Local Motorcyclist Suffers Minor Injuries In Hit And Run Accident
A local motorcyclist escaped major injuries recently when he was involved in a hit and run accident on I-95 in Fort Lauderdale. According to reports, the accident occurred when a minivan struck the motorcycle and caused the motorcyclist to lose control of the bike and crash on the wet roadway. The minivan did not stop to assist the motorcyclist; fortunately, the motorcyclist’s bodily injuries were not serious and consisted mainly of road rash. He said that his bike did not fare as well as he did and he is concerned about his ability to fix or repair his motorcycle. His advice to the minivan driver was to learn how to drive – and to fix his bike.
Florida Law Regarding Protective Gear
While the motorcyclist in this story was lucky enough to sustain only minor injuries, motorcyclists in general do not often have the same good outcome when involved in an accident. Florida law does require motorcycle riders to wear certain types of protective gear such as glasses or goggles, but due to a change in Florida’s helmet laws in July 2000, riders age 21 and older and those who carry specific insurance coverage are not legally required to wear one of the most important pieces of safety gear – a helmet. Studies show that death rates for motorcyclists increased significantly when the helmet laws were changed.
The Statistics
According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcyclists are far more likely to die in an accident based on number of miles driven than someone driving or riding in a passenger vehicle and, in 2014, motorcyclist injuries were over four percent higher than in the previous year. Interestingly, fatalities were down by over two percent during that same year-to-year comparison, which is certainly a step in the right direction. When motorcyclists are involved in an accident, though, their chance of suffering serious injuries is far greater than for drivers or passengers of a four-wheeled vehicle. The reason for this should be fairly obvious – the motorcyclist lacks the protection of being surrounded by the car’s body. Despite the fact that motorcyclists are not legally required to wear a helmet, doing so would likely prevent many of the head injuries that motorcyclists suffer when involved in an accident – or at least lessen the severity of those that are sustained.
Contact Us for Professional Help
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, the attorneys at the office of Boone & Davis in Fort Lauderdale can help. Our caring and compassionate motorcycle accident attorneys have been helping motorcyclists – both drivers and passengers – with their accident and injury matters for decades. Our experience with the unique factors involved in motorcycle accidents allows us to offer the best representation available in the Fort Lauderdale area. We will help you to understand how the courts will handle your case and what outcomes may result. Contact us today either online or by phone at 954.556.5260 to speak with a legal professional and schedule your initial, no cost consultation to get started.
