Everyone knows Florida as the Sunshine State. Because of the sunshine and practically year-round summer, Florida attracts many motorcycle riders. With more motorcycle riders on the road, the more accidents are bound to happen. Motorcycle accidents are caused by both the motorcycle riders and other drivers on the road alike. It is a given that when you are driving either a vehicle or riding a motorcycle, you should always give your undivided attention to the road and your surroundings, but we all know that does not always happen.
Along with Florida’s summer heat comes afternoon thunder-storms which are pretty much a daily occurrence between May and September when it is especially hot. You can pretty much set your watch by the afternoon storms in Florida which is why it is a good idea to plan your motorcycle ride around the inevitable storms if you are able to do so. Driving a vehicle in the rain is hard enough but trying to navigate the road in heavy traffic while it is pouring with rain is not such a great idea. Bad weather is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents in the State of Florida not only caused by motorcycle riders but vehicle drivers too. It can sometimes be hard to see in the rain when you are driving, especially if your windshield wipers are not up to par. An accident with a motorcycle can happen in a split second which is why it is extremely important that you pay all of your attention to the road in a thunder storm as you never know when a motorcycle can dart out in front of you or you could merge into the next lane and not notice a very small motorcycle in your blind spot. Motorcycle riders are encouraged to not ride in the rain because the roads can become extremely slippery which makes skidding a risk you do not want to take. It is also often difficult to slow your motorcycle on a wet, slippery road which can again cause a motorcycle to skid and throw the rider from the motorcycle. If you are thrown from your vehicle in the middle of the road in heavy traffic, the chances of you sustaining a significant injury is likely. If you are thrown under another vehicle, death could be imminent. If you are wearing a motorcycle crash helmet, you are doing all you can do to protect yourself from a traumatic head injury, but even a crash helmet cannot save your life in some instances. Even if the crash helmet protected your head from injury, there really is not a way to protect your entire body which is extremely fragile. Protective clothing can be worn such as leather jackets with a protective hard spine in the back, but even this likely will not save your life if you are thrown under a vehicle or the impact from a crash is severe.
Because of the many attractions Florida has to offer, especially Central Florida, there are many tourists on the road who are relying on their GPS system to navigate from location to location. Trying to drive and follow a GPS system can be difficult and confusing, especially if you are not very familiar with the area. Many tourists cause accidents this way as they are trying to pay attention to the GPS system and end up taking their eyes off the road and before they know it, they look up and the vehicle in front of them has stopped. If the vehicle in front is a motorcycle and the motorcycle is rear ended at a significant speed, the impact could be great enough to eject the motorcycle rider, throwing them to the road. Again, being thrown from your motorcycle is traumatic enough but if you are thrown into oncoming traffic or underneath another vehicle, you could suffer from life threating injuries or even death. Tourists have also been known to merge over four lanes of traffic to get to their upcoming exit causing all other vehicles to slam on their brakes to avoid a collision. This is a common occurrence in the State of Florida, and it can be extremely hazardous to all other vehicles in the immediate area, especially motorcycles. If a motorcycle rider must slam on their brakes suddenly, their brakes could lock up and they can skid or slide into or underneath another vehicle. It is so important to remember that if you are relying on a GPS system to get you to your location, take your time, leave earlier than necessary to avoid getting lost, drive the speed limit and never cut off other vehicles just to make your turn. Doing so can have life altering effects.
Red light or stop light running is another leading cause of motorcycle fatalities in the Sate of Florida. Never run a red light or stop sign and always pay attention to the traffic signals. If you run a red light and a motorcycle is proceeding through the intersection, you will likely end up colliding with them causing a huge accident and likely the motorcycle rider will end up with catastrophic injuries or death. The impact alone from a vehicle slamming into a motorcycle is enough to cause life threatening injuries but coupled with being thrown from the motorcycle and slamming into the road or another vehicle is enough to cause a fatality. Even if the motorcycle rider is wearing a helmet, it does not meant that they will not suffer from a severe head injury. The State of Florida is where many retirees and elderly people choose to live given the warm weather. The older you are, the more fragile your body becomes. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident with an older motorcycle rider, they have a much higher chance of sustaining significantly more injuries, broken bones, head trauma, or death.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident or a loved one has lost their life due to a motorcycle accident, you should always think about consulting with an experienced personal injury attorney who can explain your rights and benefits to you so you know how to proceed with your motorcycle claim.