Common Causes Of Motorcycle Accidents
Boca Raton is one of the most beautiful areas of Florida, and provides an exciting backdrop for motorcyclists. Unfortunately, driving a motorcycle can be very dangerous. In fact, statistics suggest that injuries or death occur in approximately 80% of motorcycle accidents. This means that if you are in a motorcycle accident, you are almost certain to sustain an injury. For this reason it is important to be aware of some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
- Sudden turns and lane changes. One of the top causes of motorcycle accidents is drivers of other vehicles making sudden turns or lane changes without first checking their blind spot to see if there was a motorcycle there. This can lead cars to turn directly into a motorcyclist, which can cause serious injuries and even death. It’s important for vehicle drivers to make an extra effort to stop and carefully check their blind spot before they ever make a turn or lane change or they could be putting themselves and others at risk.
- Driving under the influence. Whether a vehicle driver or a driver of a motorcycle is under the influence of alcohol, it can have fatal consequences. It is illegal to drive in Florida if your BAC is over .08. Driving under the influence of alcohol is also considered per se evidence of negligence, meaning that you essentially become automatically liable for any harm that results from your negligence.
- Lane splitting. Lane splitting occurs when a motorcycle drives between two stopped lanes of traffic. They may do this during rush hour in an attempt to bypass traffic jams. While it may seem convenient, it’s also highly dangerous, and can result in terrible accidents. This is because drivers cannot see the motorcyclists and do not expect anyone to be in between them and the other lane, so they may also not think to check their blindspot. In some cases, line splitting puts motorcyclists outside of the driver’s blind spots, putting them at additional risk and making these kinds of accidents even harder to prevent even if the driver does take the proper precautions.
Suing for a Motorcycle Accident
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s negligence, you may be eligible to bring a personal injury lawsuit. When the accident takes place, the insurance companies will make a determination as to which party is liable for the accident, and will assess the actions of both drivers to assign liability. If you are assigned a percentage of liability for causing the accident but it is less than 50%, you may still bring a personal injury lawsuit. In order to bring a successful lawsuit, you will have to demonstrate that the other driver’s negligence was directly responsible for causing you physical and financial harm.
Contact Us Today for Help
The experienced Boca Raton motorcycle accident attorneys at Leifer & Ramirez are ready to help you get the best possible settlement for your motorcycle accident claim. If you have been injured in Florida as the result of a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, our lawyers will help you hold the negligent party accountable and get you the settlement you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
