South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
A recent motorcycle accident in Coral Springs took the life of a motorcyclist and severely injured a vehicle’s passenger. According to 7NEWS, the accident happened at the intersection of Woodside Drive and Sample Road.
As the amount of traffic in Florida continues to increase, especially through Spring Break, motorists are asked to be cautious of our two-wheeled friends. Motorcycles are at high risks for traffic accidents on our roadways. Despite some of the most experienced efforts of motorcyclists, injuries that accompany these accidents are oftentimes caused when motorists neglect to acknowledge motorcyclists on our roadways, by motorists failing to provide ample travel space for these riders and by motorists failing to obey roadway laws. With a little attention and effort, many of these accidents and fatalities can be prevented.
Our Coral Springs motorcycle accident lawyers understand that there were nearly 400 motorcyclists killed in traffic-related accidents across the state of Florida in 2010. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were also nearly 35 passengers killed, nearly 6,700 motorcyclists injured and nearly 750 motorcycle passengers injured. These fatalities and injuries were the result of nearly 7,500 accidents in the state throughout 2010.
Many of these accidents could have been avoided if drivers paid a little more attention to bikers on our roadways. Oftentimes, vulnerable bikers are overlooked by drivers. When an accident involves a motorcyclist, you can almost guarantee some serious injuries. These bikers are not protected by air bags, vehicle cages or seat belts. Many bikers rely on the safe and responsible driving habits of passenger-vehicle drivers to help to keep them safe on our roadways. It’s a team effort.
Safe Driving Tips for Motorists Traveling Around Motorcycles, from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles:
-Never share a lane with a motorcyclist. You always want to allow them a full lane’s width to travel. Just because they’re smaller vehicles doesn’t mean you can share lanes with them.
-Be on the lookout for motorcycles. Always check your mirrors and your blind spots before making any movements in traffic, especially pulling into traffic and changing lanes.
-Don’t let a biker’s blinker fool you. On motorcycles, blinkers aren’t self-canceling like the ones on cars and trucks. Always make sure that a motorcyclist is for real with their signals.
-Road debris and hazards may be annoying to drivers of passenger vehicles, but they’re really dangerous for motorcyclists. For this reason, motorcyclists will swerve throughout their lane to avoid these dangers. Allow them with enough room to do so safely.
-Never tailgate a motorcycle. Allow enough time for the rider to stop in the event of an emergency. Driving too closely behind a motorcycle lessens your time to react to their movements.
If you or someone close to you has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident in Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach or elsewhere in South Florida, contact the personal injury attorneys at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez LLC. Call for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights at 1-800-529-2368.
More Blog Entries:
Speed a Common Cause of Motorcycle Accidents in Coral Springs, Statewide, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, September 29, 2011
Motorcycle Accidents Common on Palm Beach Roads, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, April 28, 2011