Motorcycles in Tampa

Florida is the most dangerous state for motorcycle riders. It has the most motorcycle accidents and the most motorcycle fatalities. Even so, motorcycles are astonishingly popular in Florida, with more than half a million registered motorcycles in the state. Florida also hosts the Daytona Beach Bike Week, one of the largest motorcycling events in the world.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

As we noted above, there are some fairly common reasons for motorcycle accidents in Florida.

They happen most often because of

• Cars turning left in front of a motorcycle
• Cars switching lanes without noticing the presence of a motorcycle
• When the cycle or a car runs a red light
• Head-on collisions
• Cyclists lane splitting and weaving in and out of traffic
• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

What Happens When You’re in a Motorcycle Accident?

However, you want to explain it, a lot of motorcycles are in accidents in Florida every day. The results of those accidents can be, and often are, catastrophic. Because cars and trucks are bigger and heavier than motorcycles and because motorcycles provide virtually no built-in protection from a crash for their riders, the motorcyclist is virtually always the loser in any collision with a car or truck.

Whether crushed by the other vehicle or the cycle or violently thrust from the cycle, the cyclist has virtually no protection and faces exposure to the physics of the crash. As a result, the fatality rate for motorcyclists in Florida is roughly six times the rate for passenger occupants in accidents.

Some of the life-altering injuries that can result from a motorcycle accident are:

• Traumatic Brain Injury – Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) happens when the skull slams against something or the brain shakes. In either case, the impact bruises the brain and tears tissues. Even a seemingly mild TBI can result in potentially fatal complications. When your doctor says you have a “mild” TBI, that designation only relates to the initial symptoms and not to your overall prognosis. TBIs that medical professionals have described as mild can still represent severe injuries resulting in lasting effects and complications. If you are diagnosed with any TBI, you should watch for symptoms of complications or lingering effects.
• Spinal Cord Injury – Depending on its location, a spinal cord injury can result in permanent or temporary paralysis of large parts of the body. Even milder spinal injuries can cause loss of sensation or reductions in motor skills.
• Broken or Amputated Limbs – Your legs and arms have virtually no protection from the other vehicle in your accident or from the forces involved when you land on the ground or something lands on you. Severe fractures and even amputated limbs are common results when a victim is thrown from the bike or crushed under it.
• Torso Injuries – Again, the lack of protection from other vehicles or from being thrown from your bike means that your entire body is vulnerable to severe injuries. Injuries to the torso can break ribs leading to possible punctured lungs, life-threatening damage to other internal organs, and related internal bleeding.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

To comprehend the problem motorcycle accidents create, study statistics. For example, in a recent year, 5,579 motorcyclists lost their lives on U.S. roadways, representing 14 percent of all traffic fatalities. Since FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) began tracking numbers in 1975, this is the highest number of motorcyclists killed in a year.

Additionally, motorcyclist deaths rose from 5,044 the year before to 5,579, representing an 11 percent increase. Estimates show that over 82,500 motorcyclists suffered accident injuries in a year, representing a two-percent decrease from motorcyclists injured the previous year.

Other surprising statistics to consider include:

• Motorcyclist casualties happened almost 28 times more frequently than passenger car occupant fatalities in traffic crashes per vehicle miles traveled.
• Fatal multiple-vehicle accidents involved 36 percent of motorcycle riders who were in an accident, and 76 percent of them experienced a front collision. Only seven percent were in rear collisions.
• 600 motorcyclists died in accidents across the state of Florida last year.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

As we noted above, some fairly common reasons for motorcycle accidents in Florida exist. They happen most often because of:​

Cars Turning Left in Front of a Motorcycle

Sadly T-bone accidents, like those resulting from left-turn accidents, are a leading cause of motorcycle collisions worldwide. Many factors can cause a left turn collision; however, most drivers will say inattentional blindness caused them to turn into the rider. Often, this means that although the motorist might have looked at the motorcyclists, they didn’t see them because they weren’t expecting to. Instead, drivers generally focus on seeing and looking for full-size vehicles instead of motorcycles.

With its smaller size and lower profile, a motorcycle is less visible to other drivers. For example, a turning driver might see the vehicles immediately ahead and behind the motorcyclist and not visualize the motorcycle. The motorist then turns between the other two vehicles believing that there’s an opening, only to discover when it’s too late that there’s a motorcycle there instead.

Other causes of left-turn motorcycle accidents include:

• Yellow lights: Vehicles waiting to turn left at yellow lights are a potential recipe for disaster. Turning drivers sometimes expect the oncoming traffic to stop at the yellow light, leaving time and space for the turning driver to clear the intersection. The driver waiting to turn might suddenly accelerate because they don’t want to be in the middle of the intersection when the light turns red. This situation sometimes causes the driver to suddenly turn left in front of vehicles, including motorcycles moving through the intersection on yellow.
• Lawbreakers: Some drivers, usually intoxicated, just drive recklessly. Their reckless actions can include failing to yield to oncoming traffic when turning left at stoplights, turning left from stop signs, or turning left from general road travel. Unfortunately, reckless drivers reach where they need to turn left, whether it’s a driveway or a street, lightly tap their brakes, and hang a left as if they are the only ones on the road without checking for any oncoming traffic, including motorcyclists.
• Distracted drivers: Seeing smaller motorcycles and judging the time to turn left demands a motorist’s full concentration. When a driver is texting, using a smartphone, attending to personal hygiene needs, paying attention to pets or passengers, or eating and drinking, they often fail to see the motorcyclist or otherwise make a mistake that results in a left-turn accident. Distracted drivers also cause more than just left-hand turn accidents with motorcyclists.
• Mistakes: Sometimes, a left-turning driver can see the motorcycle well enough, but they misjudge the biker’s speed or distance. This causes them to make a left turn that they shouldn’t make instead of waiting for the motorcyclist to pass before they turn.​

Cars Switching Lanes Without Noticing the Presence of a Motorcycle

Sharing the road safely with other motorcyclists means knowing how to change lanes. Even if a driver isn’t aware of any motorcycles in their vicinity, they should always be mindful of the potential for one to be near when they want to change lanes.

Drivers are responsible for their safe lane changes. They need to check and double-check their mirrors, look in the blind spots, and signal that they are changing lanes before they do so. Unfortunately, too many drivers make a passing glance at their mirror. They then move over without a care, causing severe or even fatal injuries to innocent motorcyclists. ​

When a Car Runs a Red Light

Running a red light is similar to making a left-hand turn and not seeing a motorcyclist. Drivers never know whom they can hit when they disobey traffic lights. If they hit a motorcyclist, the results can be disastrous. ​

Speeding

Speed usually increases the risks of motor vehicle accidents and the severity of injuries. However, since motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to accidents, accidents involving speeds above the speed limit or too fast for conditions can lead to catastrophe. Motorists should always be aware of their speed, road and weather conditions, and the motorists around them. ​

Driving under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

Sadly, alcohol is one of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents worldwide. Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs (illegal and some legal) while driving any motorized vehicle is extremely risky— especially when sharing the road with motorcyclists.

While each individual’s body processes alcohol differently, most healthy adults can stay below a BAC of 0.08 percent (the legal blood alcohol concentration rate in Florida) at a rate of about one drink per hour. This equals about 1.25 ounces of hard liquor, one beer, or one glass of wine. However, the adverse effects of alcohol start affecting the brain after only a single drink.

Alcohol impacts areas such as the:

• Cerebral cortex: necessary for reasoning and good judgment.
• Cerebellum: helps control balance and coordination.
• Hypothalamus: regulates appetite, pain, and emotions.
• Amygdala: partially responsible for social behavior.
• Hippocampus: helps control learning and memory.

Not only does alcohol (and some drugs) impair critical driving abilities like reaction time and inhibit areas of the brain necessary for judging driving ability or even how sober someone is.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can make motorists more dangerous around motorcycles. They are more likely to turn in front of them or try to pass them when they shouldn’t, less likely to see them, and may not judge their true speed. Alcohol and driving simply don’t mix, especially when motorcyclists are on the road.

Even motorists on prescription or over-the-counter medications need to know how the medication can impact their driving abilities. For example, suppose they end up causing an accident due to their medications. In that case, they will be liable for the damages. ​

Drowsy Drivers

Recent studies reveal that drowsy or sleepy drivers on U.S. roadways can present similar dangers as drunk driving. Many drivers, especially those who work shift work or drive large commercial vehicles, don’t get enough sleep. Instead, they forgo their rest illegally to push through and get more work done at the insistence of their employer. Unfortunately, this often ends up impacting innocent victims. ​

Mechanical Problems

A motorcycle’s brakes might fail suddenly and out of nowhere, or its tires may blow out due to a defect. Like other motor vehicles on the road, motorcycles are at risk of experiencing mechanical problems due to various manufacturing defects of their bike or their parts. In these cases, it’s essential to have a Tampa motorcycle accident attorney on your side who can hold the correct party accountable for your accident. Your attorney can hire experts to determine what caused your accident and who is responsible. ​

Poor Road Conditions

Another common cause of motorcycle crashes is poor roadway conditions. Unfortunately, they are often an overlooked threat by many riders and those responsible for road design and maintenance.

Dangerous elements that can be significant causes of a motorcycle accident include:

• Poorly marked curves or merging areas
• Poorly lit roads and intersection
• Pavement defects, like uneven ground, potholes, etc.
• Hidden driveways
• Insufficient shoulders
• Unmarked lane changes
• A lack of dividers, medians, or guardrails
• Low-hanging branches or vegetation that presents view obstruction
• Hazardous railroad tracks
• Unsafe bridge joints
• Gravel, sand, or debris laying on the road or shoulder
• Leaves or grass clippings
• Standing or flowing water
• Different corner types

Unfortunately, most of these accidents share the root cause of motorist negligence or carelessness. This means these accidents are highly avoidable when drivers are following the rules of the road, driving defensively, and adhering to their legal and ethical duties to each other.

What Happens When You’re in a Motorcycle Accident?

However you want to explain it, many motorcycles are in accidents in Florida daily. The results of those accidents can be, and often are, catastrophic. Because cars and trucks are bigger and heavier than motorcycles and because motorcycles provide virtually no built-in protection from a crash for their riders, the motorcyclist is virtually always the loser in any collision with a car or truck.

Whether crushed by the other vehicle or the cycle or violently thrust from the cycle, the cyclist has virtually no protection and faces exposure to the physics of the crash. As a result, the fatality rate for motorcyclists in Florida is roughly six times the rate for passenger occupants in accidents.

Some of the life-altering injuries that can result from a motorcycle accident are:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): A traumatic brain injury happens when the skull slams against something or the brain shakes within the skull. In either case, the impact bruises the brain, tears tissues, and causes bleeding and swelling. Even a seemingly mild TBI can result in potentially fatal complications. When your doctor says you have a “mild” TBI, that designation only relates to the initial symptoms and not your overall prognosis. TBIs that medical professionals initially described as mild can still represent severe injuries resulting in lasting effects and complications. If you are diagnosed with any TBI, you should watch for symptoms of complications or lingering effects.
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI): The spinal cord can become compressed, nicked, cut, or completely severed due to a motorcycle accident. This often happens due to broken vertebrae in the neck or back. Depending on its location, a spinal cord injury can result in permanent or temporary paralysis of large body parts. Even milder spinal injuries can cause loss of sensation or reductions in motor skills. This is because the spinal cord acts as a pathway between the brain and the rest of the body. The brain tells the body what to do through the spinal cord, and the body tells the brain what it’s feeling (such as pain or discomfort) or what it needs. Sadly, motorcyclists who suffer SCI may require a lifetime of medical care and living assistance.
• Broken or Amputated Limbs: Your legs and arms have virtually no protection from the other vehicle in your accident or from the forces involved when you land on the ground or something lands on you. Severe fractures and even amputated limbs typically result when a victim is thrown from the bike or crushed under it. Motorcycle accidents can lead to injury amputations or the need to amputate crushed or severely broken limbs surgically.
• Internal/Torso Injuries: Again, the lack of protection from other vehicles or from being thrown from your bike means that your entire body is vulnerable to severe injuries. Injuries to the torso can break ribs leading to possible punctured lungs, life-threatening damage to other internal organs, and related internal bleeding. Damage to internal organs and internal bleeding can arise from blunt-force trauma (being hit by something hard that doesn’t break the skin), such as your chest hitting your motorcycle’s handlebars or your body hitting the pavement, or penetrating trauma (something sharp, such as broken glass or debris penetrates the skin in an accident).
• Severe Burns: Depending on the specifics of the motorcycle accident, a victim can suffer severe burns to any portion of their body. The larger the portion, the more severe and complex the injury. These burns may require surgical debridement or skin grafts. Burns increase the risk of infection and can cause lifelong scarring and disfigurement. They are also very painful.
• Road Rash: When a motorcycle rider’s skin contacts the road surface during a crash, skin abrasions called road rash can appear. Motorcycle accidents can even result in severe road rash. This may sound like a superficial injury. However, it can tear skin away down to the muscle or, in extreme cases, even the bone. This type of road rash is excruciating and similar to burns in that it can require surgery, increases the risk of infection, and may cause permanent scarring and disfigurement. The more clothes, especially protective clothing a motorcyclist wears while riding, the less likely they are to experience severe road rash. ​

How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Injury Claim?

If you’ve suffered an injury in a Florida motorcycle accident, contact an experienced attorney immediately. Under most circumstances, you only have four years from your accident to file a lawsuit. Suppose you miss filing your legal claim under this deadline, known commonly as the statute of limitations. In that case, you can jeopardize your chances of ever receiving compensation for your injuries.

When you hire a seasoned Tampa car accident attorney, they are well-versed in what deadlines will apply to your case and will ensure that you meet all of them. Contact an attorney right away to protect your legal rights and prevent you from falling for any of the insurance company’s tactics to pay less than you deserve. ​

What Elements Make up a Negligence Claim?

To prove a claim for negligence, such as in a motorcycle accident, the injured party or their attorney must prove:

• Duty: The offending party owed the injured party a duty of care. For instance, another motorist must stop at a stop light.
• Breach of Duty: The offending party violates that duty for whatever reason.
• Cause: Their violation of duty is the direct cause of your injuries. For instance, you suffered a broken leg and neck because they ran a red light.
• Damages: You suffered compensable damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Contact a Tampa Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

If a Florida motorcycle accident injured you or a loved one, you no doubt face ongoing medical expenses and a loss of your regular paycheck. You may be hearing from insurance companies making lowball settlement offers that they hope you’re ill enough or desperate enough to accept. Don’t let that happen.

We know your pain! Boohoff Law can help you fight the insurance companies and get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Our attorneys have extensive experience in personal injury law and motorcycle accident cases like yours and will work tirelessly for your recovery. Contact us online today or call (813) 445-8161 for a no-cost initial consultation and case evaluation.

Boohoff Law P.A. Tampa, Florida Location

829 W Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Tampa, FL 33603
Phone: (813) 536-6221

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