Miami Injury Lawyer Blog
A new government report issued this week stated that in 2010, direct costs from motorcycle accidents cost $16 billion, but those costs are expected to rise over the coming years due to the difficult in measure long-term medical expenses. Motorcycle drivers are thirty times more likely to die in a crash and have more significant injuries that victims injured in regular car crashes. In 2010, over 80,000 motorcyclists were injured in crashes, with almost 5,000 left dead.
The average cost for a fatal motorcycle crash is about $1.2 million, with costs spiking to $1.4 million depending on the severity of the injuries. Certain costs can be difficult to anticipate because care is long term and expensive, but follow up costs are only being estimated for a few years post-accident. Further, long-term injuries can cause changes in employment and living status and those costs are often not adequately anticipated or measured.
Laws requiring motorists have been found to be the only effective strategy to reducing motorcycle fatalities and injuries. Wearing a helmet reduces a rider’s risk of death by almost forty percent. However, few states have “mandatory” helmet laws; instead, most states have “partial” helmet laws, which require riders under a specific age to wear helmets. However, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation does not advocate for mandatory helmet laws. The vice president of the Foundation stated, “We are 100 percent pro-helmet, and 100 percent anti-helmet law. Putting a helmet law in place does not reduce motorcycle fatalities.” Instead of mandatory helmet laws, the Foundation encourages education – teaching motorcyclists how to ride safely is the ultimate solution. The president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety disagrees and supports mandatory helmet laws.
Motorcycle deaths, injuries cost $16 billion, www.miamiherald.com November 27, 2012.
With it’s ocean breeze and scenic coastlines, South Florida has always been a popular place for motorcyclists. Automobile drivers often do not see or chose to ignore motorcyclists on the road, and serious and deadly injuries often result, including traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. Conversely, often, motorcyclists make riskier decisions in traffic because of the petite size of their vehicle. The attorneys at the Friedland | Carmona are expert motorcycle accident attorneys who handle motor vehicle accidents and wrongful death cases. No one should suffer personal injuries as a result of another person’s negligent actions. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, call the Broward personal injury lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona today!
The Miami motor vehicle accident lawyers at the Friedland | Carmona handle all types of motor vehicle accidents throughout the state of Florida, including Boca Raton, Homestead, North Miami, South Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Pembroke Pines, Hialeah, Kendall, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach. The Friedland | Carmona handles all types of personal injury cases, including wrongful death, defective products, medical malpractice, slip and falls and construction site injuries. Call the Miami personal injury attorneys at (305) 661-2008 for your free consultation. Call today and let our family take care of your family!