Florida Motorcycle Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
Motorcycle Accident with a Drunk Driver
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has kicked off a Share the Road campaign to remind motorists that they are not the only ones on the road - they need to watch out for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. The road belongs to everyone.
That means when motorists cut in and out of traffic, drive excessive speeds and fail to check their blind spots, they put others on the road in danger.
Share the Road also encourages motorists to think before they drink. Alcohol affects a driver's ability to make crucial driving decisions. Braking, steering or changing lanes are all performed differently when a motorist is drinking.
In most states, a person with a BAC (blood alcohol content) of .08 or above is considered intoxicated. It doesn't matter how sober you may look or act, law enforcement is increasingly stepping up driving or riding under the influence of alcohol.
Alcohol Kills
Alcohol is a major contributor to fatal motorcycle crashes, whether the alcohol is consumed by the motorist or the biker. Studies have shown that 40% to 45% of all riders killed in motorcycle crashes had been drinking. And they may only have a few drinks in their system, not enough to be legally drunk, but enough to impair riding skills.
When a motorist drives under the influence and has a collision with a motorcyclist, the biker is much more likely to be killed or severely injured in a crash. In fact, bikers are injured in about 90% of motorcycle crashes and 33% of automobile crashes that involve substance abuse.
Annually every year about 2,100 motorcyclists are killed and about 50,000 seriously injured in this same type of crash.
A bit of good news to report out of Florida is that in 2009, motorcycle fatalities dropped 24% from 532 deaths the previous year to 402 fatalities.
From the Florida Motorcycle Safety Handbook for 2010 bikers need to:
- Pay attention to the riding environment
- Identify potential hazards
- Make good Judgments
- Respond to changing road and traffic conditions
More than any other factor, alcohol and drugs impair and degrade a rider's ability to think clearly and react swiftly.
If you are caught drinking and driving, penalties are mandatory and include a license suspension, fines, community service and the cost of hiring an attorney and lost time at work.
Safety experts say if you can't control your alcohol, minimize your driving or biking. Leave the motorcycle at home so you won't be tempted to drive, or wait until the alcohol is out of your system before riding.
Please visit our Jacksonville Motorcycle Crash Website for more info.
Our personal promise: Accident victims have specific rights, but by law you have a limited time to take action. When you use our team at Farah & Farah, there are NO up-front charges.
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Our fee is a percentage of the money awarded payable only when your case is successfully concluded. No matter how many times you call and how long we talk, there is NO CHARGE or cost until your case settles. Do not sign any releases, agreements or give any statements until you have spoken with us about your legal rights. When it comes to getting you more, we won't settle for less!
We personally promise that you will be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve. We promise to keep you up to date and informed as to developments in your case. Your case is important to us, regardless of size.
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