Motorcycle Accidents in Tampa
Florida is the most dangerous state for motorcycle riders, with the most motorcycle accidents and the most motorcycle fatalities compared to other states. 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, as well as the new Iron Pigs Motorcycle Rally and Red Star Live October Bike Night in Tampa.
Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are not uncommon here. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash, you need a team of Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers on your side to help you get the compensation you need for your medical bills and other losses. Boohoff Law can help.
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 the following:
- 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
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
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, Tampa motorcycle accident victims have virtually no protection and face 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 cars in accidents.
Some of the life-altering motorcycle accident injuries our lawyers see include:
- 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.
If another motorist caused your accident, you may have grounds to seek compensation for your medical bills and other damages. Contact a Tampa motorcycle accident lawyer at Boohoff Law to discuss your Tampa motorcycle accident case and hear your legal options.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
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 motorcycle riders killed in a single year.
Additionally, motorcycle accident deaths rose from 5,044 the year before to 5,579, representing an 11 percent increase. Estimates show that over 82,500 motorcycle riders suffered accident injuries in a year, representing a two-percent decrease from motorcycle accident injuries 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.
- There were 600 motorcycle fatalities 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:
- 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 lying 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 follow the rules of the road, drive defensively, and adhere to their legal and ethical duties to each other.
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 two years from the date of 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.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer is well-versed in what deadlines will apply to your motorcycle accident case and will ensure that you meet all of them. Contact the Florida motorcycle accident lawyers from Boohoff Law 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 Do You Need to Prove Negligence?
To prove negligence in personal injury lawsuits, motorcycle crash victims or their attorneys must prove the following four elements:
- Duty of care: 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.
- Causation: 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 from your injuries, such as medical bills, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life
Contact the Tampa Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Boohoff Law Today
If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident in Tampa, you are likely facing ongoing medical expenses and a loss of your regular paycheck. You may get an offer from the insurance company to quickly settle your motorcycle accident claim without speaking to an attorney first. Insurance companies are notorious for making lowball settlement offers, and they hope you’re too consumed with your injuries or overwhelmed by your medical expenses to accept. Don’t let that happen.
We understand this is a difficult time for you. A Tampa motorcycle accident lawyer from Boohoff Law can help you fight the insurance adjusters 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) 725-5606 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
Client Testimonial
I remember having a conversation with Lynsey. And in the conversation, I told her of my demands you see insurance claims had me 80% at fault and the other driver at 20% at fault on a 10,000 insurance policy. She assured at that time she would do her best to recover at 100% of the claim. I received a call back from Lynsey around August 3 with good news of getting the claim at 10,000 a 100% of the insurance claim. I received good on the promise a settlement that has put me and my wife and family back on our feet’s.Thank you again,Tatiana Boohoff and your great staff. -Travis R.
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