Known as the sunshine state, Florida enjoys wonderful weather that attracts a countless number of motorcycle and bicycle riders and passengers. These individuals enjoy Florida’s public and private roadways, highways, bicycle paths, and other pathways on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, riding a motorcycle or bicycle can be very dangerous. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2013, approximately 25% of all fatalities stemming from vehicle accidents in the State of Florida involved people riding on a motorcycle or bicycle.
There are countless hazards on Florida roadways that pose unique and serious dangers to motorcycle and bicycle drivers and passengers. The hazards often include, or are exacerbated by, negligent or distracted car and truck drivers who fail to identify or use necessary caution when encountering motorcyclists and bicyclists. Florida’s roadways can also be unnecessarily hazardous when they are improperly designed, inadequately maintained, inadequately or improperly marked, or have other dangerous conditions. Some of these hazards can be mere nuisances to cars and trucks, but can be devastating to motorcycles and bicycles. Unfortunately, even the motorcycles and bicycles being ridden can be unacceptably dangerous because of improper design or maintenance.
The unique vulnerability of people on motorcycles and bicycles places them at substantial risk of suffering catastrophic injuries or death.
