Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
A woman from Fort Lauderdale was recently admitted to the hospital after a serious motorcycle accident — and she wasn’t even driving.
The bike she was on slammed into a barrier wall on an entrance ramp heading onto Interstate 95. Upon impact, she was thrown off the bike and down onto the road below. She is only 24-years-old, according to the Sun Sentinel.
The driver of the motorcycle is 31-years-old. It all happened just before 3:30 a.m., according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The driver was heading south on Broward Boulevard (down the entrance ramp) when he slammed into the barrier. The young female passenger flew 15 feet to the road below. She was taken to Broward Health Medical Center. The driver only suffered from minor injuries. Neither of the motorists were wearing a helmet when the accident occurred.
Our Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorneys understand that there were close to 400 motorcyclists killed in the state of Florida in 2010. Of these victims, 49 percent were helmeted and 51 percent were not helmeted at the time of collision, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The truth of the matter is that there’s more than a helmet that can help to keep you safe while riding. It also matters of what day of the week you ride and what time of the day you ride as well. According to the NHTSA, weekends are a far more dangerous time for motorcyclists to be out on our roadways. It’s also much more dangerous for these vulnerable motorists to be out on our roadways at night. What happens is that these motorists are oftentimes overlooked. They’re smaller and drivers fail to recognize them. They’re run into, they’re cut in front of and they’re just downright overlooked.
Motorcyclists: It’s a battle field out there this winter and you’ve got to take every safety precaution you can to help to reduce your risks for an accident. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) offer you those safety tips:
Motorcycle Safety Tips:
-Get a motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license.
-Inspect your motorcycle before each time taking it out.
-Know the traffic laws and follow them! Know helmet laws when traveling to other states.
-Never drink and drive.
-Always wear a helmet. It can save your life.
-Check traffic and weather conditions before hopping on and heading out.
-Consider wearing long-pants, appropriate shoes and long sleeves to better protect yourself.
-Stay out of the blind spots of other vehicles.
-Make sure you’re wearing the appropriate protective gear.
-Make sure you’re awake every time you hop on your vehicle. Avoid drowsy or fatigued driving.
-Wear bright clothing so motorists are more likely to see you.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, contact the personal injury attorneys at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez LLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Scooter Accident Sends Rider to Hospital in Critical Condition, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, September 29, 2012
Motorcycle Accidents in Plantation and Elsewhere Showing No Sign of Relief, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, May 26, 2012