Florida Injury Attorney Blog

According to data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the number of motorcycle deaths taking place in the state rose 18% in 2011 after three years in a row of dramatic declines. This percentage is expected to go up again for 2012.

In South Florida, please contact our Miami motorcycle accident lawyers at Trop & Ameen, PA to request your free case evaluation. We also handle injury cases involving Florida truck crashes, car accidents, bus collisions, pedestrian incidents, and other types of motor vehicle accidents.

2011 Florida Traffic Facts:

• Broward County motorcycle deaths were up 80% at 38 fatalities from 21deaths the year before.
• Miami-Dade County motorcycle crash fatalities rose 16% from 30 to 35 deaths.
• Palm Beach motorcyclist deaths, however, did see a slight decline from 23 to 19 fatalities.

While young riders have generally been the ones most likely to be involved in a Florida motorcycle accident, there was a notable increase in older motorcyclist deaths last year.
One reason for this is that more Baby boomers are retiring and getting on bikes either for the first time or to resume a passion from their youth. Also, as a rider ages, his/her reflexes may become slower while vision may deteriorate.

• Between ’05 and ’09, riders in the 45-54 age group made up 17% of motorcycle deaths. Compare that to ’09-’11 when they comprised nearly 20%.
• Motorcyclists belonging to the 55 to 64 age group made up 16.6% of Florida motorcycle deaths in ’09-’11, up from 10.3%.

That said, younger riders are still at risk of getting seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident.

Common causes of South Florida motorcycle collisions include:
• Rider inexperience
• Unnecessary risk taking
• Poor rider skills
• Speeding
• Alcohol
• Inadequate helmet use

Motorcyclists are at risk of serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and death. You want to work with an experienced Hollywood, Florida motorcycle crash law firm that knows how to obtain your recovery for medical costs, rehabilitation, and other expenses you might accrue as a result of the other party’s negligence.

Sometimes the responsible party might be another motorist, the motorcycle manufacturer, or a maintenance company that did a poor repair or installation job. If your Coral Springs motorcycle crash happened because the road was unsafe or defective, you may be able to pursue damages from the state or a local entity depending on who is tasked with supervising/maintaining that area. There may even be more than one liability party. Also, even if you were partially at fault, this does not mean you still aren’t entitled to some recovery.

Motorcycle deaths up among older bikers, Sun-Sentinel, December 2, 2012

Motorcycles, 2010 Data Traffic Safety Facts, NHTSA (PDF)

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

More Blog Posts:
Florida Supreme Court Rules on 2005 Palm Beach County Car Accident Lawsuit to Find that Second Driver in a Rear-End Crash Isn’t Always the Only One At Fault, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, November 23, 2012

Driver Charged in Boca Raton Motorcycle Accident Death, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, October 27, 2011

South Florida Motorcycle Accident on I-595 Injures Four, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 3, 2010

Continue reading "An Increase in Florida Motorcycle Deaths is Reported " »

The Florida Supreme Court has reversed a decision by the 4th District Court of Appeal in a 2005 Palm Beach County car accident lawsuit over whether the second driver in a rear-end crash should be allowed to recover damages or if he/she should retain all of the blame. While the appeals court had upheld a judge’s ruling that the second driver is the only one blame, the state’s highest court found that regardless of this presumption, which has been in play for over five decades, this may not always be the case and an examination of the facts in each instance needs to take place so that a comparison of each motorist’s degree of negligence (if any) can occur regardless of who is seeking personal injury compensation.

Because of this latest ruling, Maria Cevallos will be allowed to pursue damages from Keri Ann Rideout, the driver who had the middle vehicle in this Palm Beach three-vehicle rear end collision. Cevallos contends that Rideout was allegedly distracted driving and talking on a cell phone when she rear-ended the vehicle in front of her. Following that crash, Cevallos rear-ended Rideout’s vehicle.

Under the state’s comparative negligence law, juries can allot percentages of negligence to the parties involved, meaning that if a plaintiff were found to be 50% at fault, then an award in his/her favor would be decreased by that percentage. This law has not applied to Florida rear-end crashes until now because all negligence has always been presumed to be the second driver’s. It has also generally prevented rear-end collisions' second drivers from being able to pursue damages for their injuries.

Now, however, this may no longer be the case. The high court upheld, in another case, the 5th District Court of Appeal’s decision to reverse a trial judge’s summary judgment that ruled in favor of the first driver in a Seminole County rear-end crash. This now paves the way for motorcycle passenger Crystal Charron to pursue damages from driver Warren Birge.

In 2007, the motorcycle Charron was riding got flipped when its motorcyclist William Smith failed in his efforts to avoid rear-ending Birge’s vehicle. Charron was injured in the Florida motorcycle accident.

She filed a Florida personal injury case against Birge claiming he was at least partially to blame because he had suddenly hit the brakes for what seemed like no necessary reason. (Smith has already settled his injury case with Birge.)

Once again, the Florida Supreme Court found that despite the presumption that the rear-end crash’s second driver is the negligent one, there can be evidence shown to override this presumption. The justices said it should be up to a jury to decide how much (if at all) Burge is to blame.

These two rulings could allow more second drivers and their passengers that were hurt in Florida rear-end crashes to pursue damages and/or not be saddled with all of the blame in such accidents.

Florida Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes can result in serious injuries for the vehicle occupants of both vehicles. If you were injured in this type of collision and you believe the accident happened because another party was at fault, you should contact an experienced Palm Beach car crash lawyer right away.

Florida Supreme Court: Drivers in rear-end crash may not be at fault, Sun-Sentinel, November 23, 2012

Florida Supreme Court rethinks rear-end collision lawsuits, BayNews9, November 22, 2012

More Blog Posts:
Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuit Blames Improperly Installed Guardrail for Fatal Car Crash, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, January 6, 2012

Deadly South Florida Crash Near the Palm Beach County Line Claims the Life of Three Children, Injures Two Others, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, April 6, 2011

South Florida Motorcycle Accident on I-595 Injures Four, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 3, 2010

At this time, there are no restrictions against cell phone use or texting while driving in the state of Florida. This however, may change, as state legislatures are scheduled to get together early next year to consider a possible ban on texting.

Supporters of a texting while driving prohibition may get the extra boost they need following the recent recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board that all cell phone use while driving—unless the situation is an emergency—be prohibited. Although the NTSB cannot make law, its recommendations are strongly considered by lawmakers.

The safety board has even called distracted drivers a threat to public safety, and although there are other distracted driving behaviors that can also lead to car crashes, talking on a cell phone and texting while driving appear to be two habits that many people can’t seem to quit. In South Florida, our Miami personal injury law firm represents clients injured or who have lost loved ones in all types of traffic crashes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving played a role in at least 3,092 US motor vehicle crashes last year. The federal safety agency recently released its findings from its first national survey tracking the public’s awareness, attitudes, and behavior regarding texting, cell phones, and driver decisions.

6,002 adult respondents (18 and older) took part in the phone survey. Interviews took place during the last two months of 2010. Per the survey’s findings:

• Most motorists don’t like it when other drivers text and drive, but they think that they are safe when they are the ones doing it.
• Almost 1 out of 100 drivers can be found using a handheld device to text, e-mail, or engage in some other activity at any given moment of the day.
• Most drivers don’t see anything wrong with answering a phone while operating a motor vehicle.
• More than half of those who were surveyed don’t believe that making a call with a cell phone impacts their driving abilities.
• About 25% of those surveyed felt the same way about texting while driving.
• About half of drivers age 21-24 admit that they’ve e-mailed or texted while operating a motor vehicle.

Texting and driving are not the only distracted driving behaviors that can cause injury or death. Reading a book or magazine, surfing the Internet, inputting information onto your navigation system, putting on makeup, and even eating have been known to cause motor vehicle collisions.

National Distracted Driving Telephone Survey Finds Most Drivers Answer The Call, Hold the Phone, and Continue to Drive, NHTSA, December 2011 (PDF)

Distracted Driving, National Safety Council

More Blog Posts:
NHTSA Reports 2,445 Florida Traffic Deaths in 2010, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, December 8, 2011

Teen Drivers Continue to Text Despite Knowing the Dangers, Reports Liberty Mutual and SADD Study, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, October 20, 2011

Florida Products Liability: Bill Could Make It Harder for Victims to Win Damages from Auto Manufacturers, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 4, 2011

Continue reading "With Safety Officials Calling For Tougher Stance Against Distracted Driving, Florida Lawmakers May Follow Their Lead " »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 32,855 motor vehicle traffic accidents in the US last year—that’s the lowest number since 1949 and a 2.9% drop from the 33,883 people who died in 2009. The number of Florida traffic deaths also went down by 4.5%, at 2,445 fatalities. There were 115 more in 2009.

Our Miami motor vehicle crash lawyers represent clients throughout South Florida that were injured in car accidents, truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian accidents, bicycle collisions, and bus crashes. Please contact us right away if you think you may have grounds for a claim.

Nationally, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood applauded the decline in traffic deaths. He spoke about the progress made toward improving traffic safety while acknowledging that there was more to do to protect motorists.

More US Traffic Death Facts for 2010:
• 22,187 passenger vehicle occupant deaths,1,976,000 injuries
• 12,435 passenger car deaths, 1,258,000 injuries
• 9,952 light truck deaths, 732,000 injuries
• 529 large truck fatalities, 19,000 injuries
• 4,502 motorcycle crash deaths, 82,000 injuries
• 4,280 pedestrian fatalities, 70,000 injuries
• 616 pedalcyclist deaths, 51,000 injuries

Drunk driving was a factor in 31% of fatalities. Also, not all types of traffic crashes saw a drop. The number of large truck-related deaths went up from 2009 by 6%, and there was a slight increase in the number of motorcycle crash deaths as well. There was also an increase in pedalcyclist fatalities and pedestrian deaths. Regarding accident victims that survived with injuries, NHTSA estimates that the total number of motor vehicle injury victims went up in 2010 to 2.24 million people, which is a 1.2% jump from the 2.22 million that were injured in 2009.

Even though Florida provides Personal Injury Protection, if you or your loved one suffered serious injuries in a Palm Beach car accident, you should immediately explore your options by contacting a South Florida injury lawyer. Recovering from a car crash can be tough and costly, as is losing someone you love in a collision. You may not know the extent of your injuries right away, which makes getting a good sense of how much you may ultimately owe in medical and recovery bills tough. This is another reason why you should have an experienced Hollywood, Florida car accident law firm helping you.

Obviously, any decline in Florida traffic deaths is a step forward in terms of improving vehicle safety. Unfortunately, every day, someone is involved in a car accident in this country. As experienced Boca Raton personal injury lawyers, it is our job to make sure that our clients receive all the money owed to them by all negligent parties.

Updated 2010 FARS data includes new measure of 'distraction-affected' fatalities; national attitude survey offers additional insight into problem of distracted driving, NHTSA, December 8, 2011

NHTSA 2010 US Traffic Crash Facts (PDF)

More Blog Posts:
Pro Golfer’s Son Sustains Head Injuries in Palm Beach County Semi-Truck Crash, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, December 2, 2011

Coral Gables Wrongful Death Lawsuit Seeks Damages from 19-Year-Old Allegedly Drunk Driver, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, November 3, 2011

Teen Drivers Continue to Text Despite Knowing the Dangers, Reports Liberty Mutual and SADD Study, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, October 20, 2011

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports 2,445 Florida Traffic Deaths in 2010" »

Eight months after a Boynton Beach man was killed in a Boca Raton motorcycle accident, the man accused of striking the Harley-Davidson that 56-year-old Steven Fischer was riding has been arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter over his death.

Frank Barrucco, 26, allegedly was high on pain pills and pot when his 2005 Hyundai Sonata struck Fischer’s bike, ejecting him. Blood tests show that Barruco had THC and over four times the prescribed doses of alprazolam and oxyocodone in his system. He said he took the medication for his back injury.

Per witnesses, Barrucco attempted to leave the crash site until they went after him. Deputies at the scene said that his eyes appeared bloodshot and he couldn’t speak straight.

Drugged Driving
Driving while under the influence of drugs is impaired driving. Like drunk driving, drugged driving affect’s one’s reaction time, motor skills, and judgment. Unfortunately, per a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) roadside survey in 2007, over 16% of drivers operating vehicles at night and on weekends tested positive for prescription, illegal, and over-the counter meds. A 2009 NHTSA studied found that among drivers that died in motor vehicle crashes, 18% tested positive for at least one drug—that’s a 15% rise from 2005.

Other reasons why drugged driving is dangerous:
• Impairs perception
• Affects balance
• Alters cognition
• Serves as a distraction
• Impedes coordination
• Impairs other faculties

Illegal drugs obviously shouldn’t be consumed at any time—whether while driving or otherwise. What many people fail to realize is that some prescription drugs can have such a strong effect that taking just the prescribed dose can prove powerful enough to cause a driver to become dangerous. Many prescription drugs even warn that users not drive or operate machinery for a specific duration of time after having taken the meds. Obviously, taking too much of any medication while operating a motor vehicle can also prove deadly.

Our Boca Raton motorcycle accident lawyers represent victims and their families. We are familiar with the serious injuries that can result when a motorcyclist is injured in a Palm Beach County auto crash. Lack of sufficient protection can prove catastrophic for a rider that is thrown from his/her bike and onto the road or into oncoming traffic. We know how hard it can be to recoup from such a devastating accident. It is our job to help our clients with the legalities of their Boca Raton personal injury case while they tend to the business of healing and getting back to their lives. Obviously, in some instances, injuries are serious enough to prevent this type of physical recovery—yet another reason to explore your legal options for obtaining damages from any liable parties.

West Boca driver accused of DUI manslaughter in fatal crash with Boynton motorcyclist, Sun-Sentinel, October 24, 2011

What Is Drugged Driving?, National Institute on Drug Abuse

Motorcycles, NHTSA

More Blog Posts:
South Florida Motorcycle Accident on I-595 Injures Four, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 3, 2010

NHTSA Says 523 Florida Motorcycle Riders Killed in 2008, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, December 1, 2009

Florida Man Killed in Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident on I-95 was Run Over by Three Motor Vehicles, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, May 5, 2009

Continue reading "Driver Charged in Boca Raton Motorcycle Accident Death" »

Considering that this week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, it is good time to remember that traffic accidents are the number one cause of US teenager deaths. As a matter of fact, teens are involved in three times as many deadly car collisions as adults.

Our Hollywood, Florida car accident lawyers have seen the havoc that can occur when a teenager is seriously injured or killed in a crash. It is our job to help minors and their families recover compensation from all liable parties. While Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage may cover part of the expenses sustained from being injured in an accident, sometimes, this just isn’t enough—especially when serious injuries or deaths are involved.

That said, teen drivers have also been known to cause serious Florida traffic crashes, resulting in injury to themselves and others. One reason for this is that young people tend to get easily distracted, which doesn’t help when coupled with their lack of experience on the road. The variety of mobile technology now available to everyone these days doesn’t help. Already, it can be hard to pull kids away from cell phones when they aren’t driving.

Now, however, according to a study by Students Against Destructive Decisions and Liberty Mutual Insurance, even though teens are becoming more aware of how dangerous texting while driving can be, more than half of the 2,294 high school students surveyed said that they sometimes still text while operate a vehicle, while 28% say that often text while driving.

Granted, Florida has no law making texting or talking on a cell phone while driving illegal. That still, however, doesn’t mean that it makes either activity less dangerous. Other distracting tech-related activities that a number of the teens that responded to the survey say they engage in while operating a motor vehicle:

• Access the Internet on a cell phone
• Change songs on an MP3 player or iPod
• Update their MySpace and Facebook accounts
• Use an iPad or another technology tablet
• Shoot videos with their cell phones
• Take photos with their cell phone

It is no secret that distracted driving can kill people. Adults too can cause serious injury when they use their cell phone to do any of the activities mentioned above.

Even though the offending driver likely intended to cause no harm, the tragic consequences that can occur are real. You may be able to file a Ft. Lauderdale car accident claim against a distracted driver that caused your loved one’s death or your injuries. In some cases, the distracted driver was operating the other vehicle. In other accidents, the driver who was distracted was the motorist in your vehicle.

Liberty Mutual and SADD Study Finds Texting While Driving By Teens Not Affected By Their Awareness of the Dangers; Text Conversations With Mom and Dad on the Rise, Marketwatch, October 19, 2011

National Teen Driver Safety Week

Distracted Driving, NHTSA

Teen drivers, CDC

More Blog Posts:
Drunk Driving May Have Been a Factor in Palm Beach Garden Car Crash That Killed One Teen & Sent Four People to the Hospital, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, September 30, 2011

South Florida Pickup Truck Crash Kills 2 Broward County Teens, Injures Four Others, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, April 20, 2011

Number of Broward County and Palm Beach County Traffic Deaths Drop in 2009, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 15, 2010

Continue reading "Teen Drivers Continue to Text Despite Knowing the Dangers, Reports Liberty Mutual and SADD Study" »

Charges may be filed in the Palm Beach Gardens car accident on Thursday night that claimed the life of 19-year-old Bryanna Sanville. The teenager was riding in the Kia Forte driven by her friend Sabrina Gavagni Fiorentino when the vehicle collided with a Ford Explorer.

According to police, Fiorentino, who was driving back from Jensen Beach, was trying to make a U-turn at around 11:30 pm when her car pulled in front of the SUV, which was driven by Dora J. Valencia, 42. The Ford hit the Kia on the passenger side, where Sanville was seated.

Valencia, her passengers (19-year-old Viviana Silva and a male minor) and Fiorentino were all taken to the hospital. Sanville, who doesn’t appear to have been wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at accident site. Now police are saying that alcohol may have been a factor in the Palm Beach County car crash.

Drunk Driving
Drunken driving continues to be the cause of hundreds of Florida motor vehicle crashes each year. In 2010, alcohol was a factor in 794 Florida traffic fatalities—and while that’s 210 less drunk driving deaths than the 1,004 Florida traffic deaths involving alcohol in 2009—that’s still too many lives lost.

Drunk driving is dangerous and leads people to make careless mistakes that they wouldn’t otherwise have made. Vision becomes impaired, cognitive and processing abilities, reaction time, and reflexes are slowed. If you or someone you love was injured in a Palm Beach County car crash that you believe occurred because another motorist was drunk, under the influence of drugs, texting while driving, talking on the cell phone, distracted for any other reason, or did anything else that you believe caused the accident, you should contact our Palm Beach personal injury law firm immediately.

Recently, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issued its traffic crash facts for 2010. While there has been a decline in traffic deaths—there were 2,563 Florida traffic fatalities in 2009 and 2,444 Florida traffic deaths in 2010—the state did see an increase in Florida pedestrian deaths with 499 lives lost in 2010 compared to the 482 Florida pedestrian fatalities in 2009.

More 2010 Florida Traffic Facts:
• 4,925 Florida bicycle crashes
• 76 bicycle deaths
• 4,600 bicyclist injuries
• 7,484 Florida motorcycle accidents
• 350 motorcycle deaths
• 33 motorcycle passenger fatalities
• 6,686 motorcyclist injuries
• 80 teen driver deaths
• 64 teen passenger fatalities
• 26,848 teen car crashes
• 10,563 teen drivers hurt
• 7,980 teen passengers injured

While Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance will cover some injuries and damages, when serious injuries are involved this may not be enough to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and funeral and burial expenses, and other damages.

Alcohol suspected in crash that leaves one dead, four hurt in Palm Beach Gardens crash, Sun-Sentinel, September 30, 2011

Teen killed in Palm Beach Gardens crash 'could do anything', Palm Beach Post, September 30, 2011

2010 Traffic Safety Facts, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
MADD

Teen Drivers, CDC

More Blog Posts:
Pregnant Mom and Unborn Baby Killed in South Florida Wrong-Way Driving Accident on I-75, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, August 19, 2011

Florida Wrongful Death Lawsuit Blames Volusia County for Truck Accident on Beach that Killed 4-Year-Old, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, August 11, 2011

Ex-NBA Player Alonzo Mourning Sued Over Miami-Dade Car Collision, Florida Injury Attorney Blog, July 21, 2011

Continue reading "Drunk Driving May Have Been a Factor in Palm Beach Garden Car Crash That Killed One Teen & Sent Four People to the Hospital" »

The US Department of Transportation recently released its Distracted Driving facts for 2009. At this year’s Distracted Driving Summit in Washington DC, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called distracted driving an “epidemic.” While many US states have some type of cell phone driving restriction in place, such as a ban on handheld cell phones or texting and partial restrictions that apply to younger drivers or bus drivers, Florida does not.

In South Florida, our Miami car crash law firm represents clients injured in all kinds of motor vehicle crashes that occurred because other parties were negligent. Distracted driving is a type of negligent driving. While drivers that talk on the phone or text likely never intend to hurt anyone with these seemingly harmless actions, the latest statistics show that distracted driving is dangerous.

2009 Distracted Driving Facts:
• 5,474 traffic deaths
• 448,000 motor vehicle crash injuries
• Cell phone use was a factor in 995 of the distracted driving fatalities and 24,000 of the traffic injury accidents during 2009.
• Distracted driving was involved in 16% of all deadly US crashes and 20% of all traffic injury accidents last year.

Also at this year’s Distracted Driving Summit, Mr. LaHood announced that hazmat truckers will be banned from talking on a cell phone or texting. This, in addition to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s formal rule that bus drivers and commercial truckers be permanently barred from texting while driving buses and trucks, will hopefully decrease the number of Florida truck crashes that happen each year.

Although texting and talking on phone are commonly referred to when the subject of distracted driving comes up, they are not the only ways that a motorist can become distracted while attempting to multitask while operating a vehicle. Other examples of "distracted driving" activities that can cause Florida traffic crashes:

• Eating
• Reading a book or a map
• Surfing the Internet
• Watching a movie on a laptop
• Playing games on a PDA
• Playing with or taking care of a pet

Distracted Driving 2009 Facts, NHTSA (PDF)

FMCSA Posts Ban on Texting While Driving, Trucking Info, September 22, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Governors Highway Safety Association

Distracted Driving

Continue reading "NHTSA Reports 5,474 Distracted Driving Deaths in 2009" »

According to a report issued by the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2009, the number of Palm Beach County traffic deaths went down 30% from 2008, while the number of Broward County traffic fatalities dropped 20%.

More 2009 Traffic Statistics from the Report:

• 151 Palm Beach County traffic fatalities
• 189 Broward County traffic deaths
• 2,563 Florida traffic deaths in 2009 (down from the 2,983 traffic fatalities from the year before)
• Traffic deaths in Broward County have been dropping since 2005
• 153 Florida teen driver-related deaths (193 fatalities in 2008)

Our Miami car accident lawyers are always happy to hear about any decline in traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths. That said, if you or someone you love was injured in a Broward County car crash or a Palm Beach County motor vehicle collision, it is important that you explore your legal options right away.

Also, there is more good news in terms of declining South Florida traffic deaths. Two years after the state launched a safety campaign to decrease the number of Florida motorcycle fatalities, these efforts are continuing to pay off. In 2009:

• Florida motorcycle deaths dropped 24%
• Broward County motorcycle fatalities involving passengers and drivers saw a 38% drop
• Palm Beach County motorcycle deaths declined by 47%
• There are 30,990 registered Palm Beach County motorcyclists
• There are 44,349 registered Broward, County Florida motorcyclists

Traffic injuries can be life-altering for the victim and his/her family. While Florida’s Personal Injury Protection provides some coverage, it may not take care of expenses that can be incurred from living with a permanent traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, or another type of catastrophic injury, as well as cover any loss of income and/or benefits that a person would have earned if only he/she would have been able to keep working. We know that no amount of money financial recovery can make up for losing your loved one but it can provide some relief for damages, injuries, losses, and expenses.

raffic fatalities in Palm Beach, Broward counties drop, Sun-Sentinel, July 15, 2010

South Florida motorcycle deaths down after more than a decade of increases, Sun-Sentinel, July 14, 2010

Traffic Crash Statistics Report 2009, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Florida Department of Transportation

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Four motorcyclists were injured on Sunday when a 2009 KIA hit their bikes. The riders were merging from southbound I-95 onto on westbound I-595 when the Florida motorcycle collision happened.

Two of the motorcyclists, Boca Raton resident Patrick Hurley Jr. and Pompano Beach resident Jay Carlson, were thrown from their motorbikes. Carlson sustained serious injuries. Hurley and Hollywood motorcyclists Hermon Blackmon Jr. and Roberta Armstrong suffered minor injuries. All four motorcycle riders were transported to Broward General Medical Center. The driver of the KIA, 34-year-old Fort Lauderdale resident Violeta Boily, also sustained minor injuries.

While, per the Governors Highway Safety Association Report, the number of motorcycle accident fatalities (on the rise until reaching a record high in 2008) dropped dramatically last year—Florida had 111 less motorcycle deaths in 2009 than the year before—motorcycle accidents continue to cause serious injuries and deaths. It is important to remember that motorcyclists have as much right to use the road as vehicle drivers and truckers do.

If you believe that your motorcycle injuries occurred because another motorist or another party was negligent by engaging in speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, drugged driving, disregarding traffic laws in any other way, recklessness, or carelessness, you may have grounds for filing a Broward County, Florida motorcycle accident lawsuit. Please contact our Miami motorcycle accident law firm to request your free case evaluation.

Based on preliminary data for 2009, the GHSA’s Report is projecting that there was no more than 4,762 motorcycle deaths last year. In 2008 there were 5,290 US motorcycle fatalities. May is designated Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Hopefully, motorcyclists and vehicle drivers will remember to watch out for each other so that the motorcyclist death count will continue to go down.

Four motorcyclists injured in I-595 collision with car, Miami Herald, May 2, 2010

Motorcycle deaths unaccountably plunge after long rise, Washington Post, April 22, 2010

New Study: Motorcycle Deaths Down Dramatically in 2009, Governors Highway Safety Association

Related Web Resources:

Read the GHSA's Preliminary Report (PDF)

Motorcycle Accidents, Justia

Florida state motorcycle laws, American Motorcyclist Association

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, 523 motorcycle riders were killed in Florida motorcycle accidents in 2008. 52% of the motorcyclists who died were using helmets. Nationally, 5,290 motorcyclists were killed last year—a slight increase from the 5,174 US motorcyclist fatalities in 2007—while 96,000 others sustained injuries.

While overall there has been a decrease in the number of traffic deaths that occur in the US annually, the motorcyclist category is one where the number of deaths isn’t going down. This is disturbing, considering that motorcyclists are usually the least protected vehicle occupant group when involved in a traffic crash. In 2007, a motorcyclist had a 37 times more likely chance of dying in a traffic crash than a car occupant. A motorcyclist’s injury rate was 9 times more likely.

Injuries to motorcyclists are usually fatal if not catastrophic. Just last Sunday, rider died in a Brownsville motorcycle accident when his bike was involved in a collision with a Honda Accord. The sedan’s driver sustained minor injuries.

In Fort Myers last week, motorcycle rider Robert H. Cook, a Cape Coral resident, was killed when his bike collided with a school bus as the larger vehicle was turning left. No children were on the bus when the deadly Florida motorcycle accident occurred.

Motorcycle accidents are catastrophic not just for the victims but also for the liable motorist. Last week, a 26-year-old Miami woman was sentenced to 18 ½ years in state prison for accidentally killing two motorcyclists on February 29, 2008.

Dominique Brice was weaving in traffic and driving at a speed of about 87 mph when she struck two riders who were parked on I-95 at the Indian River and St. Lucie counties juncture. Motorcyclists Fritz Doucet, a 37-year-old North Miami police officer, and Raul Ortiz, a West Palm Beach computer technician, are the two men who died.

Sometimes, Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is not enough to cover all of the injuries and costs sustained in a catastrophic motorcycle crash. You also may want to hold all negligent parties liable.

Motorcyclist dies in crash with car in Brownsville, December 29, 2009

Woman sentenced to more than 18 years in prison for killing two motorcyclists, TC Palm, November 25, 2009

Motorcycles, 2008 Traffic Safety Facts, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Florida State Motorcycle Laws

Hurt Report Summary

Continue reading "NHTSA Says 523 Florida Motorcycle Riders Killed in 2008" »

This week, lawmakers, safety experts, law enforcement officials, and members of the public turned the spotlight on distracted driving. More than 250 people attended the US Department of Transportation’s Distracted Driving Summit, which focused on the dangers of multitasking while driving. Cell phone use and texting while driving, now the main means that many people communicate, were among the primary distracted driving habits that were discussed.

Statistics from 2008, provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reported close to 6,000 distracted driving deaths and more than half a million injuries. During any day last year, over 800,000 drivers used a handheld cellular phone while behind the wheel.

On Wednesday evening, President Obama signed an executive order banning federal workers from texting when they are riding a government-owned motor vehicle or while driving while on the job. Yesterday, the Obama Administration announced that it will press US states to pass distracted driving laws. The government also says that it is working on banning interstate bus drivers and truck drivers from text messaging while driving.

According to Virginia Tech researches, reaching for an electronic device or dialing a phone increases any driver’s crash risk by 6 times. Truckers who text increase their truck accident risk by 23 times. Car and Driver magazine says texting while driving is even more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol.

There are no laws in Florida banning people from texting or that restricts cell phone use while driving. This means that Florida motorists are free to engage in both activities without fear of any legal repercussions—but that doesn’t mean that there are no tragic consequences that can ensue.

As US Transportation State Ray LaHood reminded summit attendees, it only takes a few seconds for a catastrophic car accident to happen. It takes many distracted drivers even longer to dial a cell phone, read text messages, fiddle with an iPod, surf the web, paint their nails, or read a magazine.

Distracted drivers can be held liable for Florida personal injury or wrongful death.

Texting while driving banned for federal workers, Los Angeles Times, October 2, 2009

Govt: Nearly 6,000 deaths from driver distraction, AP, September 30, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Distracted Driving Summit, US Department of Transportation

National Safety Council

Continue reading "A Few Seconds of Distracted Driving Can Cause Devastation, Says US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood" »

Bail has been set at $80,000 for the man accused of fatally striking Davie motorcyclist Eric Maron in Miramar. The deadly Broward County, Florida motorcycle crash occurred on Tuesday as driver Robert L. Jones was taking his 9-year-old stepdaughter to school around 7:20am.

Jones was allegedly drunk. Police say his blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit when the Miramar motorcycle accident happened at the intersection of Island Drive and Pembroke Road. The 31-year-old driver is accused of running over Maron and then leaving the crash site. Investigators discovered Maron’s body under Jones’s Toyota.

Among the charges Jones is facing is DUI manslaughter. An arrest reports claims that Jones struck the back of Maron's bike and then dragged the rider under the vehicle for some 180 feet before stopping.

The judge who set the bail noted that Jones took his stepdaughter and fled the crash site. Jones is also accused of concealing evidence when he tossed out a plastic cup that may have contained alcohol.

One witness to the Broward County motor vehicle accident said that as Jones was walking away, he told him that he was going to take the young girl to school and then come back.

Florida Motorcycle Accidents
Even though a motorcycle rider can do everything within his or her power to ride safely, he or she can sometimes end up at the mercy of a drunk driver, a distracted driver, or an inexperienced motorists. During these instances, the consequences can be fatal for the motorcyclist, who may get thrown off the bike, crushed by a vehicle, or land in oncoming traffic.

A rider who survives a serious Florida motorcycle accident may have to cope with a spinal cord injury, a traumatic brain injury, or other serious injuries. While prosecutors can pursue criminal charges against a negligent motorist, they cannot hold a driver financially liable for injuries and loss of life sustained during a Broward County motorcycle crash.

Bail set at $80,000 for Miramar man charged with DUI manslaughter, Orlando Sentinel, September 9, 2009

Man accused of DUI in Miramar crash that killed motorcyclist, South Florida, September 9, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Continue reading "Man Accused of Fatally Striking Miramar, Florida Motorcyclist in Broward County Traffic Accident is Charged with DUI Manslaughter" »

Through the end of Labor Day weekend on September 7, police in Florida are taking aggressive measures to search for and arrest anyone found driving while impaired. The crackdown is part of a nationwide campaign called “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. People that are caught speeding or riding in a vehicle without using a seatbelt will also be apprehended.

In Florida, Labor Day weekend is considered one of the deadliest periods of the year for drivers. Last year, 36 people died in Florida traffic accidents during this long weekend and alcohol was a factor in 12 of those fatalities.

Also in 2008, there were over 22,000 alcohol-related Florida car accidents resulting in over 1,100 traffic deaths and over 15,700 injuries. The Florida county with the largest number of auto crashes involving alcohol was Miami-Dade County with 1,898 traffic accidents and 85 motor vehicle deaths involving alcohol.

Sobriety checkpoints have been set up in different locations throughout Florida and saturation patrols will be out in force.

Drunk driving continues to be one of the more common causes of South Florida traffic accidents and the rest of the United States. It doesn’t help that binge drinking continues to be a habit “on the rise” and not just among younger people.

A new study found in the American Journal of Psychiatry is reporting that in the 50-64 year-old age group, nearly 1 in 10 women and 1 in 4 men are “binge” drinkers. Binge drinking is a habit that makes a motorist more prone to cause a drunk driving accident if he or she decides to get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

The number of women arrested in the US for drunk driving has also increased. Nationally, about 2,000 traffic deaths a year involve a female drunk driver. 162,493 women were arrested for DUI in 2007, compared to the 126,000 female DUI drivers in 1998.

Drunk driving accidents often result in catastrophic injuries and deaths. A person injured in a South Florida car accident in Miami, Hollywood, Naples, Palm Beach, or Ft. Lauderdale because another driver was intoxicated may have grounds for filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Kicks Off Nationwide Enforcement Crackdown on Impaired Driving. Releases New Report Highlighting Increasing Number of Impaired Female Drivers, NHTSA, August 19, 2009

Binge drinking: It's not just for kids anymore, Los Angeles Times, August 17, 2009

Florida Law Enforcement to Launch Statewide Crackdown on Impaired and Unsafe Driving, Chipley Paper, August 21, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Florida DUI and Administrative Suspension Laws, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

2007 Drunk Driving Statistics, Alcohol Alert

Throughout Florida, law enforcement officials, transportation officers, and motorcycle safety groups are reminding motorcycle riders and motor vehicle drivers to share the roads safely with each other. Their efforts mark Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, which is being honored in all US states during the Month of May. This need for awareness that motorcyclists do share the roads with other drivers is especially important in Florida, where the use of motorcycles is on the rise.

Frankie Kennedy, who is president of the Southwest Florida ABATE motorcycle safety group, says that there are now over 1 million motorcyclists with licenses to ride in Florida—a significant increase from the 40,000 motorcyclists with Florida licenses in 2001. The month of May is also a time of year when more riders start to get on Florida’s roads and highways—long holidays and the summer vacation months play a role in this increase in riders—which also increases the chances that a Florida motorcycle accident may occur.

Kennedy is quick to note that 85% of motorcycle accidents resulting in a motorcyclist’s death occur because another driver was at fault. In Lee County, Florida alone, there were 278 motorcycle accidents that occurred in 2008 that resulted in 20 motorcycle rider deaths. In 2007, there were 530 motorcycle deaths that occurred throughout Florida.

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month is not about placing blame on anyone. It is about reminding the drivers of cars, trucks, and buses, as well as motorcyclists, that they share Florida’s roads with one another. This means that motor vehicle drivers must allow motorcyclists a full lane to ride and not try to share a lane with them. They must also check their blind spots for motorcycles, as well as give a motorcycle enough space when following behind one so that the rider can stop abruptly in the event of an emergency.

Motorcyclists, in turn, have to remember that they share the roads with larger vehicles. Not only must they wear protective gear or clothing to minimize any potential injuries during a Florida motorcycle crash, but they also must make sure that they are visible to other motorists—this means avoiding a motor vehicle driver’s blind spot and wearing clothing that is bright enough so that they are as visible as possible to other drivers—especially at night.

Motorcyclists should also ride safely and refrain from speeding. Taking proactive steps to prevent a Florida motorcycle accident from happening could save not only a motorcyclist’s life but also the lives of other motorists sharing the roads with them.

Sharing the road safely, Wink News, May 18, 2009

Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, WCTV, May 4, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Motorcycle Safety, Florida Department of Transportation

Motorcycle Safety Awareness, NHTSA

Continue reading "Florida Transportation Officials Attempt to Decrease the Number of Florida Traffic Accidents With Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" »

The Florida Highway Patrol is looking for the drivers of two motor vehicles that struck a Fort Lauderdale motorcyclist after he was thrown from his bike on I-95 on Monday. 48-year-old Jerry Bordas is the second member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club to die in a Florida motorcycle accident in two weeks. He flew off his motorbike after colliding with a van at around 3 am and was then run over by three vehicles.

Two of the motor vehicles that hit him, a small car and a tractor-trailer, did not stop at the crash site. Bordas was not using a helmet at the time of the deadly Florida traffic crash.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Getting thrown off a motorcycle can be fatal for the rider, especially if he or she is not using a helmet. Examples of catastrophic injuries that can occur to motorcyclists:

• Facial injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Skull fractures
• Broken legs
• Broken feet
• Hand injuries
• Organ damage
• Permanent disabilities
• Spinal cord injuries
• Road burns
• Lacerations
• Road rash

A truck driver, car driver, bus driver, or another motorist responsible for causing a Florida motorcycle accident can be held liable for personal injury or wrongful death.

Motorcycle Accident Facts
• The Federal Highway Administration says that in 2007 there were 7.1 million motorcycles riding on US roads.
• The Insurance Information Institute says the number of motorcycle deaths have increased every year over the last decade.
• 13% of all traffic deaths and 4% of all occupants who were hurt in 2007 motor vehicle crashes were motorcycle riders.

Crash kills motorcyclist on I-95, Miami Herald, May 5, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Outlaws Motorcycle Club

Motorcycle Crashes, Insurance Information Institute

Federal Highway Administration

Florida state motorcycle laws, American Motorcyclist

Continue reading "Florida Man Killed in Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident on I-95 was Run Over by Three Motor Vehicles" »

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has issued its motorcycle traffic safety facts for 2007. Nationally, 5,154 motorcyclists died while 103,000 others survived motorcycle accidents with injuries. 530 of last year’s motorcycle deaths occurred in Florida.

More 2007 Motorcycle Accident Facts:

• There were 2,332 deadly two-vehicle collisions involving a motorcycle and another motor vehicle.
• In traffic accidents involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, 78% of the motorcycles were hit in the front.
• 5% of the motorcycles were hit from the back.
• Motorcyclists are more likely than other motorists to die in a collision with a nonmoving object.
• 36% of motorcyclists involved in deadly traffic crashes were speeding.
• Helmet use saved 1,784 motorcycle riders.
• Another 800 motorcyclists would have survived their traffic accidents if they had worn helmets.

Motorcyclists are prone to catastrophic injuries in traffic accidents. Recent Florida motorcycle accident victims include:

• 19-year-old Christopher Miller, who suffered serious injuries when the motorcycle he was a passenger on crashed into a guardrail in Pensacola on Monday. 19-year-old Troy Dean, who was driving the motorcycle, died from his injuries.

• On Saturday, motorcyclist Jonathan Farro was seriously injured after he was thrown from his motorcycle during a collision with a car.

Motorcyclists do not have anything but protect them from the impact of colliding with a fixed object or another vehicle. The state of Florida does not require adult motorcyclists to wear helmets.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a Florida motorcycle accident, the responsible party can be held liable in civil court.

Motorcycle Traffic Safety Fact Sheet (PDF)

1 dead after motorcycle crash; passenger critical, PNJ.com, October 14, 2008

Motorcycle driver in serious condition after crash, Gainesville.com, October 13, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

NHTSA

Continue reading "NHTSA Says There Were 530 Florida Motorcycle Fatalities in 2007" »

US Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters says that there were 41,059 motor vehicle-related deaths in 2007—the lowest number of traffic fatalities/per year since 1992—and that 2.49 million people sustained injuries in highway accidents. The number of motor vehicle-related deaths in 2006 was 42,708 with 2.58 million reported injuries.

Peters attributed the decline in overall deaths to safer vehicles, aggressive law enforcement measures, and the federal government’s own efforts to prevent auto accidents. While the total number of traffic fatalities dropped, Peters noted an increase in motorcycle fatalities from 4,837 in 2006 to 5,154 deaths in 2007, accounting for 13% of all traffic fatalities last year. The number of injured motorcycle victims also increased from 88,000 to 103,000.

Other 2007 Traffic Statistics:

• Traffic deaths involving passenger vehicles dropped from 30,686 in 2006 to 28,933 in 2007.

• The number of pedestrian deaths decreased from 4,795 in 2006 to 4,654 in 2007, while the number of pedestrian injury victims increased from 61,000 to 70,000.

• Bicyclist deaths dropped from 772 deaths in 2006 to 698 deaths in 2007, with injuries to pedalcyclists dropping from 44,000 to 43,000 victims.

• The total number of large truck accident-related deaths dropped from 5,027 deaths in 2006 to 4,808 truck accident fatalities in 2007.

• The NHTSA reports that there were 3,214 motor vehicle deaths in Florida in 2007, which is a slight decrease from the 3,357 traffic deaths that occurred in 2006.

The data is part of the 2007 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes and People Injured compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Our South Florida motor vehicle crash lawyers would like to discuss your case during a free consultation.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters Announces Historic Drop in Highway Fatalities and Rate, Dot.gov

Read the Summary of the NHTSA 2007 Report (PDF)

Related Web Resources:

Florida Department of Transportation

Continue reading "NHTSA Says Number of Traffic Deaths Declined in 2007" »

In Fort Pierce, Florida, Jennifer Powers, the widow of Timothy Powers, a Vero Beach motorcycle rider who died last January when he was truck by a tractor-trailer rig on US 1 is suing truck driver Felix Villa and Torres Trucking & Tree Hauling Corp., the company Villa was working for, for wrongful death.

Timothy, 49, died at the scene. The morning fog was heavy on January 24 and the Florida Highway Patrol say the motorcyclist was not able to see the truck due to low visibility. The FHP says Timothy tried to put his motorcycle safely down but flew off the bike when the truck hit him. The heavy fog was also the reason that the St. Lucie County Fire District could not send a rescue helicopter to the accident site.

Jennifer alleges that Villa acted negligently to cause her husband’s death and she is accusing Torres Trucking of vicarious liability. Her lawsuit doesn’t specify a specific damage amount.

If you were hurt or someone you love died in a tractor-trailer accident in Florida, you need to retain the services of an experienced South Florida truck crash law firm that knows how to investigate your truck crash case and pursue recovery from all liable parties. Truck crash claims can be complex cases, and liable parties may include:

• The truck driver
• The truck company
• The owner of the truck
• A truck leasing company
• The truck manufacturer
• The truck shipper
• The manufacturer of a defective truck part
• Other motorists

Truck crash accidents will usually result in serious injuries, especially for motorcyclists and pedestrians that have no protection from the physical impact of getting hit by a tractor-trailer, big rig truck, 18-wheeler truck, or large garbage truck.

Our South Florida truck crash lawyers can help you explore your legal options. If we agree to work together, we will begin investigating your case, including examine all the evidence and assess your injuries, and take action to get your compensation.

Vero Beach widow files lawsuit against truck driver, TCPalm.com, July 1, 2008

Related Web Resource:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Continue reading "Florida Widow Sues Tractor-Trailer Driver for Wrongful Death of Motorcyclist " »

The Florida Department of Transportation has joined the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other state departments of transportation in the nationwide campaign to promote motorcycle safety awareness during the month of May.

Promoting motorcycle safety is essential across the United States, as the death toll for motorcyclists continue to rise each year. Across the nation, 4,810 motorcycle riders died in 2006—5% more than the number of motorcyclists that died in 2005. 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in 2006—1,000 injury victims more than the 87,000 injured motorcycle riders in 2005.

In Florida, 388 motorcyclists died in 2004 compared to 339 in 2003. 6,558 Florida motorcycle riders were injured in 2004—again, an increase from the 5,973 that were hurt in traffic crashes in 2003.

The sunny weather in Florida makes motorcycle riding a yearlong, popular mode of transportation. One reason that motorcycle accidents happen so often is that other drivers forget to watch out for these smaller motor vehicles. Many motorcycles end up in a motor vehicle’s blind spot, which makes them even harder for a driver to see unless they are purposely looking around.

In South Florida, our motorcycle accident law firm represents injury victims and their families in the recovery of the financial compensation that they are owed by the negligent parties. If you contact our Miami motorcycle crash law firm for your free case evaluation, we can explore your legal options with you.

The Florida Department of Transportation offers several safety tips regarding how motor vehicle drivers can share the roads safely with motorcyclists:

• Give a motorcycle the full width of a lane rather than sharing one with them.
• Check your mirrors and blindspots for motorcycles.
• Be aware that certain road conditions that aren’t dangerous to you might be hazardous to a motorcycle rider.
• Don’t tailgate a motorcycle.

Our South Florida motorcycle collision injury law firm has law offices in Miami, Naples, and Hollywood, Florida.

May is Motorcycle Safety Month, Florida Highway Patrol

Share the Road, NHTSA

Related Web Resources:

Safety Tips for Motorcycles, Share the Roads Safely

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

Continue reading "Florida Department of Transportation Declares May Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" »

A 33-year-old Florida motorcyclist was injured on her birthday when a car struck her motorcycle. According to the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department, Laurel Hill resident Myria Jacobs was thrown nearly 40 feet off her motorcycle.

The car turned left in front of her as she was heading south on Eglin Parkway and struck her motorcycle. Jacobs hit the car’s windshield and then soared over the motor vehicle until she fell onto the road. Jacobs was not wearing a helmet at the time of the motorcycle accident.

Jacobs, who sustained serious head injuries, was airlifted and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. As of yesterday, Jacobs condition had reportedly been upgraded from serious to fair.

The driver of the car, Fort Walton Beach resident Elinor Monfils, 74, was cited by police for her failure to yield. Monfils sustained minor injuries in the crash and was treated at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

Motorcycle collisions can lead to serious personal injuries and even death—especially for the motorcyclist who does not have anything to protect him or her from the impact of colliding with a car, truck, bus, the ground, or a nonmoving steel or concrete object.

Causes of motorcycle crashes include:

• Driver negligence or carelessness
• Speeding
• Drunk driving
• Driver inattention
• Defective motor vehicle
• Poor weather and road conditions

Two-thirds of motorcycle accidents are caused by car drivers, who may not be watching for motorcyclists that are sharing the roads with them. Head injuries are the number one kind of motorcycle accident injury.

Even though Florida law does not make it mandatory for motorcyclists to wear helmets, it is recommended that a DOT-approved helmet be used as a safety precaution. Even if a motorcyclist follows all the rules and drive safely, he or she cannot control the behavior of other drivers on the road.

Medical and recovery costs, as well as other expenses associated with motorcycle injuries, can be very expensive. A good motorcycle accident lawyer can evaluate your injuries and your accident for you and determine whether you have grounds to file a motorcycle accident claim or lawsuit.

Birthday ends in cycle crash, Florida Emerald Coast.com, November 12, 2007

Injured birthday cyclist now in fair condition, Florida Emerald Coast.com, November 14, 2007

Motorcycle Safety, MassGeneral Hospital for Children

Related Web Resources:

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation

Continue reading "Florida Motorcyclist Is Seriously Injured After Being Struck by Car in Fort Walton Beach Area " »

In Hollywood, Florida, Shaina Scott, 21, died at Memorial Regional Hospital where she had undergone surgery after the deadly motorcycle crash where she was thrown from her from the motorcycle she was riding on Friday. The driver of the motorcycle, 24-year-old Erick Tenaille, died at the accident scene.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal traffic accident. Larry Ranko, the driver of the Acura, was heading northbound on a southbound I-95 just north of Griffin Road when the deadly crash occurred. Ranko was treated at Broward General Medical Center where he was reportedly in serious condition. The highway patrol is still trying to determine whether to file charges, if alcohol was involved, and why Ranko was driving down the freeway but going in the wrong direction.

In 2006, Ranko pleaded guilty to driving without headlights, driving on the wrong side of the road, and driving to the left of the center line. He also had his license suspended and served two years’ probation for heroin possession in 1997.

Shaina’s roommate and two other motorcyclists were riding along Shaina and Erick when the deadly accident occurred.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 432 people were killed in the U.S. because of wrong-way accidents in 2005.

Florida transportation officials, however, say that the state’s roads are purposely designed to prevent wrong-way accidents. There are signs in red and white warning drivers that they are going the wrong way on the freeway. Medians are set up to prevent someone from entering the highway from the wrong direction.

Because a motorcycle rider doesn’t have anything to protect him or her in a motorcycle collision—especially when crashing into a car, truck, or bus, motorcycle riders and drivers are prone to catastrophic injuries and death when involved in a motor vehicle crash. In Florida, motorcycle riders are not required to wear helmets, which can leave unhelmeted heads exposed the entire time. Tenaille, a Coral Gables resident, was not wearing a helmet on Friday.

Some of the injuries that can occur in a motorcycle accident:

• Broken bones
• Disfigurements
• Severed limbs
• Head injuries
• Severe burns
• Brain damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Back Injuries

The Insurance Information Institute days that 4,787 died in motorcycle crashes in 2006.

Motorcycle passenger dies from injuries in I-95 head-on crash, Sun-Sentinel.com, September 1, 2007

Motorcycle Crashes, Insurance Information Institute

Related Web Resources:

Evaluation of the Repeal of the All-Rider Motorcycle Helmet Law, NHTSA.dot.gov

Continue reading "Motorcycle Passenger Dies After Head-On Collision with Acura in Florida" »