Daytona Bike Week is a 10-day motorcycle event held annually in Florida. Bikers travel from all over the country to socialize with other bikers, show off their motorcycles, purchase gear and accessories, and enjoy other events like live music. It attracts around 500,000 bikers each year, which means that Florida drivers should take extra care when navigating the road.
The influx of motorcyclists presents an increased risk of serious accidents involving drivers, bikers, and pedestrians. Reckless and aggressive driving behaviors in combination with the volume of vehicles on the road has historically led to severe injuries and even fatalities. In most cases, motorcyclists and pedestrians bear the brunt of these injuries.
At Osborne & Francis, we are familiar with the overwhelming financial, physical, and emotional losses that often accompany a serious motorcycle accident injury. As personal injury attorneys, we have represented injured motorcyclists, as well as other road users, for nearly a decade to ensure that they receive a settlement that recognizes the full extent of their losses. You can reach us at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando to schedule a free consultation with our seasoned motorcycle accident attorneys.
Increased Risk of Motorcycle Accidents During Daytona Bike Week
With an additional 500,000 motorists on the road during Bike Week, drivers may become impatient, reckless, or distracted, leading to a high number of motorcycle collisions resulting in devastating injury. In 2022, 6 motorcyclists were killed, and at least 88 were seriously injured over the 10 day Bike Week celebrations. While all road users have some level of risk, motorcyclists in particular have several factors working against their safety.
One major obstacle to preventing serious accidents is that motorcyclists are easier for drivers to overlook due to their size. Drivers don’t typically anticipate that a motorcyclist will be in their blind spot, so they may fail to double check for the smaller vehicle before changing lanes or turning. Even when a motorcyclist is traveling in front of a car or truck, a driver may fail to leave enough space to come to a safe stop after the motorcyclist and rear-end them.
During Bike Week, other vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists are also at risk. Drivers and motorcyclists who are busy trying to navigate traffic may neglect to account for pedestrians, who have the right of way in most situations. The risk of a pedestrian accident is even higher due to the fact that pedestrians may be distracted by the events of Bike week, or intoxicated and therefore more careless around traffic.
Motorcyclists Often Sustain Catastrophic Injuries
In addition to the heightened risk of being involved in a crash, motorcyclists lack the protections that a car affords, which means their injuries tend to be more serious. Motorcyclists are not protected by the frame of a car, seat belts, or air bags. While injury can be mitigated to a degree by using a helmet and wearing protective clothing, not all riders engage in safe motorcycle riding habits.
Florida’s helmet law states that motorcyclists over 21 with an insurance policy that offers at least $10,000 in medical benefits. In effect, this means that a number of motorcyclists could be legally riding without the protection of a helmet. The CDC notes that wearing a helmet decreases the risk of death in a motorcycle accident by about 40%, and decreases the risk of head injury by 67%. Common injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident include:
Common Causes of Accidents During Daytona Bike Week
Contrary to popular belief, more motorcycle accidents are caused by negligent drivers than motorcyclists. Many of the causes of motorcycle accidents are attributable to poor judgment and dangerous behavior on the part of drivers. For example, distracted or aggressive driving endangers motorcyclists, as well as other road users. Distracted driving can take many forms, including:
- Texting and driving
- Eating
- Rubbernecking
- Talking with a passenger
- Adjusting music or navigation equipment
Unfortunately, taking your attention away from the road can result in catastrophic injury in a matter of seconds. Distracted drivers have a tendency to speed, fail to yield, drift out of their lanes, and generally disregard traffic laws that are intended to keep all road users safe. Another concern is drivers who become aggressive or exhibit road rage. They may intentionally cut off a motorcyclist, run them off the road, or brake check them, resulting in severe injuries or wrongful death.
Inexperience and Impairment Endanger Florida Road Users
Alcohol is often a factor in motorcycle accidents. 3,096 motorcyclists were killed in alcohol-related Florida accidents in 2020 alone. Trying to operate a vehicle, whether that be a motorcycle or car, while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is incredibly dangerous. Your ability to accurately process information and make correct decisions is severely compromised However, impaired motorists are not the only ones who represent a threat to road user safety.
Novice bikers may be unable to achieve the level of coordination required to operate a motorcycle safely, or they may be unfamiliar with how to practice defensive driving techniques to avoid collisions. Additionally, many of the motorcyclists are from out of town, so they may be unfamiliar with Florida roads even if they are experienced riders. As a result, they may be distracted by trying to read street signs, find parking, or navigate wet roads, drawing their attention away from the traffic around them.
How Osborne & Francis Can Help You
At Osborne & Francis, we offer injured clients a number of valuable services, such as managing administrative tasks, communicating with insurance agents and bill collectors, and advocating for your interests in negotiations. Additionally, claims that are represented by a reputable personal injury attorney tend to be taken more seriously by insurance companies and judges, as they know that a personal injury attorney would be unlikely to invest their time in a case that they thought lacked merit.
You can benefit significantly from our legal expertise and resources. We are trusted by other firms and clients alike to provide high-quality service to injured Floridians. Our team will work tirelessly to establish liability and maximize your compensation. To accomplish this, our motorcycle accident attorneys will use the evidence available to show that the other motorist owed you a duty of care to proceed with reasonable caution when driving.
Further, we will show that their reckless behavior constitutes a failure to fulfill this duty and that by acting negligently, they caused your injuries. The last part of the claims process is connecting your damages to your injuries and offering proof of their value. Our team has repeatedly demonstrated our ability to guide clients through this complex process and secure maximum compensation for damages.
Contact Osborne & Francis If You Were Injured During Bike Week 2023
With the added number of motorcyclists on the road in the next 10 days, Florida drivers and motorcyclists should exercise additional caution to avoid being involved in serious auto accidents. In the event that you are injured, you will likely face financial burdens from medical bills and lost wages, in addition to the physical and emotional toll that serious injuries can take.
At Osborne & Francis, we are prepared to provide you with the guidance you need to successfully recover maximum compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Our team has ample experience negotiating tough claims, including taking claims to court to hold negligent parties accountable for our clients’ damages. If you have been injured in a Bike Week accident, you need a tenacious motorcycle accident lawyer to represent your interests and negotiate for maximum compensation.
The motorcycle accident attorneys of Osborne & Francis can offer you unparalleled support during the personal injury claims process. To schedule a free consultation with our award-winning personal injury lawyers, you can reach us at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando. While we devote our time and attention to your motorcycle accident claim, you can focus on healing.
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