Motorcycle Accidents

2,558 Florida Traffic Deaths in 2009, Says NHTSA

October 8, 2010 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,558 people were killed in Florida traffic accidents last year. Alcohol was a factor in 770 of the fatalities. On one hand, these latest figures show positive progress. In 2008, NHTSA reported 2,980 Florida traffic fatalities-887 involving an alcohol-impaired driver. The number of Florida traffic deaths have gone down. That said, our Miami car accident law firm looks forward to the day when there are even less traffic injuries and deaths occurring each year in Florida.

Nationally, there also has been a decrease in motor vehicle traffic crash deaths and injuries. NHTSA reports that there were 33,308 motor vehicle fatalities in 2009-a 9.7% drop from the year before and the lowest number of deaths since 1950. Even the number of US motorcycle crash deaths went down from 5,312 fatalities in 2008 to 4,462 deaths in 2009.

More 2009 US Traffic Deaths and Injuries Facts:
• 2,217,000 traffic crash injuries
• 503 truck crash deaths
• 17,000 truck accident injuries
• 90,000 motorcycle crash injuries
• 4,092 pedestrian deaths
• 59,000 pedestrian injuries
• 630 pedalcyclist deaths
• 70,000 pedalcyclist injuries

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says that the government is committed to making the roads safer.

NHTSA also has just released its 2009 Distracted Driving Fatality and Injury Numbers:
• 5,474 US distracted driving-related deaths
• 448,000 distracted driving-related injuries

Mr. LaHood has referred to distracted driving as an epidemic. Talking on the cell phone, texting, eating, playing computer games, fiddling with an iPod or stereo, surfing the Internet on a laptop, watching a movie on a portable DVD player, putting on makeup, and reading a book or magazine are just some examples of activities that people have been known to engage in while driving that have distracted them to the point that traffic crash injuries and deaths have occurred.

Although many states have imposed at least some (if not a full) restriction on texting and cell phone use, currently Florida has no such restrictions.

Distracted Driving 2009, NHTSA (PDF)

Highlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes (PDF)

Related Web Resources:
Florida Department of Transportation

US Department of Transportation

Distraction.gov
Continue reading

Former Florida Resident Arrested in Motorcycle Accident

January 18, 2010 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

On Friday, a former resident of Live Oak, Florida was arrested in connection with a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred last spring. According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, the 47-year-old man was driving his motorcycle when it veered off the road and overturned.

The man’s passenger, a 40-year-old woman also of Live Oak, died the following day. The cyclist, who was also hospitalized with critical injuries, has been charged with driving with a suspended license resulting in death or serious injury. Prison records show he is also charged with having no driver’s license for a motorcycle.

Motorcycle accidents can be especially dangerous, because the rider does not have the protection of a car or bus around them. Serious injuries, such as broken bones, internal bleeding, or head trauma, can result, particularly if the rider is not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Source: Arrest made in fatal motorcycle crash, Sewanee Democrat, January 18, 2010 Continue reading

Palm Beach County Resident Sued in Wrongful Death Case

January 15, 2010 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

The widower of a woman who died in a 2007 motorcycle crash has filed a wrongful death suit against the owner of the motorcycle, claiming the owner was aware that he had not properly maintained the Harley Davidson.

The surviving spouse has sued the motorcycle’s owner, a Palm Beach County resident, and seeks at least $15,000 in damages. The lawsuit claims the owner failed to maintain the motorcycle’s brake and rear turning lights, preventing the truck driver from seeing the couple right before impact.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the woman was killed after the motorcycle she was riding in was hit by a pick-up truck in a hit-and-run accident. The woman was ejected from the motorcycle and left by the side of the road.

Source: Wrongful death suit filed in 2007 crash, WPTV.com, December 29, 2009 Continue reading

Motorcycle Crashes Kills Two Florida Cyclists

November 19, 2009 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

This past weekend, two Floridians were killed in separate motorcycle accidents on Florida roads.

On Saturday, a single motorcycle accident in Okaloose County took the life of a 55-year-old Pensacola man who lost control of his Honda motorcycle. The cyclist was handling a curve his bike went onto the north shoulder of Old Bethel Road nad hit a concrete culvert. He was thrown from the motorcycle and was taken to Northa Okaloose Medical Center. The Florida Highway Patrol said the motorcycle accident victim was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

Also on Saturday, in an unrelated motorcycle crash, another motorcyclist was killed after a car collided with his bke on State Road 292. The driver of the car was charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with the deadly accident and was being held without bond at Escambia County Jail. The motorcyclist was thrown from his bike and the FHP said he was also wearing a helmet.

Two Pensacolians die in motorcycle wrecks, PNJ.com, November 16, 2009 Continue reading

Motorcycle Passenger Dies in Florida Hit-And-Run

September 3, 2009 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

Last Thursday, a woman was killed and a man seriously injured after a hit-and-run vehicle hit their motorcycle. Traffic homicide investigators say the suspected vehicle is a silver GMC SUV. Part of the left front bumper and front left headlight is broken.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the driver of the SUV dragged the 50-year-old woman’s body for over a quarter of a mile while fleeing the motorcycle accident. A report by the FHP says the driver was swerving and trying to dislodge the body from the vehicle, but the driver never made an attempt to stop.

Dunkin R. Jackson, who was driving the Yamaha motorcycle, was thrown into the center lane. The 53-year-old Clermont man was seriously injured.

Hit-and-run claims life of motorcycle passenger, Orlando Sentinel, August 28, 2009 Continue reading

Florida Motorcycle Crash Injures Man

August 27, 2009 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

On Thursday evening, a motorcycle rider was rushed to the hospital with a head injury following a motorcycle accident in Florida. The 21-year-old motorcycle accident victim rear-ended a van owned by the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department.

The motorcycle crash occurred just after 5pm during the evening rush hour, and the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet. None of the people in the county van sustained injuries.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol trooper, traffic was backed up from the signal at State Road 85 to Poquito Road at the time of the accident. The rider was alert and talking when he was transported to Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

Man injured in rush hour motorcycle wreck, NFDailyNews.com, August 20, 2009 Continue reading

Two Officers Injured in Funeral Procession for Motorycle Mogul

August 10, 2009 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

In Ormond Beach, six motorcycle officers who were escorting relatives of a motorcycle crash victim to the funeral got into an accident of their own when the lead rider reportedly slowed down and the other riders did not, resulting in a chain-reaction collision. According to authorities, two officers were hurt but their injuries were not serious. The impact on the motorcycles was minor.

The motorcycle accident occurred last Tuesday in conjunction with Bruce Rossmeyer’s funeral. Rossmeyer, 66, died in a motorcycle crash in Wyoming the previous week during an annual trip with friends. He was the owner of 15 Harley-Davidson dealerships, many of them in Florida.

Rossmeyer’s family issued a statement on July 31 thanking the community for its outpouring of support in the wake of the motorcycle mogul’s death.

6 motorcycle officers crash in funeral procession, Miami Herald, August 5, 2009
Motorcycle mogul’s family thanks community, BizJournals.com, August 3, 2009 Continue reading

Florida Motorcycle Accident Injures Five

June 26, 2009 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

On Saturday evening, a motorcycle accident on Bayside Bridge in Clearwater, Florida injured five people. The motorcycle crash occurred around 11pm and involved four motorcycles. A report released by the Florida Highway Patrol states that the motorcycles were traveling south on Bayside Bridge when one of the motorcycles started to brake and caused the other cyclists to collide because they could not stop in time.

Four drivers and one passenger were thrown from their vehicles and slid several hundred feet across the bridge. Two of the bikers were seriously injured. All of the motorcycle accident victims were transported to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment. Authorities are investigating the crash and charges are pending.

Accidents involving motorcycles, cars, trucks, SUVS, and other vehicles can have life-altering effects for those involved. Injuries can include paralysis, burns, broken or crushed bones, head injuries, and even death.

Motorcycles crash on Bayside Bridge, MyFoxTampaBay.com, June 21, 2009
5 people injuried in motorcycle accident, ABCActionNews.com, June 21, 2009 Continue reading

On Florida’s I-95, Motorcycle Crash Kills Man

June 19, 2009 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

On Friday evening, a motorcycle accident killed a 54-year-old man who was traveling in the inside lane of Interstate 95 South. According to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol, the man’s 2009 Honda Gold Wing suddenly veered into the outside lane and hit a concrete barrier wall.

The motorcycle accident occurred near Jacksonville’s Emerson Street at 6:39pm. The accident victim, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was taken to Shands Jacksonville Medical center and was later pronounced dead.

Highway Patrol Troopers say the accident is still under investigation to determine if alcohol was a factor. The motorcycle crash reportedly caused $11,000 in damage to the motorcycle.

Gastonia man dies in Florida motorcycle crash, GastonGazette.com, June 13, 2009
Motorcyclist Killed After Collision with Wall on I-95FirstCoastNews.com, June 13, 2009 Continue reading

Florida Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident

May 19, 2009 | by David J. Halberg, Esq.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a Micanopy man, 42, died in a motorcycle crash on Saturday night after he turned his cycle in front of an oncoming vehicle.

Mark D. Wiggins was riding east on Silver Lake Drive as Lisa M. Mason, 36, of Palatka was traveling west on Silver Lake drive. Both were driving Suzuki motorcycles. As they approached the intersection, Wiggins pulled into Mason’s path because he did not see her turn left. The two motorcycles collided and the riders were taken to Putnam Medical Center, where Wiggins later died. Mason survived the motorcycle accident with minor injuries.

The Florida Highway Patrol said both drivers had alcohol in their system and charges in the crash are pending.

Micanopy man killed in crash on motorcycle, Gainesville Sun, May 18, 2009
Motorcycle crash claims man, St. Auguestine Record, May 18, 2009 Continue reading