Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
Motorcycle accidents involving large trucks are often fatal or cause catastrophic injuries to the motorcyclist. Whether a car or a truck, the most serious injuries to a rider often come from contact with the ground. Our Palm Beach personal injury attorneys want to remind you to be on the look-out for riders in order to avoid a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident.
TCPalm recently reported on a motorcycle accident involving a semi-truck. An early morning crash between a motorcyclist and a semi-truck left the rider in grave condition.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) considers a truck large if it weighs in excess of 10,000 pounds. Commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, or more with special permits. It is pretty clear who has the weight advantage when a motorcycle and rider maybe weigh just a few hundred pounds.
In 2008, the NHTSA reported 4,955 fatal motorcycle accidents nationally; 523 occurred on Florida roadways. Of all fatal motorcycle crashes, 47% involve colliding with another vehicle, 25% of fatal crashes involve hitting a fixed object.
Sport Rider offers this advice for urban motorcycle riding:
-Pay attention to vehicle types that are around you. It may be obscure to profile drivers by vehicle type but the information is valuable and will make you a better rider. If you see a dented, neglected vehicle it means that driver has made a lot of careless mistakes. You don’t want to be their next mistake. Volvo’s are known for their high safety ratings in a crash. Minivans are often carrying kids, which could lead to a distracted driver. High-performance cars can accelerate and change lanes really fast, give them plenty of room if they seem in a hurry.
-‘Ride in the mirrors’ of the vehicles around you, which will keep you out of their blind spots. You need to be able to see the driver’s face in their mirror so they can see you. When riding in urban settings avoiding blind spots should be your top priority.
-Ride defensively by positioning yourself so if something bad happens, you have plenty of room to get out of the way. Driver’s make a lot of mistakes, not using a turn signal, abrupt lane changes and sudden stops. You can’t control what they do but you can plan on it happening, so always have an escape route.
If you have been injured contact an experienced motorcycle attorney. Freeman & Mallard has been representing car accident victims and their families in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Ft. Pierce /Port St. Lucie for years. Call us today to schedule a no-obligation appointment to discuss your case at 1-800-529-2368.