Jacksonville Motorcycle Crash Attorneys
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Without a steel cage for protection, or an airbag to cushion a collision, motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable on our roads and almost always suffer injuries in an accident with a motor vehicle. Statistics recently released from the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles show that in 2009, the state's increasing number of motorcycle fatalities is finally in a decline.
Still, 402 motorcyclists lost their lives in Florida that year.
A large percentage of those deaths and injuries could have been prevented if the motorcycle rider was wearing a helmet.
Head Injuries
Studies have shown that three years following Florida's decision to repeal its mandatory helmet law in 2000, there were 933 motorcyclists killed - that represents an increase in motorcycle fatalities of 81 percent from 2001 to 2003, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
An estimated 117 deaths could have been prevented during 2001-02 if the law had not been changed.
As it stands now, riders must wear helmets if they are under the age of 21 or if they do not have medical insurance coverage of at least $10,000.
The major cause of severe head injury is a failure to wear a helmet. NHTSA estimates that helmets reduce, by about 37 percent, the likelihood of a crash fatality caused by a head injury.
As further proof, death rates are found to be lowest in states that have helmet laws that cover all riders.
Spinal cord Injuries
Beside head injuries which can include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries are also among the most difficult injuries from which to recover. When a motorcycle rider hits a barrier in the road, the side of a bridge, a stopped vehicle, or a pothole, the rider's body and head take the brunt of the trauma. A back injury can include slipped discs and fractures. Spinal cord compressions and quadriplegia can result.
And the risks extend to any sort of motorcycle, including a sport bike, a Harley, or dirt bike.
Fatalities
The most serious Florida motorcycle accidents happen when a vehicle fails to see a biker. That biker has little metal around him for protection and is run off the road.
Nationally, over 50,000 motorcyclists are injured and almost 2,000 killed every year. In 2008, more motorcyclists died in crashes than in any year since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began collecting these fatal crash data.
Other Injuries
Broken bones, burns, severed limbs, facial injuries, fractured ribs, road rash and internal injuries are just a few of the types of injuries that will seriously impact the ability to return to a normal life. These injuries can stay with a person for a lifetime and permanently alter their interaction with others.
Road rash can somewhat be guarded against if the rider is wearing substantial clothing to withstand the friction from the road following a collision.
An injury or wrongful death can cause financial and emotional instability to the family. To guarantee that your rights are preserved and a thorough investigation is conducted, it is important for victims to have an experienced Florida motorcycle attorney by their side. Compensation can include for suffering and pain as well as lost wages and the cost of the medical care, and rehabilitation.
At Farah and Farah, our motorcycle injury lawyers in Jacksonville have taken those cases to court and won several large verdicts and settlements on behalf of motorcycle accident victims and their families. Whether in a court of law or through direct negotiations with insurance companies, our motorcycle accident attorneys represent the interests of our clients to the fullest extent possible.