Florida Accident Attorney Blog

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles released a report detailing traffic accident statistics for the Sunshine State. The report, which compared 2008 to 2009, showed an overall 14.1 percent decline in motor vehicle crash deaths for the state of Florida -- at 2,563 total traffic fatalities for 2009 compared to 2,983 traffic accident deaths for 2008.

Let's take a look at the category of motorcycle accident deaths in Florida.

Of the total number of people killed in Florida traffic crashes in 2009, 14.6 percent were motorcycle drivers (376 deaths). The rate for motorcycle drivers and passengers killed in traffic accidents declined by 24 percent: a total of 402 deaths in 2009, compared to 532 killed in 2008. Motorcycle accident injuries in Florida were also down to 8,202 for 2009 compared to 9,402 injuries in 2008. It's worth noting that fewer motorcycles were registered in Florida: 586,537 for 2009 compared to 649,210 for 2008. (Source: Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)

As Fort Myers, Florida motorcycle accident lawyers know from their work with injured and bereaved clients, a motorcycle crash can be devastating -- whether a single-vehicle motorcycle crash into a fixed object or a crash involving other vehicles. Motorcycle operators and their passengers are far more vulnerable to catastrophic injury and death when involved in Fla. traffic accidents with cars, minivans, SUVs, pickup trucks and large commercial trucks. In addition, motorcycles in fatal crashes have the highest proportion of collisions with fixed objects (25.0 percent), according to a new NHTSA report.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) also released preliminary data for 2010. That data showed that Florida had 293 motorcycle accident deaths for the first nine months of 2009, and 286 motorcycle fatalities for the same time period for 2010. While those preliminary data showed a 7 percent reduction in Fla. motorcycle crash fatalities thus far -- the final numbers for 2010 were not yet available.

Florida has also seen a reduction in overall alcohol-related traffic fatalities, down by 4.6 percent between 2007 and 2008 -- 917 deaths vs. 875 deaths for those years, respectively). (Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Though 37 percent of Florida motorcycle drivers who died in traffic accidents in 2009 used drugs or alcohol (139 deaths). Clearly Florida has more work to do to reduce the numbers of traffic related fatalities for both cars and motorcycles. (Source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles)

As we reported earlier (see link to article below) -- while Florida's motorcycle accident death rates have declined, Florida still remains one of the most dangerous states in the country for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident with injury or death that may be due to the negligence or recklessness of another party, it's best to consult an experienced South Florida personal injury attorney to determine if you may have a case. See our Motorcycle Accidents Frequently Asked Questions page for more info.

Related Florida Accident Attorney Article:

Motorcycle Accident Deaths Decline -- But Florida Still Among Worst in Nation for Helmet Use

Sources:

GHSA Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State -- 2010 Preliminary Data (PDF)
Governors Highway Safety Association

Florida Traffic Safety Facts : Motorcycles (PDF)
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Oct. 2010

NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2009 -- Early Edition (PDF)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration