Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
A student from Palm Beach Atlantic was killed in a recent motorcycle accident in Boynton Beach. The accident happened when the 21-year-old motorcyclist attempted to avoid an accident. It all happened near the Boynton Beach Mall on North Congress Avenue shortly after 7 p.m. He tried to avoid an accident with a minivan when he swerved, nicked the bumper of that car and laid his motorcycle down to avoid the direct crash, according to The Palm Beach Post.
Accident reports indicate that the minivan swerved into the path of the motorcyclist while making a left-hand turn. Officers report that the young motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. The man in the van was not injured and charges are pending.
Our Boynton Beach motorcycle accident lawyers understand the risks that motorcyclists face on our roadways. While other areas of the U.S. experience fluctuations in their motorcycle accident rates, Florida sees these brutal accidents all year long. Drivers are urged to share the road respectfully with motorcyclists. They’re provided with much less protection in an accident than motorists in a passenger car, which is why motorcycle accidents oftentimes turn deadly in an instant.
According to Ride Smart Florida, there were nearly 8,500 motorcycle accidents in the state in 2009. These accidents injured nearly 7,500 people and killed nearly 400.
Injured motorcyclists in Florida in 2009 by age:
-Under 21: Nearly 700.
-21 to 24: About 830.
-25 to 34: More than 1,400.
-35 to 44: Nearly 1,400.
-45 to 54: Nearly 1,700.
-55 to 64: Nearly 1,000.
-65 to 74: More than 300.
-75 to 84: Nearly 50.
-85+: Less than 5.
In 2009, there were more riders killed in the 45- to 54-year-old age group than any other age group. This group was followed by the 24- to 34-year-old age group. The median age for fatal motorcyclist injuries was 42-years-old during the year.
Nearly 95 percent of the motorcyclist deaths in the state in 2009 were experienced by Florida residents.
Counties with the most fatal motorcycle accidents in 2009:
-Broward.
-Miami-Dade
-Orange
-Hillsborough
-Volusia
-Lee
-Duval
-Palm Beach
-Brevard
During that year, motorcyclists accounted for about 6 percent of the motoring public in Florida, yet their representation of fatalities accounted for more than 15 percent of all traffic fatalities over the entire year. About 45 percent of these Florida motorcycle accidents happened on weekends.
The devastating accidents can be costly, too. The average cost in 2009 for a motorcyclist who was involved in an accident and suffered nonfatal injuries was nearly $54,000. The total cost for hospital charges in the state Florida for motorcycle accident injuries during the year was more than $385 million. This is an unfortunate number considering that nearly 50 percent of motorcyclist hospitalizations were not covered by commercial insurance.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced attorney. Call Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez, LLC represents accident victims and their families in Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and Ft. Pierce /Port St. Lucie. We offer free and confidential appointments. Call 1-800-529-2368.
Additional Resources:
Boynton Beach motorcycle crash killed Palm Beach Atlantic student, by Alexandra Seltzer, The Palm Beach Post
More Blog Entries:
Two Killed in a Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, August 5, 2011
Second Annual Memorial Ride Honors Bruce Rossmeyer and Other Victims of Motorcycle Accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog, July 15, 2011