Common Road Dangers For Motorcyclists in Ocala, FL
Ocala, FL has a high number of motorcycle accidents. In just the first six months of 2022, Ocala saw more than 40 motorcycle crashes. At that rate, 2022 could break the city’s record of 76 motorcycle accidents in 2019.
These motorcycle crashes happen for a variety of reasons. Anything from a driver’s carelessness to wet road surfaces can cause a motorcyclist to lose control and crash.
Contact Allen Law Firm to speak with an experienced Ocala motorcycle accident lawyer if you’ve suffered injuries in a motorcycle collision. Our attorneys can also help you after an Ocala road defect case, Ocala mass transit accident, Ocala electric scooter accident, car accident, truck accident, train accident, or any other type of motor vehicle accident.
How Allen Law Firm Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Ocala, Florida
The lawyers at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience protecting the rights of accident victims. Our lawyers have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our injured clients.
When you hire our Ocala motorcycle accident attorneys to handle your claim, you can expect us to:
- Provide honest legal advice and ensure you understand your rights and options
- Investigate the cause of the motorcycle collision and identify those responsible
- Negotiate with insurance companies and other opposing parties on your behalf to ensure you receive a fair amount
- Enlist the help of leading industry experts if needed
- Take your case to trial if the opposing parties refuse to settle for an amount that reflects the full extent of your damages
A motorcycle accident in Ocala can leave you drowning in medical costs and unable to work. To discuss the compensation you can seek for your losses after a motorcycle accident, contact Allen Law Firm, P.A. at (352) 351-3258 for a free consultation.
How Common Are Road Dangers For Motorcyclists in Ocala, FL?
Data from the Florida Traffic Safety Dashboard and Florida’s annual Crash Facts report show that Ocala had 64 motorcycle crashes in 2021. This number was down from its peak in 2019, when Ocala had 76 motorcycle crashes. But 2021’s number still represents an upward trend for motorcycle accidents in Ocala.
Motorcycle deaths in Ocala make up 28.6% of all traffic deaths in the city, according to Florida’s Traffic Safety Dashboard statistics. This makes motorcycle crashes in Ocala 14 times deadlier than car crashes.
Since motorcyclists suffer 17.8% of Ocala’s traffic injuries, motorcycle accidents in Ocala are over eight times more likely to cause an injury than car accidents.
Overview of Common Road Dangers For Motorcyclists in Ocala, FL
Motorcycle accidents happen for many reasons. Mechanical failures, road conditions, road defects, and weather can affect a motorcyclist’s ability to ride safely.
But the most significant road danger to motorcyclists comes from other vehicle drivers. Vehicle drivers misjudge the location, speed, and maneuverability of motorcycles. They fail to spot them on the road, and some drivers even drive aggressively toward motorcyclists.
Research on Florida motorcycle accidents suggests that automobile drivers bear the fault for 60% of collisions between motorcycles and autos. When a driver causes a motorcycle crash, the driver and their insurer must pay for the resulting damages.
Here are some of the common road dangers for motorcyclists in Ocala, FL:
Careless Drivers
The Florida Crash Facts report for 2020 lists careless driving as the most common cause of traffic accidents in Florida. Police officers issue careless driving tickets for actions that fail to meet the standard of care required of drivers. Careless driving citations usually cover two behaviors: improper lookout and distracted driving.
Improper lookout happens when a car moves into traffic without looking carefully. For example, drivers are cited for an improper lookout if they turn left into or across oncoming traffic. An officer could also issue an improper lookout citation if a driver turns right too close to oncoming traffic.
Distracted driving happens when drivers drive while their hands, eyes, or mind perform another activity.
Both these driver errors endanger motorcyclists. Almost every motorcyclist has had a close call with a driver turning across their path or merging into their lane without seeing them.
Drivers have trouble spotting motorcycles due to:
- The smaller size of motorcycles
- Unfamiliarity with the speed and maneuverability of motorcycles
- Inattentional blindness toward motorcycles
Unfortunately, there is little that a motorcyclist can do to get drivers to notice them. But motorcyclists can drive defensively by assuming that nearby drivers will fail to spot them.
Intersections
According to the Crash Facts report, the second most common cause of traffic accidents is a failure to yield the right-of-way. Again, this behavior is familiar to motorcyclists who have seen drivers not wait their turn at an intersection because they either fail to see the motorcyclist or treat the motorcycle as a second-class vehicle.
Speeding
When motorcyclists speed, their chances of losing control of their motorcycle increase. When drivers speed, the chances of causing a rear-end collision increase. Since Florida prohibits lane splitting, motorcyclists stopped at intersections or in traffic jams are particularly vulnerable to rear-end collisions.
Slick Roads
Motorcycles are inherently unstable. If anything causes a motorcyclist to lose their balance, the motorcycle can crash. Losing traction on roads covered with water, sand, or other debris can send a motorcycle into a slide.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Ocala Motorcycle Accident Lawyers After a Collision
Even when motorcyclists take care to avoid common road dangers, drivers can still hit them. Contact Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers to discuss your motorcycle accident and the compensation you can seek for the injuries you suffered.
