A single week in October saw a pair of Manatee County motorcyclists seriously injured in collisions with vehicles making turns. The information from the Florida Highway Patrol indicates it has been especially dangerous time lately for motorcyclists in the area.
According to reports, one motorcyclist was hit by a driver who was making a U-turn on Cortez Road. Another crash occurred just two days later, when a driver in a Chevy turned left in front of a motorcyclist traveling on State Road 70. That second driver fled the scene and has yet not been located.
This comes after a September incident in which a driver turned left onto 53rd Avenue East right in front of a motorcycle that had the right of way, resulting in a collision that caused the death of the 36-year-old motorcyclist.
In all, Florida had the most motorcycle deaths of any state in 2016, and was expected to have the most once the numbers for 2017 were released.
Drivers must be aware of their surroundings
Each of these accidents is an example of what is an all-too-common scenario involving motorcycles—failure to yield accidents. Drivers simply aren’t paying enough attention to their surroundings when making left turns or U-turns. Because motorcycles have a slimmer, smaller profile than vehicles, they become easier to miss if not thoroughly scanning the area for other vehicles or obstructions.
Drivers who have partially obstructed views should wait to turn until they are able to see around the obstruction, and THEN scan the area for hazards before proceeding with caution. They should also allow motorcyclists to use the full width of the lane, and should be aware that the smaller size of a motorcycle can make it easy to misjudge its distance and speed.
For more information about what you can do to assert your rights if you’ve been injured by a reckless driver in a motorcycle accident, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.