On March 9-18, Bike Week will officially be roaring into Daytona Beach. As the name suggests, there will be thousands of motorcycles on our roads as thousands make their way to the festivities. We have all see the signs and bumper stickers that say, “Look Twice Save A Life,” which is absolutely life-saving advice.
In one of our motorcycle accident cases, one expert told me that most drivers subconsciously look for two headlights when checking for oncoming traffic, which causes many motorcycle accidents. About half of fatal motorcycle crashes result from a car or truck colliding with it, often because drivers simply do not see it or misjudge how close it is and how fast it is traveling. The smaller size of motorcycles compared to other vehicles on the road means they can appear to be farther away than they are, and it is easy to misjudge their speed. The combination of congested roadways, distracted driving, and the difficulty of seeing motorcycles in traffic has led to far too many preventable fatalities each year.
Most motorcycle crashes are caused by drivers who pull out in front of motorcycles. The motorcyclist may not have time to stop or avoid the crash. Note that motorcycles take about 1.75 times the distance to stop as a car because there is less friction between the tires and the road than in a car or truck. The news has covered several recent motorcycles-versus-car crashes, and the motorcyclists often suffered severe head injuries. Even with the prevalence of head injuries, Florida does not require motorcyclists to wear helmets. However, if you are not going to wear a helmet, you are required to carry more insurance to cover medical expenses. There are special laws and insurance issues that apply to motorcycle claims that we can answer for you.
What are some driving tips for safely sharing the road with motorcycles?
- Look twice for motorcycles, especially at intersections.
- Obey posted speed limits.
- Use your turn signals and check your blind spots before changing lanes.
- Don’t follow a motorcycle too closely.
- Always assume motorcycles are closer than they appear to be.
- Give motorcyclists a full lane.
We all need to be more careful and look twice to save a life every day, but especially with the coming influx of motorcycles due to Bike Week.
If you, a loved one, or a friend is involved in a motorcycle accident and have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us to speak with an experienced attorney at 407-841-7699. For additional resources, keep checking our blog, LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for more helpful hints and to always be informed about best practices in law.
