Motorcycle Safety Tips in Ocala, FL
Motorcyclists in Florida have a high risk of accidents. Florida has 645,012 registered motorcycles, second only to California.
The high number of registered motorcycles shows in the state’s motorcycle accident statistics. Florida had over 8,600 motorcycle accidents in 2021. This means that roughly one out of 75 Florida motorcycle owners had a crash that year.
Here are some motorcycle safety tips for riding in Ocala, FL, and how you can seek compensation for motorcycle accident injuries.
How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help After an Accident in Ocala
Allen Law Firm, P.A. is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help accident victims. Our firm’s lawyers have decades of combined experience helping injured people get fair compensation for their injuries. Over their careers, our Ocala motorcycle accident lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in injury compensation for their clients.
Some honors awarded to the lawyers at Allen Law Firm, P.A. include:
- Induction into the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Listed among the nation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers
- Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating
We can help you after a motorcycle accident in Ocala by:
- Investigating your case to determine the extent of your damages
- Collect evidence to bolster your case
- Negotiate on your behalf to agree on a fair settlement agreement
- Take your case to trial if necessary
And much more. To discuss the injury compensation you can seek for your motorcycle accident in Ocala, Florida, contact or call Allen Law Firm, P.A. at (352) 351-3258 for a free consultation.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Ocala, FL?
According to statistics, in 2021, Marion County had 219 motorcycle crashes. Of these, 64 crashes happened in Ocala.
Ocala has 0.28% of Florida’s population but accounts for 0.74% of the state’s motorcycle accidents. Based on its share of Florida’s population, Ocala should have about 24 motorcycle crashes yearly. Instead, it has 64.
Motorcycle crashes are two-and-a-half times more common in Ocala than in the rest of the state.
Overview of Motorcycle Safety Tips in Ocala, FL
Riding a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than driving a vehicle. Motorcycles require balance and skill to ride safely. If you get jostled in traffic or lose your concentration due to a distraction, you could end up in an accident.
When they crash, motorcycles provide little protection for riders and passengers. In 2021, Ocala motorcycle accidents caused four deaths and 13 incapacitating injuries.
You can injure your arms and legs when you lay down your motorcycle. Broken bones, strained muscles, and sprained ligaments are common. And if you go into a slide, you can suffer burns and road rash.
Unlike vehicles, you have no passenger compartment to protect you from getting ejected from your motorcycle. As a result, motorcyclists often suffer injuries to the head and face. Brain trauma can also result from a motorcycle accident, even if you wear a motorcycle helmet.
Liability for motorcycle accidents falls on the negligent party. According to one study, vehicle drivers cause about 60% of collisions between vehicles and motorcycles. Such collisions can happen when vehicle drivers fail to spot motorcycles or misjudge their distance or speed.
You can reduce your odds of getting into a motorcycle accident and improve your chances of walking away without serious injuries if you follow a few motorcycle safety tips, including the following:
Slow Down
In Ocala, speeding played a role in over 8% of traffic accidents. When you speed, you increase the energy involved in a collision. Speeding will increase your chances of getting injured or killed if you crash.
Speeding on a motorcycle is particularly dangerous. Speeding increases the risk that you will lose control of your motorcycle. Even a skilled rider can lose control of a motorcycle if they need to brake hard or swerve to avoid a collision.
Drive Sober
About 5.7% of traffic accidents in Ocala result from intoxicated driving. Drugs and alcohol impair your balance, reaction time, and judgment. Riding a motorcycle requires all of these skills.
Even if you drive sober, you should avoid driving when other drivers might be drunk. Ocala’s most dangerous time for road accidents is Saturday from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Watch for Distracted Drivers
Motorcycle accidents often happen when drivers fail to spot motorcycles. This failure happens for numerous reasons, including:
- The smaller size of motorcycles
- Cognitive bias against spotting motorcycles
- Unfamiliarity with the speed and maneuverability of motorcycles
Driving while distracted can make these problems even worse. A distracted driver could hit a motorcycle without even realizing it. Distracted drivers cause about 8% of accidents in Ocala.
Wear a Helmet
Florida does not have a universal helmet law. But you should still consider wearing a helmet whenever you ride in Ocala. Helmeted riders in Florida have a 6.7% fatality rate and a 79.2% injury rate. Unhelmeted riders have a 7.6% fatality rate and a 79.3% injury rate.
You have a much better chance of surviving a motorcycle accident when you wear a helmet. A helmet also gives you a better chance of avoiding an injury.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Ocala Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
A motorcycle accident can happen in Ocala even when you follow these motorcycle safety tips. Contact Allen Law Firm, P.A. to schedule a free consultation to discuss your motorcycle accident injuries and the compensation you can get for them. Our attorneys can also help you after other accidents or injuries, including Ocala leg swelling, Ocala Uber accidents, Ocala Lyft accidents, car accidents, electric scooter accidents, truck accidents, and more practice areas.
