Florida Motorcycle Safety Advocacy

Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, has spent more than four decades advocating for the rights of motorcycle riders in Southwest Florida.

Our motorcycle injury attorneys in Cape Coral and Fort Myers have proudly sponsored the Cape Coral Bike Night season for two decades. The premiere family-friendly motorcycle venue in Southwest Florida, Cape Coral Bike Nights draw hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts annually.

We are active supporters of Mothers Against Drunk Driving; American Bikers Aiming Toward Education (ABATE); and the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition.

While Florida’s year-around sunshine provides a mecca for riders from all over the country, it also makes for one of the most dangerous places in the nation to ride. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports more than 400 riders are killed in more than 8,600 Florida motorcycle collisions each year. Nearly 10,000 riders are seriously injured. Lee County is among the 10 most dangerous counties in the state:

Average Annual Motorcycle Casualties in SWFL:

• Collier County Motorcycle Accidents: 3 killed; 76 injured.
• Charlotte County Motorcycle Accidents: 8 killed; 65 injured.
• Lee County Motorcycle Accidents: 15 killed; 197 injured.

One of the best things riders can do to stay safe is to complete a basic Motorcycle Rider Safety Course. These courses cost about $200 and have been required for new riders since 2008. But even veteran riders can benefit from a safety refresher.

Instructors of approved courses are certified through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Florida Rider Training Program. Rider-safety instruction includes:

• Discussion of proper riding gear.
• Proper motorcycle control.
• Slow-speed maneuvering; clutch and throttle control.
• Stopping, starting, tuning, swerving, accident avoidance.
• Strategies for interacting with traffic.
• Mental and physical readiness.

Not only will riders learn critical lessons in rider safety, they will be eligible for insurance discounts of up to 20 percent.

While wearing a helmet is a personal choice not required by Florida law, the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates more than 1,500 riders a year are saved by helmet use. Nearly one-third of those killed in riding accidents would have survived had they been wearing a helmet, according to government estimates.

At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, we know that rider safety efforts will not prevent the majority of motorcycle collisions caused by careless, inattentive or negligent motorists.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports the number of serious and fatal motorcycle collisions has increased in 18 of the past 20 years. In fact, motorcycle fatalities have increased by more than 40 percent in the last decade. Despite accounting for just 3 percent of registered vehicles and less than 1 percent of all vehicle miles traveled, deadly motorcycle collisions account for nearly 20 percent of all traffic fatalities.

More than three-quarters of collisions involve a rider striking a vehicle in front of the motorcycle. In many cases, the collision is caused by a motorist who fails to yield the right of way, and either turns into a rider’s path or crosses in front of a motorcyclist.

Drunk driving also remains a serious threat, with 29 percent of riders and 24 percent of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal collisions testing above the legal limit of .08 blood-alcohol content.

If you or your family is dealing with the aftermath of a serious or fatal motorcycle collision, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.

Motorcycle Injury Attorneys – 800-646-1210 – Free Consultation