Bikers Beware
Riding a motorcycle looks like an exciting way to get around – the feeling of freedom and the wind keeping you cool as you maneuver through areas a car simply cannot fit. That freedom comes with a price, though, as motorcycle riders are much more vulnerable in a crash situation. Without the protection of a car body protecting yours, if you are in an accident, chances are that your injuries are going to be far worse than a driver who is inside a vehicle. Such was the case of this local motorcyclist who was thrown nearly 100 feet from his bike as a result of the impact from a recent accident. According to the story, the victim suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized, in a coma, while the driver of the car that hit him was later arrested and charged with leaving an accident scene.
Vulnerable Road Users
Motorcyclists are part of a unique group defined as ‘vulnerable road users’ in Florida. Aside from motorcyclists, others who are defined by Florida Code Section 316.027(1)(b) in the same manner include:
- Pedestrians;
- Highway or utility facility workers working on or along a highway;
- Emergency service personnel providing services within the right-of-way on a highway;
- Bicyclists and scooter or moped riders;
- People riding animals; and
- Those legally using a public right-of-way, crosswalk, or highway shoulder include farm tractor/vehicle operators, a skater, a horse-drawn carriage, wheelchair, or other electric mobility device.
Keeping Them Safe
As a part of the Florida Strategic Highway Safety Plan put into place in 2012, an emphasis was placed on measures aimed at increasing safety for vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists. It was noted that Florida hosts a variety of large motorcycle events that draw large numbers of out-of-state motorcyclists, but statistics showed that the greater percentage of motorcycle deaths are Florida residents, particularly from southern Florida counties including Palm Beach, Orange, and Miami-Dade, among others. A part of the studies that went into the implementation of the plan showed that crashes involving motorcycles that resulted in injuries and fatalities increased at a much higher rate than other types of crashes in a ten-year time span from the mid 1990s to the mid 2000s. Since then, measures have been put into place to change that trend and programs have focused on increased safety for motorcyclists – both by educating motorcyclists on how to better protect themselves as well as by implementing stiffer penalties for other vehicle drivers involved in crashes with motorcyclists.
Contact Our Attorneys If You Have Been The Victim Of An Auto Accident
Regardless of the safety measures put into effect, accidents will still happen. If you have been involved in an auto accident, whether on a motorcycle or any other type of vehicle, contact the Fort Lauderdale legal professionals at Boone & Davis for a free consultation. Our knowledgeable attorneys will help you to understand your rights and how to maneuver an often-complicated legal system. Contact us today online or by calling 954.556.5260 to allow us to help you get started.
