As reported recently in the Suwannee Democrat, a 49-year-old Madison woman died in the hospital following injuries suffered during a motorcycle accident in Branford, Florida, on May 15th, 2011. The woman’s companion and motorcycle driver, a 53-year-old man from Lee, was released from the same hospital, Shands Gainesville several days earlier.
According to law enforcement reports, the couple’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling southbound on County Road 49 when it was struck at the intersection of Highway 27 by an Oldsmobile driven by a 61-year-old Punta Gorda woman. Sadly, it was reported that neither of the two injured Florida motorcyclists was wearing a helmet; therefore, both suffered head injuries.
In the Florida Department of Transportation’s motorcycle accident statistics for 2009, the latest year for reliable numbers, there were 8,313 reported motorcycle wrecks with at least 7,435 motorcyclists injured. In other words, nearly 90% of motorcycle accidents in Florida injure at least one biker—and sometimes two or more, as highlighted by this recent Branford motorcycle accident. Sadly, in many cases, a motorcycle crash results in severe head injuries or neck injuries, including life-threatening traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Helmets: A Nuisance… Or Common-Sense Safety?
Although some Florida motorcyclists refuse to wear helmets, citing personal freedom of choice, the consensus among motorcyclists, law enforcement authorities, and healthcare professionals seems clear—helmets reduce the number and severity of injuries from motorcycle crashes, especially head, neck, and spinal cord injuries.
Florida Motorcycle Attorneys and Helmet Safety
The costs of a lifetime of medical care and rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury can be staggering for families who are already strained by the burden of caring for injured bikers. Even in those few states where helmets are not yet mandatory, common sense should prevail, and Florida motorcycle accident lawyers encourage all motorcyclists to wear helmets.
If you or someone you know has been hurt in a motorcycle accident in the State of Florida, you should contact a Florida motorcycle accident attorney for guidance. An experienced Florida motorcycle lawyer can review the circumstances of the motorcycle wreck, protect your rights, and fight to win the financial compensation and other long-term help you may need. Call the Florida motorcycle accident attorneys today at 1-800-4-BIKERS to schedule your free consultation.
