Odds of Getting in a Motorcycle Accident
The odds of getting in a motorcycle accident may increase or decrease depending on:
- Your location and the physical environment
- Your actions
- The actions of those around you
- The time of day
- The weather
- Gas prices
Motorcycle Accidents and the Physical Environment
The odds of getting in a motorcycle accident increase if:
- The road you are driving on has inadequate or broken streetlights.
- The road has many cracks or potholes.
- There is no safe place for pedestrians to walk or for bicyclists to ride, forcing them to enter the flow of traffic.
- Tree branches or bushes obscure any part of the roadway.
If you can avoid riding your motorcycle in such unsafe environments, you should do so. Try to stay on well-maintained roads with good lighting and good visibility.
Motorcycle Accidents and Human Factors
The actions of drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and even pedestrians can contribute to the Florida motorcycle accident rate. Actions that could increase your risk of getting into an accident include:
- Driving too fast
- Ignoring stop signs, yield signs, or traffic lights
- Driving while drowsy
- Driving while drunk, “buzzed,” or high
- Driving in the wrong direction
- Following other drivers too closely (tailgating)
- Getting distracted by cell phones, other passengers, and so on
- Wearing dark clothes, making it harder for others to see you
It does not take much to cause an accident: even the smallest moment of inattention could be dangerous. Do not drive unless you know you can devote your full attention and energy to making your trip a safe one.
Motorcycle Accidents and Nature
As indicated earlier, your chances of being in a motorcycle accident may increase when there is not enough light. This could refer to streetlights or to the time of day. For example:
- When the day is sunny or slightly overcast, people can see better.
- During heavy storms, rain and fog could drastically lower visibility.
- It is often too dark at night to see, especially if another vehicle’s headlights get in your eyes.
- At sunrise or sunset, the sun may shine directly into drivers’ eyes, making it harder for them to see what is going on around them.
In addition, if the weather is sunny and warm, more people are likely to want to ride their motorcycles than on a chilly or rainy day. More motorcyclists on the road, unfortunately, means more motorcycle accidents.
The weather in southern states like Florida tends to be nice year-round, so people may ride their motorcycles more often here than in other states. This further increases your chances of being in an accident.
Motorcycle Accidents and Gas Prices
When gas prices rise, more people ride motorcycles to save gasoline. More motorcycles on the road mean your odds of getting in a motorcycle accident increase as gas prices do.
Are You More Likely to Crash a Car or a Motorcycle?
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists are much more likely to end up in an injury or fatal accident than motorists.
The odds of a motorcyclist being killed are especially sobering. In 2020, “motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash.”
How Many People Survive Motorcycle Crashes?
You have decent, though not great, odds of surviving a motorcycle crash. According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV):
- There were more than 9,095 motorcycle accidents in Florida in 2022.
- Of these, 3,202 motorcycle accidents resulted in at least one fatality.
- About 35 percent of all Florida motorcycle collisions were fatal. The remaining 65 percent of such accidents caused injuries or property damage only.
Your odds of surviving a motorcycle crash in Florida are, therefore, about two to one.
Surviving Motorcycle Accidents
Why are motorcycle accidents so dangerous? As fun as motorcycles are to ride, they offer much less protection than more traditional vehicles. This means there is nothing to protect the rider if they hit (or are hit by) another vehicle.
You can increase your chances of staying safe in a motorcycle collision by taking proper safety precautions, such as:
- Staying alert so you can respond quickly to danger.
- Wearing proper safety equipment, including a helmet and padded clothing.
- Making sure your vehicle is in good condition so it can respond to your commands in an emergency.
- Driving at or just below the speed limit the faster the collision, the more damage you may sustain.
Were You in a Motorcycle Accident?
The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato wants to help you seek financial compensation after an accident. Our honest, compassionate motorcycle accident attorney in fort lauderdale understands that even if you took every possible measure to reduce your odds of getting in a motorcycle accident, you could still suffer due to another’s negligence. Call (954) 633-8270 today to learn more about our services and how we can pursue compensation for you.
