Motorcycle Accidents

November 22, 2013

Tampa Bay Injury Lawyer :: Florida Lawmakers Want Tampa Teen Drivers to Put Their Cellphones Away

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Florida lawmakers have recently proposed a new bill that would ban anyone under the age of 18 from using electronic devices while driving in Florida.

This means teens would not be allowed to make calls, use Facebook or any other website while driving.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teens. In fact, on average, seven teens between the ages of 16 and 19 die every day from car crashes, and drivers in that same age group are three times more likely to get into a deadly crash.

Despite these statistics, many drivers oppose the proposed law claiming it is unfair to single out a particular age group.

Florida lawmakers are currently talking about proposed changes to current laws.

If the proposed law is passed, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2015.

According to the CDC, in 2010, nearly 2,700 teens across the nation between the ages of 16 and 19 were killed and another 282,000 were treated and released from emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle accidents. While young people ages 15-24 account for only 14 percent of the U.S. population, this age group represents 30 percent, or $19 billion, of the total costs of auto accident injuries among males and 28 percent, or $7 billion, of the total costs of car accident injuries among females.

July 8, 2013

Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Attorney :: St. Pete Man Seriously Injured in Motorcycle Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 24-year-old St. Petersburg man was seriously injured Thursday after he lost control of a motorcycle he was driving on 36th Avenue North.

St. Petersburg police said the man was driving a 2003 Honda motorcycle in the 4700 block of 36th Avenue North early Thursday afternoon when he tried to slow down as he approached a bend in the road, but hit the ground and was ejected from the bike.
Officers claim the man was not wearing a helmet when he slid nearly 100 feet before coming to a halt.

He was transported to Bayfront Medical Center where as of Friday, he was in critical condition. No further updates regarding the man’s condition have been released.

In the unfortunate event that a crash occurs, motorcyclists not wearing helmets are actually three times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury than those protecting themselves with helmets, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In fact, wearing a helmet while riding on a motorcycle reduces the likelihood of being killed in a crash by 37 percent. Further research conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that helmet use can reduce the likelihood of a fatality in an accident by as much as 42 percent and lower the risk of suffering a serious head injury by 69 percent.

The state of Florida modified its universal helmet law in 2000, excusing riders over the age of 21 carrying at least $10,000 of medical insurance coverage from having to wear a helmet while riding. However, it is important to point out that in the year following the changes to Florida’s helmet law, the death rate among bikers climbed 25 percent.

May 30, 2013

Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Attorney :: Weaker Helmet Laws Blamed for Rise in Motorcycle Injuries

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Over the past 15 years, motorcycle deaths have risen across the United States and seem to have reached an all-time high of more than 5,000, which some believe is a direct result of states weakened helmet law requirements.

According to a recent insurance industry study, the average medical claim from a motorcycle collision increased by more than one-fifth in Michigan last year after the state eliminated laws requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets. However, this is not just a problem in Michigan it is also a huge issue for Florida and every other state across the nation. Motorcyclists throughout the U.S. opposed to mandatory helmet laws have been fighting state helmet laws for years while the death toll for bikers continues to climb.

Michigan required all motorcycle riders to wear helmets for more than 40 years, but state legislators changed the law last year only requiring riders under the age of 21 to wear a helmet. In the two years before the law was changed, the average insurance payment on a motorcycle injury claim was $5,410. After the law was changed, the cost increased to $7,257, an increase of 34 percent, according to the study conducted by the Highway Loss Data Institute.

The study found that the actual increase was about 22 percent after adjusting for the age and type of motorcycle, rider age, gender, marital status, weather and other factors relative to a group of four comparative states, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

While other studies have shown an increase in motorcycle deaths after states weakened mandatory helmet requirements or eliminated them all together, this industry is the first of its kind to look specifically at the effect of repealing helmet laws compared to the severity of injuries determined by medical insurance claims.

While some blame weak helmet laws on the increased number of biker injuries and fatalities, others are pointing the finger at something else entirely. The president of American Bikers Aimed Toward Education of Michigan, attributed the increase in the severity of injuries on motorcyclists who fail to take the required safety courses needed to obtain a special motorcycle license. He claims bikers without motorcycle licenses have accounted for a larger number of fatalities and injuries in recent years.

Although there is no way to determine how many of the Michigan claims involved motorcyclists not wearing helmets, a recent study by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute found a momentous increase in bikers involved in crashes who were not wearing helmets after the law changed. Results from the study show that from April 13, 2012, the first day after the change was implemented, through the end of the year, 74 percent of motorcyclists involved in crashes were wearing helmets. That number is down from 98 percent in the same period for the previous four years.

Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet. Another 28 states require only some motorcyclists, usually younger bikers, to wear a helmet, and three states do not require any riders to wear helmets. Over the course of nearly two decades, states have been slowly repealing or weakening mandatory helmet laws.

February 26, 2013

Tampa Bay Motorcycle Accident Attorney :: Biker Killed in Sunday Night Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist passed away shortly after a collision late Sunday night at the intersection of North Florida Avenue and West Busch Boulevard.

The motorcycle crashed around 11:45 p.m., according to Tampa police.

The bike was the only vehicle involved in the wreck. The driver was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital where he died a short time later.

The accident resulted in West Busch Boulevard being shut down for several hours, but it was reopened Monday morning.

The crash is currently being investigated.

Motorcycle accidents can be complicated matters, which is why they require thorough investigation. Many times motorcycle accidents occur due to another driver’s negligence, however there are certainly other factors that can contribute as well. Sometimes vehicle defects and poor road design can play a role in a collision. It is even possible for crashes to be caused by improperly set up road construction or a lack of warning signs for hazardous highway conditions.