Florida Motorcycle Accident Laws and Statistics
If you have suffered personal injury in a motorcycle crash, you are not alone. Consider the following motorcycle accident statistics in Florida: in 2005, the death rate for motorcyclists was 73 percent, and 4,576 motorcyclists were fatally injured that year*. Fortunately, there is legal recourse for those affected by a motorcycle accident injury or death caused by another party’s actions or negligence. At Proner & Proner, our motorcycle accident attorneys serve clients throughout Florida who have suffered serious personal injury – or, even more tragically, the loss of a loved one – in a motorcycle crash. We are committed to holding the appropriate parties responsible and seeking any compensation to which our clients are entitled.
Motorcycle Accident Law
When a motorcyclist is injured in a motorcycle accident, a number of laws will impact his or her potential case. Florida motorcycle accident laws involve such issues as:
Types of Injuries
The compensation an injured motorcyclist is able to obtain depends in part on the severity of his or her motorcycle accident injury. Although relatively minor injuries (e.g., road rash and broken bones) are possible, injuries are often catastrophic, including back, burn, spinal cord, and brain injury. Given motorcycles’ lack of crashworthiness, motorcycle accident death is also unfortunately common.
Motorcycle Accident Compensation
When a motorcyclist is injured because of another party’s negligence, the injured may seek a motorcycle accident settlement – financial compensation for his or her injuries, pain, and suffering. Depending on the particulars of the case, the settlement may include payment for the victim’s medical treatment, rehabilitative care, lost wages, decreased earning potential, emotional trauma, and other losses.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
In order to obtain a settlement, an injured motorcyclist must file a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Since it can be quite difficult to prove the liability of the responsible party, it is crucial that victims hire an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, like those at Proner & Proner. Our attorneys have years of combined experience handling motorcycle accident claims on behalf of victims from Florida and other states, and we are known for seeking and obtaining a favorable case outcome for each client, every time.
If you have suffered personal injury in a motorcycle crash, contact Proner & Proner to schedule a free consultation with one of our motorcycle accident attorneys. Our law firm serves clients throughout Florida.
Learn more about Florida motorcycle accident laws.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The following motorcycle accident statistics reflect accident trends in Florida and throughout the nation since 1998*:
- In 1999, there was an 8 percent increase in motorcycle accident deaths – and a 2 percent increase in motorcycle accident injuries – from 1998. In 1999, there were 2,472 deaths (versus 2,294 in 1998) and 50,000 injuries (versus 49,000 in 1998).
- Between 2004 and 2006, the number of motorcycle accident fatalities increased (from 432 in 2004 to 562 in 2006), as did the number of total motor vehicle deaths (which increased from 3,244 to 3,374).
- In 2005, there were approximately 468 motorcycle fatalities in Florida – 13 percent of all motor vehicle accident-related deaths and 6 percent of motorcycle registrations in the state that year.
- Of the 3,543 highway traffic fatalities in Florida in 2005, 36 percent (1,271 deaths) involved driver impairment. Of these victims, 469 were motorcyclists – 49 percent of whom were wearing helmets at the time of the accident, 182 of whom had a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .01 or higher, and 287 of whom had no BAC.
- There were 530 motorcycle accident deaths in Florida in 2007. Of these victims, 52 percent were helmeted, 25 percent were driving with a BAC of .08 or higher, and 32 percent of which had a BAC of 0.01 or higher.
- Florida is one of 16 states without a motorcycle advisory committee; three requiring all motorcyclists to complete a rider education program; 27 with an anti-impaired riding education program for motorcyclists; and 18 with a motorcycle safety program assessed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association. It is the only state that requires all drivers license applicants to complete a special traffic law and substance abuse course.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Serving Florida
If you or a loved one has suffered personal injury in a motorcycle collision, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. Contact Proner & Proner to learn more about the law and motorcycle accident statistics. Our attorneys serve clients from throughout Florida.
*Motorcycle accident statistic references: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation Bureau of Transportation Statistics, and Governors Highway Safety Association websites.
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