request a consultation
Fill out our contact form and we’ll be in touch with you right away.
How Are Motorcycles More Dangerous than Cars?
The Sunshine State is a great place to ride, but when you do, it’s important to keep in mind that you’re far more vulnerable to the immense impact of an accident when you’re on your bike – for a variety of reasons. If a motorist’s negligence leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident, reach out for the skilled legal representation of an experienced Florida motorcycle accident attorney.
The Statistics
The recent statistics shared by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlight exactly how dangerous and common motorcycle accidents are, including:
- There were nearly 6,000 motorcycle fatalities in the nation, which accounts for 14 percent of all traffic deaths, which is the highest number since data collection began in 1975 and which is up 8 percent over the prior year.
- More than 82,500 motorcyclists suffered an injury in traffic accidents, which is a 5 percent jump over the prior year.
- When calculated in terms of vehicle miles traveled, the fatality rate for motorcyclists was nearly 24 times higher than it was for the occupants of passenger vehicles.
In other words, when you’re on your bike, you’re far more likely to be injured – or worse – in an accident, and there are a range of reasons for this.
Factors that Make You More Vulnerable
The primary reasons that you’re more vulnerable to risk when you’re on your bike include all the following:
- You don’t have the protective shell that a car provides, which means there is nothing to buffer the impact of a crash.
- Driver distraction is on the rise, and distracted motorists often fail to see motorcyclists in their midst.
- Too many motorists fail to take motorcyclists into account when they drive, and as a result, they fail to look for them.
- Excess speed is a primary factor in every kind of traffic accident, and motorists who exceed the speed limit, drive too fast to safely accommodate the road’s condition, or otherwise drive aggressively put motorcyclists – and everyone else – at increased risk.
- The fact that you take up less space on the road when you’re on your bike also leaves you more vulnerable to getting lost in other drivers’ blind spots. Although every motorist is required to proceed with caution when changing lanes, too many fail to check their blind spots.
- You don’t require as much distance on the road to come to a safe stop when you’re on your motorcycle, and as a result, you’re more vulnerable to rear-end accidents that are caused by drivers who follow too closely.
An Experienced Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney Is on Your Side
If you’re injured by a negligent driver in a motorcycle accident, the accomplished Tampa area motorcycle accident attorneys at Mickey Keenan P.A. will spare no effort in their focused pursuit of the compensation to which you’re entitled and that you need to regain your health and well-being. To learn more about what we can do to help you, please don’t delay reaching out and contacting us online or calling 813-871-1300 today.