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Two Recent Tragedies Remind Us of the Dangers of Motorcycle Accidents in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach

Two men recently lost their lives in separate motorcycle accidents in South Florida.

Our Fort Lauderdale injury lawyers want to remind you that though motorcycle riding is an exhilarating experience it carries high risk for injuries and sometimes death.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that a Boca Raton man was killed in a collision while riding his motorcycle on I-95 early on a Sunday morning. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the accident happened in the northbound lane, south of Sunrise Boulevard around 4:30 a.m. The 25-year-old rider hit the back of a Mercedes and was thrown from the motorcycle.

He was rushed to Broward General Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Authorities said the driver of the Mercedes fled the accident site but returned later. He was charged with driving with a suspended ID card, leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a valid driver’s license. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

According to the Palm Beach Daily News in a separate accident, a Public Works employee died in motorcycle crash in suburban West Palm Beach. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reports that the 46-year-old rider who witnesses say was traveling above the posted speed limit on Military Trail near Wallis Road swerved to avoid a car that was changing lanes in front of him. He lost control of his motorcycle and was subsequently struck by a car going northbound. He was pronounced dead at St. Mary’s Medical Center.

These accidents come on the heels of the Governors Highway Safety Association’s nationwide report on motorcycle crash statistics for 2010. Overall motorcycle deaths are down 2 percent from 2009. The report indicates that Florida had a minimal 7 fewer fatalities in the first nine months of 2010 than it had in the first nine moths of 2009.

Recently Progressive Insurance released its best places to ride report. They noted according to Motorcycle Industry Council that scooter and motorcycle sales were up almost 11 percent in the first quarter of 2011 from the first quarter of 2010. Florida tops Progressive’s list of best states to ride followed by Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina and Kansas.

How did Progressive come up with this list? Here is the criteria:

-The amount of good riding days (based on precipitation and temperature).
-Chances of getting into a motorcycle accident.
-Amount of smooth riding roadways.
-Population density.
-The average price for a gallon of regular gas.

Hawaii had the most number of good riding days followed by Florida, Arizona, Texas and Louisiana.

North Dakota had the highest percentage of smooth riding roadways followed by Georgia, Florida, Alaska and Kansas.

Alaska had the lowest population density followed by Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Hawaii had the lowest likelihood of getting into a motorcycle accident followed by Mississippi, Florida, Arizona and South Carolina.

Wyoming had the lowest average price for a gallon of regular gas followed by Montana Colorado Utah and South Carolina.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC who have represented 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 free and confidential appointment to discuss your case at 1-800-529-2368.

Additional Resources:

Motorcyclist from Boca Raton killed in I-95 accident, by Megan O’Matz, Sun Sentinel

Public Works truck driver Lindon Whitehall dies in motorcycle accident, by Margie Kacoha, Palm Beach Daily News

Fatal Motorcycle Accident a Reminder to Use Caution at Intersections, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, May 30, 2011

Sharing Roadways Decreases the Risk of Motorcycle Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, May 4, 2011

Reduction in Florida Motorcycle Accidents May not Last, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, April 27, 2011

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