South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
The Sun Sentinel recently reported on the tragic death of motorcyclist who was killed when he was hit by a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction.
Our Palm Beach injury lawyers and Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorneys know that many times motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle are not the fault of the rider but of the driver.
As in this case, a 48-year old Coconut Creek man and father of two was killed, west of Boca Raton, when he was struck by a driver traveling south in northbound lanes. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reports the rider was traveling north on State Road 7, near Grand Verde Way, around 3:00 a.m. on his Harley Davidson Sportster when he was hit by a 2000 Lexus GS 300.
The 60-year-old driver of the vehicle was headed south in the northbound lanes of State Road 7. When the rider saw the car he changed lanes to get out of the way. Unfortunately the driver realized he was in the wrong lane and changed lanes too. The rider was thrown from his Harley and died on impact. The driver of the Lexus crashed into the center median. It is unknown why the driver of the car was in the wrong lane and the crash remains under investigation.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 5,290 motorcyclists were killed and an additional 96,000 were injured in 2008.
According to Ride Smart Florida Florida had 402 motorcycle fatalities and 8,202 injuries in 2009.
The following was true for Florida motorcycle crashes during 2008:
-38 was the average age for fatalities.
-31 percent of fatal accidents occurred in March, April and May.
-32 percent of fatalities were from a traumatic brain injury.
-46 percent of those injured did not have insurance.
-41 percent of fatal crashes were alcohol-related.
-$47,440 was the average cost for a hospital stay.
As of July 2008, Florida requires mandatory training to get a motorcycle endorsement. Training includes at least 12 hours of classroom time and at least 6 hours of motorcycle riding time.
Keep yourself safe while riding:
-Always wear a properly fitting DOT helmet.
-Don’t speed and know your bike’s limitations.
-Never tailgate other vehicles.
-Use your signals, don’t weave through traffic or ride on the shoulder.
-Make yourself visible, use your headlights and don’t ride in vehicle blind spots.
-Use both your brakes at the same time, nice and steady.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach or the surrounding areas, contact the personal injury lawyers at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez LLC. Call for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights at 1-800-529-2368.