Garvin Injury Law
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Co-Counsel
    • Videos
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Car Accidents
    • Truck Accidents
    • Uber Accident
    • Wrongful Death
    • View All +
  • Reviews
    • Testimonials
    • Leave a Review
  • Results
  • Serving
    • All of Florida
    • Cape Coral
    • Fort Myers
    • Key West
    • Naples
    • Sarasota
    • View All+
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Careers
    • Local & Online Resources
  • Contact
Call for a Free Consultation
Phone (800) 977-7017

50+ Years of ExperienceClient Centered FirmNo Win No Fee

Personal Injury Personal Attention Since 1973

Schedule Free Consultation

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Causes of Florida Motorcycle Accidents

Florida is a motorcycling mecca, with its year-round sun, endless scenic stretches, and popular annual rallies like Daytona Bike Week and Biketoberfest. More than 550,000 motorcycles are registered here, and tourism draws hundreds of thousands more each year.

Everyone deserves a safe ride, but unfortunately, that is not always what happens. Florida has one of the highest numbers of motorcycle accidents in the country, and the rate has risen sharply in recent years.

There are many causes of Florida motorcycle accidents. It is important to understand what those are, the type of injuries associated with each, and how causation can factor into an injured motorcyclist’s ability to be compensated.

Our South Florida motorcycle accident lawyers have been advocating for the rights of our injury law clients for nearly four decades.

Call (239) 277-0005 to schedule a free consultation today.

Why Motorcyclists are so Vulnerable

Approximately 5,100 motorcyclists are killed in the U.S. annually. Many thousands more suffer serious and permanent injuries. Though motorcycles represent about 3 percent of registered vehicles, the Insurance Information Institute reports motorcyclists are 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die per vehicle mile traveled.

A big part of the problem is motorcycles, by design, are less crashworthy than other types of vehicles. They are also more challenging for other motorists to see and less stable than a four-wheeled vehicle. Operators face heightened risks in poor road conditions or inclement weather. For this reason, anyone operating a motorcycle needs a special license.

But even the most skilled motorcyclist using the greatest caution and the best-maintained bike can be seriously injured in an encounter with a careless driver.

Motorcycle Crash Catalysts

Every accident is unique, but there are some common themes when it comes to motorcycle crashes. An in-depth analysis by the National Transportation Safety Board a few years ago examined the causes of motorcycle accidents. They discovered:

  • Motorcycle crashes happen most often on the weekend. More than half occurred on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. This makes sense because that is when people are most likely to be riding.

  • Most motorcycle crashes occur in the daytime. About 66 percent of motorcycle accidents happened in daylight, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Again, this aligns when riders are most likely to be on the road.

  • Most motorcycle crashes happen at an intersection. More than 70 percent of accidents occurred at a location with intersecting traffic.

Causes of Florida Motorcycle Accident

But these things, while common factors are not causes. For that, we can thank human error. That is what is to blame in 94 percent of all motorcycle accidents. Other issues like mechanical defects, roadway design issues, traffic control failures, maintenance problems, and adverse weather accounted for most of the rest.

As for human error, the list of poor driving habits could go on for days, but among the most commonly-cited in Florida motorcycle accidents:

  • Another vehicle turning left in front of a motorcycle. This accounts for a full 30 percent of motorcycle crashes. Right-of-way errors while making a left turn can cause serious injury and death to motorcyclists. Head injuries and neck injuries are a serious concern in these cases, particularly if the rider is not helmeted. Where the other driver was fully or even partially at-fault, a claim for damages should be filed to recover for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

  • Motorcycle falling on the roadway to avoid collision with another vehicle. “Laying down” a motorcycle does not sound so bad, but the reality is not often so tidy. This was the cited cause in about 28 percent of accidents. Operators and riders in these cases often suffer “road rash” burns that can lead to scarring, as well as the leg, foot, and thorax injuries. Even if you do not make contact with the other vehicle or the other driver is never identified, you can still file a claim for damages through your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

  • Sideswipes. This accounts for 18 percent of motorcycle accidents. Here again, leg and foot injuries, as well as burns, are common. If you are struck by another driver who made an unsafe lane change, you have grounds to file a claim for damages.

Also, not helping:

  • Speeding. This is the No. 1 cause of all vehicle crashes. The higher the speed, the greater the consequences of the impact.

  • Sudden stops. Rear-end collisions can result in serious injury or death to motorcyclists. In Florida, there is a rebuttable presumption that the driver in the rear was at-fault for following too closely.

  • Driving under the influence. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports nearly one-third of all collisions. The rate of driver impairment in fatal crashes is higher for motorcycle operators than passenger vehicle drivers (27 percent vs. 21 percent). Passengers of impaired motorcyclists may be able to file a claim for damages. If the impaired driver was under 21, those injured might claim dram shop liability per F.S. 768.125 against any bar or establishment that served them.

It is important to understand that even if you were partially at-fault in the motorcycle accident that caused your injuries, you might still have grounds to collect damages. Florida follows a system of pure comparative fault, which means that even if you share the blame for what happened, it will not prohibit you from collecting altogether. It might, however, proportionately limit the amount of compensation you can receive. As your attorneys, our team would work to mitigate any evidence of comparative fault and advocate for you to receive full and fair compensation.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, our Fort Myers injury lawyers are available for a free consultation to help you examine your legal options.

Contact A Fort Myers Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Contact Garvin Injury Law motorcycle accident attorneys in Fort Myers today at (239) 277-0005 or online for a free case review.

Free Case
Evaluation

Required Fields *
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Practice Areas

  • Personal Injury Overview
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Boating Accidents
  • Brain Injury
  • Burn Injury
  • Bus Accidents
  • Car Accidents
  • Class Action Lawsuits
  • Construction Accidents
    • Construction Accidents Overview
    • Construction Incident Claims
  • Distracted Driving
  • Drowning
  • Drunk Driving Accidents
  • Elder Abuse
  • Elder Driving Accidents
  • Hospital Bill and Lien Resolution
  • Hotel and Resort Injury
  • Insurance
    • Bad Faith Insurance
    • Business Interruption Insurance Claims
    • No-Fault Auto Insurance
    • UM / UIM Accident Claims
  • Jet Ski Accidents
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Neck & Back Injury
  • Nursing Home
    • Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse
    • Nursing Home Bedsores
    • Nursing Home Falls
  • Assisted Living Facility Abuse
  • Parents Responsibility for Teen Drivers
  • Pedestrian Accidents
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Rear End Collisions
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries
  • Rideshare Accidents
    • Lyft Accidents
    • Uber Accidents
  • Slip and Falls
  • Storefront Crash Cases
  • Tourist Injuries
  • Truck Accidents
  • Weather-Related Crashes
  • Wrongful Death
“Makes you believe he has no other case, but yours.”

Mr. Garvin keeps you informed of every step in your case, and is always available to you, no matter the time of day or night. Very energetic, always on his feet, makes you believe he has no other case, but yours.

Amanda

Free Case Evaluation

Contact Us Today!

Required Fields *
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Garvin Injury Law
Social
Fort Myers
4280 S Cleveland Ave
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Map

Phone (239) 277-0005 Fax (239) 277-0004 Toll Free (800) 977-7017

Naples
2671 Airport Pulling Rd S #302
Naples, FL 34112

Map

Phone (239) 267-5657 Fax (239) 277-0004

Key West
317 Whitehead St
Key West, FL 33040

Map

Phone (305) 791-6555

Sarasota
6151 Lake Osprey Dr #300
Sarasota, FL 34240

Map

Phone (941) 297-0005

Colorado Office
3089 Aspen Leaf Way
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487

Map

Phone (800) 977-7017

Copyright © 2025, Garvin Injury Law

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer