The state of Florida leads the nation in the number of motorcycle fatalities, according to a recent report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Florida had 467 riders killed in 2013, the most recent year for such statistics. That’s 10 more than Texas, the state with the second highest number.
A Look At The Numbers
- There were 8.4 million motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2013, an increase from 8 million in 2009.
- 56 out of every 100,000 registered motorcycles was involved in a fatal crash in 2013, compared to 9 out of every 100,000 passenger cars.
- From 2004 to 2013, fatalities among the 40-and-older age group increased 39 percent, compared to 16 percent for all ages.
Two weekend crashes adds to these numbers.
A 56-year-old woman from Tampa died Friday afternoon after the motorcycle she was a passenger on collided with a car on State Road 20 near Hawthorne. The man driving the motorcycle was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in critical condition. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, neither person on the motorcycle was wearing a helmet.
On Sunday, a 44-year-old man from Loxahatchee died in Marion County when his 2006 Harley Davidson hit a dip in Southeast 182nd Avenue and overturned. The man, who was not wearing a helmet, was airlifted to Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Nearly 50 percent of the bikers who died in an accident in 2013 were not wearing helmets, according to the NHTSA report. Helmets are not required by law in Florida.
Motorcycle accidents can happen so quickly. In a matter of seconds you can go from enjoying your regular motorcycle ride to lying on the road or in a hospital bed. Now you are facing physical pain and disability, significant medical bills, lost wages, and other life-impacting damages.
Like most motorcycle accident victims, you will have lots of questions that you need answered, like how to pursue financial compensation for damages, how to hold responsible parties liable, and how much will legal help cost you.
At Whittel & Melton, our Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers are effective negotiators and aggressive trial lawyers who refuse to settle for anything less than what you deserve. We will explore every possible option in order to obtain the best outcome for you. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless or until we recover money on your behalf.
For a free consultation, call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online.