Latest Blogs

May 2022 is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) uses Motorcycle Safety Awareness month to, “remind vehicle drivers and motorists that safe driving and riding practices and cooperation from all road users will help reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on our nation’s highways.” Unfortunately, serious and fatal motorcycle accidents are far too common, and Florida has one of the highest rates of motorcycle accident fatalities in the nation. As a result, at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., we are passionate about promoting motorcycle safety and Fort Myers motorcycle accident attorney Randall L. Spivey is committed to helping injured riders and their families recover the financial compensation they deserve.

5 Important Motorcycle Safety Facts

Here are five important motorcycle safety facts from the NHTSA:

1. Fatal Motorcycle Accidents are On the Rise

In 2020, the NHTSA recorded an 11-percent increase in fatal motorcycle accidents compared to 2019. This meant that an additional 500 motorcycle riders died in 2020 compared to the previous year. According to the NHTSA, non-fatal injuries were down just two percent over the same period, from 83,814 in 2019 to 82,528 in 2020.

2. Motorcycle Riders Are Far More Likely to Be Killed in Accidents than Vehicle Occupants

The NHTSA reports that motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die in accidents than occupants of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs. Motorcycle riders are also four times more likely to suffer non-fatal injuries.

3. Roughly Half of All Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Happen On Weekends

Approximately 50 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents happen on Saturdays and Sundays. While the NHTSA does not give a specific reason, this is most likely attributable to a combination of increased weekend traffic and an increase in risky driving behaviors (including drunk driving) during non-commuting hours.

4. There are Several Ways Drivers Can Prevent Motorcycle Accidents

The NHTSA lists several simple steps that drivers can take to avoid causing motorcycle accidents. For example, the NHTSA encourages all drivers to:

• Observe all traffic laws and yield to motorcyclists
• Avoid distractions, especially when driving near motorcycles
• Allow motorcycle riders the full width of their lane at all times
• Check all mirrors and blind spots before merging or changing lanes
• Drive defensively, alcohol-free and drug-free

5. Motorcycle Riders Can Also Reduce Their Risk of Being Injured or Killed

While motorcycle riders cannot protect themselves from dangerous drivers entirely, there are steps riders can take to reduce their risk on the road. For example, the NHTSA encourages motorcycle riders to:

• Try to be as visible as possible
• Watch out for drivers who appear to be distracted, drunk or high
• When in doubt, ride defensively and err on the side of caution

Of course, even when riding defensively, riders can still suddenly and unexpectedly find themselves in harm’s way. With this in mind, if you get injured or a loved one is killed in a motorcycle accident, you should never assume that you or your loved one was responsible for what happened.

Negligent Drivers are To Blame for Most Serious and Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Florida

Many people who do not ride motorcycles assume that riding is inherently dangerous and that riders are most often to blame for their own injuries. But, this is not the case. Most motorcycle riders stay well within their limits, and they do everything they can to keep themselves safe on the road.

Instead, it is negligent drivers who are to blame for most serious and fatal motorcycle accidents.

Negligent driving can take many different forms. While risky behaviors like speeding excessively and drinking behind the wheel present the greatest risks for motorcycle riders, all types of driving mistakes can (and do) lead to accidents. For example, some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Florida include:

• Turning in front of approaching motorcycles
• Merging into the path of (or directly into) approaching motorcycles
• Tailgating motorcycle riders
• Failing to come to a complete stop, running red lights and running stop signs
• Failing to yield the right of way to motorcycle riders at intersections

Contact a Fort Myers Motorcycle Accident Attorney at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. Today

If you need help after a serious or fatal motorcycle accident in Florida, Fort Myers motorcycle accident attorney Randall L. Spivey is prepared to use his experience to fight for the outcome you deserve. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. at 239-337-7483 (or toll-free at 888-477-4839), or contact us online now.