South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
There are treasure hunts, bicycle raffles, parties, races and so much more. And all these events are a part of Daytona Beach Bike Week. What officials leave out are the risks for motorcycle accidents during this time. Each year, about 500,000 people make their way to the festival for one of largest motorcycle gatherings in the country.
Our Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyers understand that we see these risks all year long, but they skyrocket during this huge motorcycle event. According to The Palm Beach Post, two motorcyclists wound up at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach after a serious accident at the intersection of Royal Palm Beach Boulevard and Tangerine Boulevard. The accident happened just before 8:00 p.m. And these kinds of risks are only expected to get worse.
Unfortunately, we hear about accidents like this one year round. It’s important that motorists are on their best behavior, especially during Daytona Beach Bike Week. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were close to 400 motorcyclists killed in the state of Florida in 2010. We were ranked that year as the second most dangerous in the country for these kinds of accidents, only behind Texas.
In 2010, there were close to 7,500 motorcycle accidents recorded in the Sunshine State. In addition to the close to 400 fatalities, there were another 6,700 people injured in these accidents. What’s most alarming is that these kinds of fatalities accounted for about 8 percent of all traffic accident fatalities in 2000. In 2010, these kinds of accidents contributed to more than 14 percent of all traffic fatalities. This number is only expected to rise as more and more hop on motorcycles. Remember, they have rights to our roadways too and need to be treated like any other motorist out there.
Florida Motorcycle Stats, 2010:
-Riders between the ages of 45 and 54 sustained more injuries than any other age group.
-More riders between the ages of 45 and 54 were killed in motorcycle accidents than any other age group. Ranking in second were riders between the ages of 25 and 34.
-The media age of motorcyclists who were killed was 42.
Believe it or now, but Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Volusia, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, Broward, Duval, Orange, Pasco, and Brevard counties accounted for the largest number of motorcyclist deaths respectively in 2010.
Drivers are asked to be cautious out there. Passenger car drivers are oftentimes the cause of these kinds of accidents. Make sure you look — twice — before making any movements in traffic. Bikers can oftentimes get lost in your blind spots. It’s also important to remember that these vehicles swerve within their lanes to avoid debris, potholes and other road defects. Don’t assume they’re being reckless and never share a lane with them. They follow the same road laws as you, treat them like they’re any other driver. It’s your responsibility to find these vulnerable travelers. Much of their safety relies on your actions behind the wheel.
If you or someone who is close to you has been injured or killed in an accident, contact the personal injury lawyers of Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Risks for Motorcycle Accidents in Delray Beach and Elsewhere Increased during Bike Week, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, March 11, 2012
Biker Killed in Coral Springs Motorcycle Accident, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, March 2, 2012