Motorcycle Passenger Safety Tips

According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, a motorcyclist most likely won’t face criminal charges for abandoning his date after she fell off the borrowed bike he was driving on Interstate 95. The young woman then died when several cars ran over her in the December 2018 incident. The 36-year-old motorcyclist met the woman who died on the Tinder dating app and the two were on their first date when she was fatally injured. The motorcyclist was never interviewed by investigators and did not submit to blood alcohol tests the night of the incident despite partying with her at three Delray Beach bars and nightclubs. And while criminal liability is off the table, at least for now, the motorcyclist is still facing a civil lawsuit being brought by the woman’s parents who allege that the motorcyclist was impaired the night of the incident. But even proceeding with the civil suit is difficult right now as court records show that process servers have been unable to find the motorcyclist to serve him for almost two years and even his lawyers say they don’t know where he is.

Understanding the Risks

Unfortunately, both motorcyclists and their passengers face higher risks from the dangers of the road than drivers in closed vehicles and statistics reflect this. In 2017 alone, more than 5,100 motorcyclists died in motorcycle crashes. That same year, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled.

Tips for Keeping Passengers Safe

Even if you’ve been driving a motorcycle for decades, the tips below are important reminders that can help ensure both motorcyclists and their passengers get home safely. It takes effort from both riders to maximize the chances of that happening.

Tips for Motorcyclists:

• Don’t attempt to give anyone a ride until you have a bit of experience riding already and never give someone a ride if you aren’t comfortable with it.
• Practice your skills in a low-traffic area before attempting to ride with a passenger in a busy area or on the highway.
• On the day of your ride, teach your rider a few hand signals before you take off and ensure he or she understands how to lean with you when turning corners to help keep the balance stable.

Tips for Passengers:

• Always wear safety gear such as a helmet when riding.
• Ask in advance whether the rider would like you to hold on to them or the grab handles and ensure you have a firm grip when acceleration and braking.
• Never put your feet down from the passenger pegs when stopping temporarily as you can cause the driver to drop the bike with you on it.

We Can Help You Ride Into Success

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident while riding as a passenger, your best course of action is to turn to an experienced attorney to help guide you through all the pitfalls you can run into in attempting to negotiate a fair and reasonable settlement. At Leifer & Ramirez, our South Florida auto accident attorneys , with offices in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, are dedicated to assisting accident victims and can help ensure you get the medical treatment you need and the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation.

Resources:

iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-motorcycle-crashes

sun-sentinel.com/news/crime/fl-ne-fatal-motorcycle-crash-update-20200904-vjlj5lfd25dpbiduxh3fcwfpne-story.html

https://www.leiferlaw.com/understanding-common-causes-of-bus-accidents/