidents in Florida and the U.S.?
Half of all motorcycle fatalities involve another vehicle, according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA).
Motorist Negligence - By far the most common cause of a motorcycle accident is the negligence of a motorist or truck driver who fails to see the motorcyclist. NHTSA reports three-quarters of the accidents involving motorcycles occur when they are hit in the front by a car or truck. About 40 percent happen when the motorist turns left and the oncoming motorcycle keeps going straight.
An improper lane change without a signal leaves the motorcyclist helpless when his right-of-way is violated. The driver may want to blame a motorcyclist, and often does, but we find that the negligence of the passenger vehicle contributes to the accident.
Alcohol - Plays a role in motorcycle accidents with NHTSA reporting almost one-third of motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents had a blood alcohol level of .08 percent. It was even higher in some areas of the country.
Distracted Driver - An investigator will check the phone records of the motorist or trucker to help uncover if he or she was on the phone and otherwise distracted when he hit the motorcyclist. Unfortunately, there are more distractions than ever on our roads today. Texting while driving has to be among the worst of them. Virginia Tech determined distractions that result from texting make the driver about as dangerous as a drunk driver.
Visibility - Often motorists say they didn't see the motorcycle before they hit him. That could be because they are not looking. Florida has a Share the Road policy so that cars, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians can all stay safe by respecting each other. Unfortunately, motorists often believe the roads are there only for them.
Motorcyclists in the state have been urged to wear brightly colored clothing with vibrant color decals on their motorcycle so they are more visible.
Excess speed - A Florida motorcycle accident can be the result of excess speed. An investigator working for an experienced Florida motorcycle accident attorney can determine whether the truck, car, or motorcycle was speeding before a crash by measuring skid marks. Often a motorist will run through a stop sign or traffic signal, colliding with the motorcycle.
Defective Product - We are finding that many motorcycle collisions may be the result of faulty equipment or tires and may actually become a Florida motorcycle products liability case. A hidden defect in the manufacture of the motorcycle can be a contributing cause of a crash.
Farah and Farah is willing to uncover all of the facts in your Jacksonville motorcycle crash case. We are not here to blame you. We are here to work for you.