Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Florida

Man on a parked motorcycle

Florida is a great place to ride a motorcycle. Warm weather, scenic views, and famous events like Daytona Bike Week make Florida a biker’s paradise. Unfortunately, however, riding a motorcycle can be dangerous, and Florida is home to tens of thousands of motorcycle accidents every year. Below are some common causes of motorcycle accidents in Florida. If you’ve been injured in a Florida motorcycle accident, you should contact a Florida personal injury attorney for assistance. 

Unaware and Distracted Drivers

Drivers often fail to look for motorcycles before changing lanes. When a motorcycle happens to be nearby, this is a recipe for disaster. Drivers also sometimes misjudge the speed of motorcycles, leading to serious accidents. Cars waiting to turn at intersections are particularly dangerous, so bikers should always remain extra cautious when approaching traffic lights. In addition, bikers are often struck from behind by cars. When this happens to another car or truck, it usually results in nothing more than a minor fender bender. However, when it happens to a biker, the results can be deadly. Therefore, bikers should always check their side mirrors when approaching a stop to ensure that all approaching vehicles are decelerating appropriately. 

Sharp Turns at High Rates of Speed

Bikers should refrain from performing risky maneuvers when on the road, particularly with the high number of poor drivers out there. However, bikers sometimes get overconfident in their abilities and make bad decisions. One mistake bikers sometimes make is attempting to make a sharp turn at a high rate of speed. This can occur for many reasons, and it often results in an accident. In order to avoid this situation, bikers should always decelerate when turning. 

Hitting an Open Vehicle Door

Surprisingly, accidents involving motorcycle riders and open car or truck doors are quite common. Therefore,  bikers should never ride between an active lane of traffic and parked cars on the side of the road. When a driver on the side of the road opens his or her car door as a biker is passing, the results are often disastrous. And car doors aren’t the only threat in this situation. For example, a car pulling out or a pedestrian emerging from behind a parked vehicle can be just as dangerous as someone opening a car door. In fact, veteran motorcycle riders have a name for the area next to parked vehicles: the death zone. 

Hire a Pensacola motorcycle accident attorney 

If you’ve been injured in a Florida motorcycle accident, you need an experienced Florida personal injury attorney on your side. At Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., we have over seventy years of combined experience representing motorcycle accident victims in Northwest Florida. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident in Northwest Florida, Staples Ellis is here to help. Please contact our office as soon as possible to set up a consultation with one of our talented attorneys.

Posted in: Motorcycle Accidents