Motorcycle Accidents

September 22, 2016

Pinellas Park Motorcyclist In Critical Condition

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist is in critical condition after a crash in Pinellas County ejected him from his bike.

According to the Pinellas Park Police Department, the 41-year-old was driving his motorcycle near the western entrance of the Home Depot on 73rd Avenue North when a car pulled out in front of him.

The man was launched from his 2000 Honda motorcycle.

He was not wearing a helmet. After the crash, he was taken to Bayfront. The other driver and his passenger did not suffer any injuries.

The motorcyclist suffered severe injuries. He remains in critical condition. There are no criminal charges associated with this investigation, but officers said traffic citations are pending.

This article sheds some light on why it is so important to wear the proper safety gear on motorcycles. Even the most skilled riders cannot control the reckless and negligent actions of other drivers sharing the roadway.

The subject of whether a person should wear a motorcycle helmet comes up all the time. Some riders believe that they should have the freedom to ride without the constraints of wearing a helmet. Other riders recognize the dangers of riding without a helmet. Numerous studies have shown that a helmet can save a life. It can prevent a motorcyclist from brain damage and some severe neck injuries.

In the state of Florida, the law regarding motorcycle helmets is this:

A person over 21 years of age may operate or ride upon a motorcycle without wearing a helmet if they are covered by an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle.

September 12, 2016

Excessive Speed Appears To Be Factor In Polk County Motorcycle Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A fatal crash occurred Friday evening in Lakeland involving a motorcyclist colliding with a pickup truck.

Officials believe that at approximately 3:20 p.m., a 37-year-old man was traveling southbound on Combee Road. He was riding a 2006 Honda 1000RR motorcycle.

Around the same time, a 70-year-old woman driving a 2002 Ford F 150 was pulling out into Combee Road from the parking lot of the Babcock store near the intersection of Combee and Tanglewood Street.

Deputies believe the woman crossed westbound across Combee Road toward Tanglewood Street, where the bike collided with the truck’s passenger side. The impact from the collision was enough to spin the woman’s truck clockwise, so it came to rest facing north.

The man was thrown from his motorcycle by the collision and sustained critical injuries. He later died while being transported by first responders to Lakeland Regional Hospital.

The woman in the truck was not injured in the crash.

At this time, investigators do not believe impairment was a factor in the crash. It was noted that excessive speeds appear to be a factor.

The man was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Motorcycle riders are more exposed when it comes to the road, which only increases their chances of suffering a serious injury in the event of a motor vehicle accident. What might not cause any damage to a car, could deliver devastating injuries to a motorcycle rider. Broken bones, burns, paralysis, and amputations are common injuries as a result of motorcycle accidents, especially when the accident involved high speeds.

Motorcycle accidents commonly occur due to the following:

Driver distractions
Failure to obey traffic signals
Failure to yield
Unexpected lane changes
Speeding

August 29, 2016

Motorcyclist Killed In Lakeland Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 53-year-old motorcyclist died in a crash with a truck early Monday morning.

It happened around 7 a.m. on Walt Williams Road and Walt William Loop.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 2014 Ford F-150 was traveling south on Walt Williams Road.

At the same time, the 53-year-old biker was traveling north on Walt Williams Road on a 2014 Harley-Davidson FXDB.

Troopers believe that as the Ford turned left into a business parking lot, it traveled into the path of the motorcyclist.

Troopers believe the motorcyclist applied the brakes and began to skid in an effort to avoid the collision, but the truck and motorcycle collided.

The biker was transported to Lakeland Regional where he later died from his injuries.

Regardless of how safe a motorcyclist is on the road or how much safety gear they are wearing, many motorcycle accidents result in death. These sudden, unexpected tragedies leave family members and other loved ones feeling lost, sad, confused and even angry.

August 4, 2016

Speed May Have Been Factor in St. Petersburg Motorcycle Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist was injured in a collision with a vehicle and transported to the hospital early Wednesday morning in St. Pete Beach.

The crash occurred at about 7:30 A.M. near the intersection of Gulf Boulevard and 55th Avenue in St. Pete Beach.

According to investigators, the 20-year-old biker was driving his Honda motorcycle southbound in the median lane of Gulf Boulevard approaching the intersection of 55th Avenue.

The driver of a 2005 Chrysler 300, 39, was making a left westbound turn into the entrance of the TradeWinds Island Resort located at 5500 Gulf Boulevard.

Investigators believe the man’s motorcycle hit the Chrysler 300, ejecting the motorcyclist from the bike and onto the roadway. He was transported to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators do think that speed may have been a factor in the crash. There were no signs of alcohol involved, according to reports.

Speed is one of the main factors when it comes to motorcycle collisions. It is so important to always obey the posted speed limits as speeding can result in serious collisions leading to debilitating injuries, especially for bikers. Motorcyclists lack the protection of a vehicle, like other motorists, which means motorcyclists can easily suffer catastrophic injuries and the driver of the car, truck or SUV involved can walk away unscathed. A helmet can reduce your chances of a head and neck injury, but riders should also take extra precautions including wearing a face shield, closed-toe shoes, gloves, jackets and pants to protect against the abrasion of the road should you crash.

June 1, 2016

1 Motorcyclist Killed, 1 Injured in Crash With Van in Tampa Bay

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

One motorcyclist died and another was critically injured Saturday in an accident in Tampa involving both riders colliding with a van.

According to Florida Highway Patrol troopers, the accident happened just after 4 p.m. at North Florida Avenue and Palm Drive. Two bikers, one 19 and the other 20, were riding southbound on North Florida Avenue when a van driven by by a 69-year-old man pulled into the road from Palm Drive into the motorcycle’s path.

The man reportedly failed to see the bikers as he pulled into the roadway to make a left turn onto North Florida Avenue. The bikers were both traveling in the left lane at high rates of speed, and both struck the van, according to reports.

The 19-year-old suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The 20-year-old suffered serious injuries and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital. Both riders were wearing helmets at the time of the crash.

The driver of the van was transported to Florida Hospital Fletcher and treated for minor injuries.

Charges in the case are pending the results of the investigation.

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident with a passenger vehicle, you stand little chance of escaping the accident without any injuries. Bikers that are clipped by larger vehicles are much more susceptible to bodily injuries and even death due to their direct exposure to contact and lack of protection.

The most common injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries
Broken Bones & Fractures
Road Rash
Catastrophic Spine & Neck Injuries
Wrongful Death

April 14, 2016

Motorcyclist Dies in Palmetto Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 62-year-old man died Sunday when he crashed into a car on U.S. 301 in Palmetto.

Palmetto Police believe the motorcyclist struck the rear of a Hyundai sedan just west of Canal Road at 8:30 p.m. The man was not wearing a helmet and died from his injuries at the scene.

The driver of the sedan, and her passenger, a four-year-old boy, were not injured in the incident.

The crash investigation closed westbound U.S. 301 between Canal Road and 12th Street East for approximately 3 hours.

No further information is available at this time.

Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries, and as this case shows, sometimes death for the biker and any passengers. The lack of protection that a motorcycle provides its riders is a big factor as to why collisions lead to such tragedies. Not wearing a helmet usually only increases a biker’s risk for suffering a life-altering injury or death as a helmet equips a rider with an extra layer of protection in the event they are thrown from the bike.

The following are 4 reasons you should wear a helmet when on a motorcycle:

It Reduces Your Risk of Head Injuries
It Makes you Easier to See
It Protects you from Road Debris
It Protects you from the Elements

When considering a helmet, make sure to look for the DOT or SNELL sticker inside or outside the helmet. This sticker means that the helmet adheres to the safety standards of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and/or the Snell Memorial Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research, education, testing and development of helmet safety standards.

April 8, 2016

Two Motorcyclists Injured in Pinellas County Collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Two motorcyclists, a driver and passenger were injured in a crash in Clearwater Thursday night.

Clearwater Police and Clearwater Fire & Rescue were called to Belcher Road and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard just after 9 p.m. to assist with the accident involving a car and two motorcycles.

Both motorcyclists went to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, along with the 72-year-old driver of the Toyota Prius that was involved.

An 87-year-old passenger in the Prius was taken to Mease Countryside Hospital.

None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening at this time.

According to police, the motorcycles were travelling westbound on Gulf-to-Bay as the car was attempting to turn left from Gulf-to-Bay onto Belcher.

Both motorcyclists were wearing helmets at the time of the collision.

Motorcycle accidents often result in terrible injuries and in many cases, death. Fortunately, the bikers involved in this crash are not suffering life-threatening injuries, according to reports. It appears that both bikers were wearing helmets at the time of the collision, which is always a good idea because wearing a helmet only adds more protection to riders.

It makes a lot of sense to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle. In fact, a helmet may save your life or prevent you from suffering a horrible injury in the event of a crash. And, if you happen to be involved in a collision, wearing a helmet will save a significant amount of time and worry connected with resolving any claim arising from the accident since helmet use is associated with a safe, responsible motorcyclists.

March 11, 2016

Biker Killed in Tampa Crash with Drunk Driver

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 26-year-old man is dead after he was hit by a drunk driver while riding his motorcycle in Tampa.

The crash happened at 12:34 a.m. on Dale Mabry Highway near the intersection with Cypress Street.

Police the victim, from Wesley Chapel, was riding his 2002 Yamaha motorcycle south when a 1997 Chevrolet pick-up truck made a left turn in front of him.

The man was declared dead at the scene. Police said Wednesday was his 26th birthday.

The driver of the truck, a 37-year-old Tampa man, showed signs of impairment, so police arrested him on charges of DUI manslaughter. His blood was drawn and submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

When a motorist makes the choice to operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they place everyone sharing the roadway with them in serious danger. While a DUI is a criminal offense that is punished in criminal court, this does nothing to compensate motorcycle accident injury victims or the families of those who have lost loved ones in these types of accidents.

The drunk driver can actually be held financially liable for any injuries, damages and losses suffered by a victim or their family. Victims of motorcycle DUI crashes that survive often suffer severe physical injuries in addition to financial stress and emotional grief. Family members who have lost loved ones in drunk driving crashes might be struggling to pay the bills and provide for their families. Motorcycle DUI injury victims and the families of those killed can seek compensation for their losses, including medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, funeral expenses, future income and pain and suffering.

November 6, 2015

Motorcyclist Killed in Clearwater Collision

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Clearwater on Friday morning.

According to reports, a 22-year-old was driving a motorcycle eastbound on Belleair Road at a high rate of speed east of Belcher Road when he collided with a 2001 Buick Century, driven by 78-year-old man, who was pulling out of a driveway.

The biker was ejected from the motorcycle, and died at the scene.

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are more than 200 people who are killed every year in the United States and another 17,000 injured in backover accidents. Backover accidents happen when a driver is backing up their vehicle and hits an object, pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, etc. that they did not see, usually because of a blind zone in the vehicle. SUVs and trucks are notorious for having blind spots, and their increasing popularity has only resulted in more reports of backover fatalities. Trucks and SUVs are responsible for a whopping 60 percent of backover tragedies.

October 20, 2015

Man Riding Scooter Struck and Killed by SUV in Manatee County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A Bradenton man riding a scooter was killed Sunday night after being hit from behind by a SUV on State Road 70, according to reports.

The 41-year-old man was riding a scooter east on State Road 70 near the I-75 interchange around 7:20 p.m. when a Jeep Liberty changed lanes behind him and crashed into the scooter, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

The man was thrown from the scooter and transported to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, where he later died.

The driver of the Jeep, an 18-year-old, was cited for careless driving, according to the FHP.

The most common scooter and moped injuries are fractures, broken bones, back and spine injuries, and head trauma. While some of these injuries can heal with time, others can have permanent, life-changing effects. In some tragic cases, scooter accidents can result in wrongful death. Scooter and moped riders should always wear helmets when operating their vehicles. However, even when riders use their safety equipment and drive defensively, they are still among the most vulnerable drivers on the road due to the lack of protection that these motor vehicles provide compared to passenger vehicles.