Everyone claims to want to be Number 1, right? Well, Florida is Number 1…in motorcycle accident deaths.And Miami-Dade County is Number 1 in motorcycle deaths in Florida.
Why are deaths so common in motorcycle crashes in Florida? It may be because Florida does not require motorcyclists to wear a helmet. It may be caused by the traffic and number of drivers in Florida. Whatever the reason, it is a cause for concern to all who ride two-wheeled vehicles.
Because drivers of cars are focused on auto traffic, they often do not see or perceive motorcycles. Motorcycles are smaller, have a narrower profile, and often blend into the roadway.
Many people wonder what are the most common types of motorcycle crashes. Research suggests that the single most dangerous situation for motorcyclists is when a car makes left-hand turn, usually with the car hitting the unsuspecting motorcycle while it travels straight through an intersection. 42% of all crashes between cars and motorcycles occur this way.
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Here are a few other popular causes for motorcycle accidents:
Many emergency room physicians refer to motorcycles as “organ donation machines” because of their very high fatality rate. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that each year about 13 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes.
The death rate for motorcycles is over 72 per 100,000 registered motorcycles. Mile for mile, driving a motorcycle is 27 times more dangerous than driving a car.
Motorcycles make up about 1% of all miles driven in the country but account for 15% of all traffic deaths.
Because motorcycles have acceleration that is often faster than a car, but provide almost no protection for occupants, they have the potential to cause death in serious injury. Many drivers involved in crashes with motorcycles say they “never saw” the cycle before impact. Often that’s due to an invisibility caused by driving perception.
Motorcycles inherently lack crashworthiness protection that even the smallest cars provide. There is no frame, no seatbelt and almost no protection from an impact. Ejection of the motorcyclist is one of the most common causes of injury or death.
The use of a helmet is the single most important thing a motorcyclist can do to provide protection from head injury and death.
Broken bones – When you’re riding a motorcycle you are exposed, and if you hit another car or are involved in a crash, there is a good chance you will fly off the bike in high speed. Any impact you have with objects in high speeds can lead to many broken bones as the human body is very fragile.
Spinal cord injury – Most often when you fall from a high place or hit by a car and crash hard on the ground, you can damage your spinal cord which can result in paralyses and even death.
Brain injury – If you don’t wear a helmet you have a higher chance of getting a brain injury while in a crash. Like we mentioned above, the body is very fragile and even ” small ” hits to the head can cause damage. Even people who wear a helmet but are hit hard enough in a serious car and motorcycle accident can have brain damage.
Amputation due to serious injury – When an organ of the body such as a leg or arm is injured so severely, sometimes there is no choice but to amputate it. This can have a serious effect on the quality of life and can sometimes lead to other complications. But be careful as there are many people who suffer from medical malpractice due to wrongful amputation.
Road rash – When you slide on the road or on the pavement in high speed and you don’t wear protective gear, your skin will tear like paper leaving you with many bruises and cuts.
Death – If you are involved in a crash that leaves your body with too many serious injuries and they can’t treat you in time, death is also a common motorcycle crash result.
The first thing is to get immediate medical attention. Many times people do not realize the extent of their injuries right away. The body’s protective mechanism (shock) takes over. Plus we all have a natural tendency to deny that anything serious is wrong with us.
If possible, have someone take photographs at the scene before the final resting positions of the vehicles are changed. Many times the automobile drive will claim that the motorcyclist was speeding or “came out of nowhere” but the physical evidence will refute that if it is not destroyed.
Many people have an anti-motorcycle bias, thinking everyone who rides a motorcycle is reckless or in a gang. In order to counter that assumption, preserving evidence and proving what really happened is crucial.
Engaging the services of a skilled and experienced Miami motorcycle accident lawyer is important. A qualified trial lawyer can determine whether you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. He or she can also have investigators and traffic engineers begin the process of preserving evidence, obtaining statements, and reconstructing the crash.
It is important to act quickly because evidence disappears, witnesses are lost, and other evidence can be intentionally or accidentally destroyed. Some of this evidence includes surveillance videos, ECM data (electronic control modules, or “black boxes”), and other tracking data.
Prompt action by investigative and legal personnel can preserve important evidence and help prove what the real cause of the crash was.
At Leighton Panoff Law, we have been handling motorcycle crash cases for 34 years all over Florida. We work with traffic reconstruction engineers, investigators, road design and human factors engineers, and medical experts and life care planners to assist our motorcycle crash clients.
Our skills in motorcycle crash cases have resulted in substantial recoveries for our clients. These include over $1.75 million for a man injured in a Broward motorcycle crash where a car turned in front of our client, $3.5 million in an Orlando motorcycle crash where a pickup truck pulled out into our client’s motorcycle, $1,125,000 for a motorcyclist whose leg was run over after his motorcycle went down on a highway, $1,020,000 motorcyclist hit by drunk driver exiting the parking lot of a bar, and many more.
In one case, we were able to help a motorcyclist who was rear ended by a tourist while he was driving in the Florida Keys. The driver’s claim was that he “never saw” the motorcycle that was stopped in traffic right in front of him with its brake lights on.
If a loved one has been killed in a motorcycle crash, it’s common for the other driver to blame the cyclist. By acting quickly we can often prove that the car driver failed to yield the right of way or simply ignored the motorcycle.
Because motorcycle crashes have such a high death rate, it is important to find a skilled motorcycle trial lawyer quickly.
It’s a terrible loss when a family has lost someone in a crash of any kind. But it’s even worse when the surviving driver of the other vehicle blames the innocent but deceased motorcyclist. Only through prompt action and skilled lawyering can we often help families recover substantial damages for the loss of their loved ones.
Our track record in wrongful death cases is exemplary. Our access in litigating and trying such cases has resulted in millions of dollars being recovered for the families of those whose lives have been taken too soon.
If you or a loved one has suffered a motorcycle crash, we can help recover damages. We hope that through the use of helmets, and assuming motorcycles are “invisible”, motorcyclists can avoid the tragedy that happens all too often, especially in Florida.
Because Florida is home to so many tourists, as well as residents who have relocated but may be unfamiliar with the roadways, the risks in this state are greater than others. For motorcyclists the dangers are particularly high because they do not have the benefit of a car providing protection and visibility around them.
At Leighton Panoff Law, we understand what happens in motorcycle crashes and we fight for our clients to recover the most damages available under the law.
Florida is Number 1 in motorcycle accident deaths, and Miami-Dade County is Number 1 in motorcycle deaths in Florida. One reason may be that Florida does not require motorcyclists to wear a helmet. Another cause could be the heavy traffic and large number of drivers. Many drivers involved in crashes with motorcycles say they “never saw” the cycle before impact. Because motorcycles are smaller, have a narrower profile, and often blend into the roadway, they are less likely to be seen by drivers focused on cars.
Poor road conditions, drunk drivers, blind spots, door crashes, braking too hard, and cutting lanes are common causes. Braking too hard can easily tip the motorcycle and cause the rider to crash on their head. Blind spots and door crashes occur when drivers don’t check for motorcycles before changing lanes or opening doors. Cutting through lanes is dangerous because cars may change lanes suddenly. Drunk driving, whether by the motorcyclist or another driver, also contributes to frequent and deadly crashes.
Motorcycles inherently lack crashworthiness protection that even the smallest cars provide. There is no frame, no seatbelt, and almost no protection from an impact. Ejection of the motorcyclist is one of the most common causes of injury or death. Many emergency room physicians refer to motorcycles as “organ donation machines” because of their very high fatality rate. Mile for mile, driving a motorcycle is 27 times more dangerous than driving a car. Motorcycles make up just 1% of miles driven but account for 15% of all traffic deaths.
Common injuries include broken bones, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputation, road rash, and death. Ejected riders often suffer multiple fractures. Spinal cord damage can lead to paralysis or death. Brain injuries are more likely without a helmet, but even with one, severe trauma can occur. Road rash happens when riders slide along pavement without protective gear. Some injuries are so severe that amputation is required. Death is tragically common when serious injuries are not treated in time or are too severe.
Get immediate medical attention. Shock may mask injuries, and people tend to deny something is seriously wrong. If possible, have someone take photographs at the scene before vehicles are moved. Evidence like vehicle positions, surveillance videos, ECM data, and witness accounts is critical. Many drivers claim the motorcycle “came out of nowhere.” A skilled Miami motorcycle accident lawyer can preserve evidence, investigate, and reconstruct the crash. Prompt action is key, as evidence disappears, witnesses are lost, or facts are intentionally or accidentally destroyed.
It is important to act quickly because evidence disappears, witnesses are lost, and other evidence can be intentionally or accidentally destroyed. Surveillance videos, ECM data (“black boxes”), and other tracking data may be lost. Engaging the services of a skilled and experienced Miami motorcycle accident lawyer ensures investigators and traffic engineers can preserve vital evidence and reconstruct the crash accurately. Acting promptly can counter anti-motorcycle bias and establish the truth about who was at fault in the collision.
Florida is home to many tourists and relocated residents unfamiliar with local roads. For motorcyclists, this adds to the danger because they already face challenges of visibility and lack of protection. Motorcycles have faster acceleration but provide almost no protection to occupants. Many drivers say they “never saw” the motorcycle before the crash. The risks are particularly high in Florida due to its high traffic density, lack of helmet laws, and drivers unaware of how to share the road with motorcycles.
Leighton Panoff Law has secured substantial recoveries: over $1.75 million in a Broward crash where a car turned in front of the client; $3.5 million in an Orlando case where a pickup truck pulled out into the client’s motorcycle; $1,125,000 for a client whose leg was run over after going down on a highway; and $1,020,000 in a drunk driving case. In the Florida Keys, they helped a rider rear-ended by a tourist who claimed he “never saw” the motorcycle stopped in traffic.
If a loved one has been killed in a motorcycle crash, the surviving driver often blames the motorcyclist. Acting quickly allows attorneys to prove the car driver failed to yield or ignored the motorcycle. Skilled lawyering can help families recover substantial damages. It’s a terrible loss when a family loses someone in a crash, and even worse when the innocent cyclist is blamed. Panoff Law’s record in wrongful death cases has resulted in millions recovered for families whose loved ones were taken too soon.