In a lot of ways, motorcycles are great vehicles. They’re smaller & more maneuverable than cars, often get way better gas mileage, and they’re just plain fun to ride in the warm, sunny Florida weather.
Compare this to the overall statistic of 374,342 total traffic crashes, 2,939 total crash fatalities, and 243,316 total injuries. This gives the average traffic accident a 64.9% injury rate and a 0.07% fatality rate.
In short, if you get into an accident on a motorcycle, you’re 36% more likely to get severely injured, and over eighty times more likely to die, than you would be if you were in a car.
With these alarming statistics in mind, just how common are motorcycle crashes in Pasco county?
According to FLHSMV data, there were 7,464 total crashes, 70 crash fatalities and 6,777 crash injuries in Pasco county in 2015.
Meanwhile, there were 301 motorcycle crashes, 22 motorcyclist fatalities, and 275 motorcyclist injuries in Pasco during that year. That’s almost one motorcycle crash in the county per day.
So, motorcycle crashes in Pasco are commonplace, but not as common as car or truck crashes, considering that motorcycle crashes only account for around 4% of the total crashes in the county. However, motorcycle crashes still counted for nearly a third of all traffic crash fatalities in the county.
Whether you’re riding a sport bike, cruiser, or roadster, being on a motorcycle can put you at a much greater risk of death during a traffic crash than being in a car.
The obvious explanation for this is the difference in the safety equipment available in cars and trucks compared to a motorcycle. Car/truck drivers have vehicles with crumple zones to reduce impact shock, seat belts, roll cages, air bags, cushions, multiple-point body support, and countless other technologies designed to protect drivers and passengers from harm.
A motorcyclist has whatever clothing/padding they’re wearing, and little else.
In the event of a crash, a motorcyclist can easily be thrown from their vehicle to hit the hard road, other vehicles, signage, or even trees by the road. Without protection, these impacts can leave severe lasting injuries, or even be fatal.
Because of the increased injury and fatality risk when riding motorcycles, we here at Lowman Law urge everyone who reads this blog to ride safely if they choose to operate a motorcycle—and to keep an eye out for motorcycles on the road when they drive.
Some basic safety tips for riding a motorcycle include:
Although motorcycle accidents only account for a small percentage of all the traffic accidents in Pasco county, they’re still a near-daily occurrence with severe consequences.
If you or a loved one is involved in a motorcycle accident, be sure to seek expert medical care first, and then seek legal advice from an experienced motorcycle accident attorney.