Florida Motorcycle Accidents Are Deadly
While most people do not think of Florida as a motorcyclists’ paradise, the year-round mild weather and destination travel attract many motorcycle riders to the state. However, with more drivers comes more accidents, and unfortunately, more fatalities. Data released in 2022 ranks Florida as the fourth most dangerous state for motorcycle riders, with only Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas ranking higher. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in Florida, an experienced attorney can help you recover money damages.
Roads Are Dangerous For Motorcyclists
U.S. roads are notoriously hazardous for motorcyclists, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimating that motorcycle riders are (per vehicle miles traveled) 28 times more likely to die in an auto accident than drivers or passengers in automobiles. This is, as one might imagine, mostly due to the vast differences in vehicle size and protection offered to riders – the metal and glass protecting automobile riders is simply absent for motorcyclists.
Florida law also does not require motorcyclists to wear helmets or any other kind of protective gear (except eye protection) if they are over 21, and carry a certain amount of insurance protection to cover medical bills in the event of an accident. While advocates for the 2020 repeal of the state’s helmet law cited a preference for individual freedom of choice, this has resulted in a handful of deaths that might otherwise have been mere injuries.
If You Have Been Injured
If you have been injured in a Florida motorcycle accident, and you suspect that it is because of another driver’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation to cover the expenses you have incurred, and the harm you have suffered. It is quite common for a motorcyclist to be injured solely because an auto driver fails to perceive them on the road – a failure to check before signaling or making a left turn is the immediate cause of a sizable minority of motorcycle accidents.
Keep in mind that unlike in accidents between two automobiles, Florida’s no-fault insurance system does not apply to accidents between an automobile and a motorcycle. Florida’s no-fault system only applies when the vehicles are four-wheeled; since motorcycles only have two, an injured person may be able to file a claim in court against the allegedly negligent driver instead of having to pursue the matter through insurance.
Contact An Orlando Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcyclists are at risk on the road, but they have the same rights to use it as automobiles. If you have been injured while on your motorcycle due to another person’s negligence, an Orlando motorcycle accident attorney from the Hornsby Law Group can help answer any questions you may have about your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Source:
wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/florida-no-4-motorcycle-deaths-us/67-5f9e4626-45db-4e90-9a9a-375af3587863
