Latest Blogs

In 2021, drivers who were speeding tragically killed 12,330 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There are some factors noted by the NHTSA that can increase drivers speeding on U.S. roadways. These include:

• Congestion: Drivers sometimes become frustrated with traffic congestion and respond by recklessly speeding and passing vehicles that impede their progress.
• Schedule Constraints: When drivers do not appropriately allow enough time for the commute to work or are late for an appointment, they may speed to make up time. The NHTSA says this puts other motorists at risk of accidents.

There Is No Excuse for Speed

No matter what the reason, speeding is illegal and dangerous, especially when motorcyclists share the roads, says Florida Motorcycle Lawyer Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P. A. Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, and their drivers are more vulnerable to severe injury, or even tragic death.

What Drivers Need to Know About Motorcycles

Motorcycles have a narrow profile and can be hidden in a car’s blind spots and can be difficult to see as the light or weather conditions change. It is often more difficult to assess a motorcycle’s distance. Motorcycles also may blend in with the scenery or be obscured in rain and fog.

Drivers also need to know that motorcyclists may downshift or roll off the throttle to slow down instead of applying their brakes as other vehicles do. If they do either, there will be no brake lights signaling other motorists.

Motorcyclists also may frequently shift in their lanes to stay out of other vehicles’ blind spots.

What Happens When Drivers Speed and Motorcycles are Present?

When drivers speed, motorcyclists have a higher potential of being injured or tragically killed in an accident. Speeding motorists can easily lose control of their vehicles. They can also cause rollover accidents. Speeding increases the distance needed to stop safely and reduces reaction time which may cause them to miss stop signs, red lights, and yield signs.

What Injuries Would Motorcyclists Commonly Incur in Accidents?

If a motorcyclist is in an accident because of a negligent speeding driver, he or she may incur any of seven potential injuries, including the following:

1. Lower Extremity – A motorcyclist’s legs are exposed when riding. If there is a crash, a motorcycle that weighs hundreds of pounds can fall on the rider and cause injuries. Although these injuries are not necessarily fatal, they can be painful and result in long-term disability with multiple surgeries and months of physical therapy if rods, pins, screws, and other hardware are needed. Road rash may also occur, and the severity of the road-rash injury depends on the type of clothing the motorcyclist is wearing. Road rash may require skin grafts and are extremely painful and could result in infections, nerve damage, and permanent scarring.

2. Upper Extremity – Motorcyclists who are in accidents with negligent drivers are often ejected from their bikes and may experience a hard landing. This may cause them to suffer shoulder injuries and torn rotator cuffs. Broken bones in the arms, elbows, and fingers are also common, as well as nerve damage. 

3. Thorax – Blunt-force trauma to the chest can cause internal bleeding and potential damage to vital organs, including puncturing a lung or lacerating the spleen, kidney, or liver. The heart is also vulnerable to a torn aorta. These injuries usually require surgical intervention and may even be fatal. 

4. Head Injuries – Head injuries can be very serious for motorcyclists. They may suffer skull fractures and other trauma. A skull fracture may lead to brain damage. Common head injuries include traumatic brain injury (TBI), coma, concussion, hemorrhaging, brain swelling, seizures, and paralysis. 

5. Face & Neck Injuries – Common face injuries may be broken noses, jawbones, and teeth. Bikers may also experience permanent scarring and disfigurement, and emotional trauma. Neck injuries may occur, and a biker may damage bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves in the neck. 

6. Abdomen – Injuries to the abdomen may not become immediately apparent until some time has passed, but they can include injury to the spleen or liver. According to WebMD, the symptoms may include “Abdominal pain and/or swelling caused by internal bleeding from trauma in the liver or spleen. These symptoms get worse as the bleeding continues. Light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting can result from any source of internal bleeding once enough blood is lost.” 

7. Spine – Spinal cord injuries can be devastating because the brain sends motor commands through the nerves in the spinal cord. Injuries can leave injured motorcyclists with various forms of paralysis which may be life-changing. Spinal cord injuries require lengthy hospitalization, extended physical therapy, and chronic pain. 

Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Aggressively Assist Motorcycle Accident Victims 

Should you or a loved one be injured by a negligent speeding driver, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 24/7, immediately after seeking medical attention. There are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you. We represent people involved in numerous types of personal injury and wrongful death accidents throughout the state of Florida. All of our clients have unique personal injury cases. Our firm provides personal contact and communication along with aggressive representation.