Orlando Personal Injury Lawyer - Motorcycle Accidents

Do You Meet Florida Requirements to Ride a Motorcycle Without a Helmet?

Sandy Grinnell — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:01:12 GMT

If you are riding a motorcylcle in Florida, you might not have to wear a helmet. In 2000, Florida changed its helmet law to exclude riders who are 21 or older and have an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle. All riders who are younger than 21 or do not have insurance must still wear a helmet. This goes for when you’re driving the motorcycle as well as when you’re just the passenger.

A violation of the helmet law is punishable as a nonmoving traffic violation. But some argue the consequences could be much more dire. An evaluation of the Florida law change by NHTSA found that motorcyclist deaths per 10,000 motorcycle registrations increased 21 percent during the two years after the law was changed compared with the two years before. Others say that it is a matter of personal choice and you should be able to ride without a helmet as an adult in this still free country. Florida seems to have a compromise. If you’re 21 or older with at least $10,000 of medical insurance coverage you don’t have to wear a helmet. You may be safer if you do, but are you less free if you are forced to? We suspect with the mandatory seatbelt laws in Florida and the controversies over universal healthcare that the arguments will heat up again. Just don't ask me to take sides on this one!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Sandy Grinnell — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:14:00 GMT

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is promoting May as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. With motorcycle deaths on a steady climb since 1997 to a total of 5,154 in 2007, NHTSA's main mission is

aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to "Share the Road" with each other.

National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month has two target audiences: motorcyclists, or course, and the drivers of all other motor vehicles on the road.

For the motorcyclists, NHTSA has and always will be a big supporter of motorcycle riders wearing helmets. It is one of their main safety topics. Now I know that is a hot topic for a lot of motorcycle riders, but they should not overlook the other good things that NHTSA is trying to accomplish with this annual awareness campaign such as: getting motorcyclists to obey all traffic laws, promoting sober driving among their peers, increasing their visibility with bright colored clothing or reflective tape and requiring driver training to all new motorcycle riders.

NHTSA officials are also trying to make the drivers of other vehicles to be more aware of the motorcycles around them, which is one reason it's called "Share the Road." More than 50% of all motorcycle accidents involved another motor vehicle and 40% of those were because a vehicle made a left-hand turn into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. They suggest drivers check their side and rear-view mirrors before changing lanes and to be alert and cautious when traveling the road with motorcycles.

There are several good websites devoted to motorcycle safety and they are:

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

www.forcardrivers.com/a new website for non-motorcycle riders

American Motorcyclists Foundation

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Man Dies in ATV Accident

Diego Madrigal — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 05:14:21 GMT

On the heels of our recent post regarding increasing ATV accidents, tragedy has struck a local family. A man riding his ATV in Ocoee, apparently had an accident and died at the hospital from traumatic head injuries sustained during his wreck. Police were originally called to the area because of complaints of two ATVs being driven near Laurel Blossom Circle. Upon ariving, police found an injured man on the ground; he later died. People should be careful when riding ATVs, since a fun afternoon can turn tragic very quickly. Riders should take all necessary precautions and should be trained on how to drive these machines safely.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Diego Madrigal

Proposed Law Could Cause Motorcyclists their Bikes

Diego Madrigal — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 14:21:43 GMT

A new proposal could result in bikers losing their motorcycles. A bill sponsored by Representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera of Miami calls for motorcyclists to be arrested and have their bikes confiscated if they are charged with reckless driving or exceeding the speed limit by 50 miles per hour. That is only for motorcyclists CHARGED with those crimes- if later convicted, bikers stand to lose their licenses for 10 years. Rep. Lopez-Cantera says that the bill is designed to send a message to bikers so they do not drive recklessly. The bill is still in committee where the huge punishments are still being debated. People have different feelings about motorcycles, but no matter your feelings on these bikes, this bill seems to unfairly target and punish bikers more so than their automobile counterparts.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Diego Madrigal

Recommendations for No Helmet Laws Made

Sandy Grinnell — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:03:55 GMT

In a letter to Governor Charlie Crist dated October 3, 2007, it has been recommended that the State of Florida rescind its no helmet law. The letter says that the statistics show these no helmet laws are deadly.

The Safety Board is concerned about motorcycle safety and the growing number of riders who have been killed or injured in motorcycle crashes. Since 1997, the number of motorcycle fatalities has increased 127 percent, an increase that far exceeds that of any other form of transportation. In addition, the number of motorcycle fatalities in any recent year has been more than double the number of deaths that same year from accidents in aviation, rail, marine and pipeline combined.

Florida's current no helmet law was enacted July 1, 2000. In a study reported in the Traffic Injury Protection magazine, in the period 2001 - 2002, two years after the change in the law, the number of motorcycle accident deaths increased from 30.8 per 1000 to 38.8 per 1000 motorcycle drivers. It was estimated that had the no helmet law not been passed, 117 lives would have been saved that year.

It still remains an issue whether the rights of the motorcyclist to have the freedom to ride without helmets is outweighed by the costs to society of no helmet laws. Strong opinions are voiced on both sides.

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Motorcyclist Dead After Impact with SUV and Crushed by Car

Mike Damaso — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:19:10 GMT

The Orlando Sentinel has reported that a motorcyclist was killed in a collision that occurred shortly after 10:00 p.m. last Saturday night near Deltona, Florida.

A GMC Yukon SUV was traveling eastbound when the driver attempted to make a left turn onto a side road and turned directly into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike and hit a Honda Civic that was nearby stopped at a stop-sign. The driver of the Civic pulled forward crushing the motorcyclist. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene.

We have previously posted blog entries regarding death rates between small vehicles and SUVs in a post titled "How Safe is Your Car in an Auto Accident?" Additionally, we have posted several other entries reporting crashes and auto accidents involving motorcycles. But, when a motorcycle impacts an SUV, is thrown from the bike into a car, which then runs over the victim, is there any chance for the motorcyclist?

This incident tells us that motorcyclists must be more careful and watch out for other bikes, cars, trucks, and SUVs. And, everyone needs to be more careful and watch out for motorcycles.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Damaso

Another Motorcycle Death in Clermont Accident

Ed Normand — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:56:20 GMT

Yesterdaqy a 20 year old riding a Suzuki motorcycle without a helmet tried to pass in between a dump truck and a semi. He did not make it, slid under the tractor trailer and died immediately from injuries in the Clermont, Florida accident.

Many motorcycle crashes are caused by motorists just not paying attention to bikers. Sadly, however, many bikers, especially young males, die when they get reckless in operating their bike. This appears to the be the case in this motorcycle accident. Interestingly, the tractor trailer driver left the scene and still has not been discovered. Police think that he may not even know there was a crash. There is another possibility. Federal and State trucking regulations require a drug test after every tractor trailer accident with a death involved. Also truckers are limited in the hours they can driver and must take required safety breaks all of which must be recorded on written logs. . It could be the trucker had drugs in his system or was tired from excessive driving and left the scene to avoid getting caught.
When statistics come out about motorcycle deaths without a helmet in auto accidents or truck accidents this crash will probably used as another death caused by no helmet to support a helmet law. That would be a mistake as a helmet would not make a difference in this crash.

For more information on this subject matter, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ed Normand

Man Killed After Losing Control of his Motorcycle

Chrissie Cole — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:53:15 GMT

A Port St. Lucie man was killed in a motorcycle accident when he was thrown from his motorcyle on Sunday, crashing into a sign post, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

The man, 27, was traveling south on U.S. 441 just after 10:35 a.m. when he attempted a "one wheel stand" on his bike and lost control. The front wheel of the bike went back down to the road and the motorcycle wobbled, causing the motorcyclist to lose his balance.

His motorcycle went into the northbound lane of traffic when he began to go down, sliding along the east shoulder of the highway. He was ejected from the motorcycle and thrown into a sign post.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole