Earlier this month, thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts gathered in Daytona Beach for Bike Week, a gathering of riders that cruise in from all parts of the country this time each year. However, they are doing so at their own peril.
According to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Florida has the most motorcycle fatalities in the nation. Bikers accounted for over 20% of motor vehicle fatalities in the state, while only comprising about 7% of all motorists.
Furthermore, according to a recent AAA survey, a significant portion of motorcyclists do not even carry motorcycle insurance, which, coupled with the high fatality and injury rate that comes along with motorcycling, has a significant impact on the economy in terms of lost productivity, medical costs, legal and court costs, emergency services costs, property damage and climbing insurance premiums for the rest of us.
Of course, the fact that helmets are not required by law for motorcyclists appears to compound the problem, though many bikers will tell you that they should have the choice whether to wear one or not.
This report comes in the wake of two widely reported recent motorcycle tragedies. A Fort Lauderdale elementary school principal was killed when the motorcycle her boyfriend was operating lost control on a curvy road in Collier County. Not long before that, a 26-year-old man also tragically perished when he was thrown from his motorcycle after attempting to pass a vehicle in Palm Beach Gardens.
There are ways that all drivers can help make the roadways safer for motorcyclists. These include taking extra precautions to look and listen because motorcycles can easily slip in and out of view in your vehicle’s mirrors; leaving ample room between your vehicle and a motorcycle when travelling in close proximity, and perhaps most importantly, don’t drive distracted.
For more information on this topic or any other, feel free to contact the Schulman Law Group at (954) 349-3300 or at info@www.schulaw.com
