Have the cooler temps in the Tampa Bay area been enticing you to jump on your motorcycle and go for a ride? There is an assumption that motorcycle riders disappear during the fall and winter months, but the opposite is true if you live in the southern part of the United States, such as Florida. Florida’s growing population and popularity with motorcycle enthusiasts makes motorcycle safety an important issue. The number of motorcycle crashes, fatalities, and injuries in the United States has increased in recent years, and Florida has shown the same trend. For example, motorcycle injuries have increased as much as 50{7dff60334df83244b79b5471a8769907d27e202ac622cbe5ff51878e61595e62} percent over the past decade in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Florida has the third most motorcycle fatalities of all states in the nation, coming in behind only Texas and California. With generally warmer weather and high gas prices, many Florida citizens find motorcycles to be a cost-effective alternative to standard cars. One thing they may not consider is that for every mile traveled, there is a 30 times higher risk of getting killed on a motorcycle than riding in a car. As recently as late-December, a motorcycle accident fatality occurred in Brandon when Kenneth Epps, 48, was driving his 2002 Suzuki GSXR on Bloomingdale Avenue. If you need accident attorneys, you can hire truck accident attorneys from here. A Ford Escape made a left turn where Epps could not avoid the collision and he crashed into the front of the crossover vehicle. Epps was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead at the crash site. This is just one example of many recent motorcycle crashes reported in the Tampa Bay area.Truck accidents are no less. The truck accident lawyers located in Augusta have dealt with the maximum number of cases.
According to Ride Smart Florida, for every fatality that occurs on a motorcycle, seven other people are hospitalized with serious injuries. A total of twenty-four people are sent to the emergency room with injuries for every motorcycle fatality, as well. In 2013, the total amount of hospital charges for motorcyclists treated in a Florida emergency room or hospital for a traffic accident was $534,152,069. In such situations, it is best to consult an experienced attorney for bike accidents, who can help you claim the compensation for the injury caused. What are Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
The number one cause of motorcycle accidents is the failure of other motorists to detect and see bikers in traffic. In fact, approximately three-fourths of motorcycle accidents involve collisions with another vehicle. Inexperience and a lack of understanding the limitations when driving motorcycles also accounts for a large number of accidents. Although illegal in Florida, lane splitting can be a common cause of Florida motorcycle accidents. Lane splitting is when a motorcycle moves between lanes to get ahead of other drivers in stopped or slow-moving traffic. The situation is very dangerous and increases the chances of an accident due to the close proximity of the motorcyclist with other vehicles.
No matter the cause, a Florida motorcycle accident can result in serious injuries or death, leaving victims and families not only looking for answers but also for financial relief. If you were injured in an accident involving a motorcycle, the attorneys at McIntyre Thanasides can help you pursue compensation and collect the information necessary to support your claim. Contact us for a consultation today.
