If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident due to the actions or negligence of another person or entity, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit in order to recover losses from crash. You may be able to receive compensation for current and future medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering and other damages related to your condition.
To begin exploring your legal options, contact our motorcycle accident attorney s today by completing the Free Case Evaluation form to the right of this page.
Part of the appeal riding a motorcycle to many bike enthusiasts is the feeling of freedom and the thrill of not being inside a vehicle. However, that same excitement also puts motorcyclists at a higher risk of sustaining serious injuries in the event of an accident. Motorcycle riders are not afforded the same protection that a passenger of any other motor vehicle would have if they are involved in a collision.
Motorcyclists are encouraged to take all precautions necessary to ensure their safety on Florida roads and highways, including wearing proper safety gear when on their bike. Despite statistics on how helmets save the lives of motorcycle accident victims, every state does not require that bikers wear helmets.
Current Florida Motorcycle Helmet Laws
Combining the warm weather conditions with high gas prices, Florida roads and highways are seeing more and more motorcyclists than ever before. In the state of Florida, riders 20 years old and younger are required to wear a helmet. The choice is entirely up to the motorcyclist if they are over 20 years old as to whether or not they should wear a helmet while on the road.
This was not always the case, however. In 1985, motorcyclists in Florida were required to wear a helmet when riding a bike. Unfortunately, in 2000, this law was repealed, requiring only those under the age of 20 to wear a helmet.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), as of January 2013:
- Laws that require all motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
- Laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 28 states.
- There is no motorcycle helmet use law in three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire).
The Importance of Motorcycle Helmets
When compared to cars, motorcycles are an especially dangerous mode of transportation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that per mile traveled, the number of fatalities on motorcycles in 2010 was about 30 times the number in cars.
Helmets decrease the severity of head injuries, the likelihood of death and the overall cost of medical care. The NHTSA estimates that the use of motorcycle helmets reduces the likelihood of a fatal crash by 37 percent. Helmets are very effective in preventing traumatic brain injuries, which often require costly and extensive treatment and can result in lifelong disability.
In 2000 when Florida repealed its mandatory helmet law to exempt bikers 21 years old and older who have at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage, the motorcyclist fatality rate increased by about 25 percent across the state.
Contact a Florida motorcycle accident lawyer Today
It only takes a moment for a motorcycle accident to occur, but the effects of a wreck, especially when a rider is not wearing a helmet, can be severe and last a lifetime.
At Gordon & Partners, our motorcycle accident attorneys offer free legal consultations to Florida motorcycle accident victims. With offices in Palm Beach Gardens, Ft Lauderdale and Stuart, we are available to assist anyone who has suffered harm at the hands of another person or entity, whether through negligence or malicious intentions. During your consultation, a member of our team of legal professionals will review the details and merits of your claim and offer advice on how to best pursue legal and financial recourse for your condition. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident due to no fault of your own, we urge you to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.