On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | October 9, 2023 | Motorcycle Accidents
From January to August 12, 2023, 268 motorcycle crashes have occurred in Palm Beach County, and these resulted in 10 fatalities and 225 injuries. Because motorcyclists don’t have the same protection as drivers inside other motor vehicles, such as trucks, passenger cars, and vans, even a seemingly minor crash can lead to life-changing injuries or death.
What’s worse is that many motorcycle crashes occur due to the negligence or recklessness of drivers, mainly by failing to consider the presence of vulnerable motorcyclists around them.
How Motorcycle Accidents in West Palm Beach Happen
Here are the different types of motorcycle accidents in West Palm Beach and how they occur:
Single Vehicle Crashes
These are crashes that involve only one vehicle, which is the rider’s motorcycle. Unfortunately, these crashes are typically blamed on the motorcyclist when a broad range of factors could have caused or contributed to them. These factors normally include hazards or debris on the roadway, defective or malfunctioning motorcycles or parts, inclement weather conditions, and defective or improperly maintained roadways, among many others.
Lane Change Crashes
These motorcycle crashes happen when a driver makes a lane change and fails to see a motorcyclist. In most cases, the reason for this is that some drivers don’t notice motorcycles in time to avoid a crash because of their small size. However, all drivers have a legal duty to always be careful and mindful of their surroundings, so the size of a motorcycle is not an excuse for drivers not to see it.
Red Light Crashes
These accidents usually happen when a motorcyclist is stopped at a red light, and a driver following them rear-ends them because they miscalculated the stopping distance. Tragically, what would seem like a minor fender-bender can be potentially fatal for the motorcyclist if they are thrown from their motorcycle or pushed into oncoming traffic due to the impact of the crash.
Failure to Yield Crashes
These motorcycle accidents typically occur when drivers don’t notice motorcyclists, but they can likewise happen when negligent drivers intentionally fail to yield the right of way to motorcyclists. These crashes can cause drivers to run motorcyclists off the roadway, sideswipe motorcyclists, or crash into motorcyclists head-on. Serious crashes like these can cause serious to potentially fatal injuries to motorcyclists.
Motorcycle Crashes Due to Faulty Equipment
Faulty or defective equipment can cause devastating motorcycle crashes. Defective brakes, throttles, shock absorbers, or tires can render a motorcyclist unable to safely stop, get them thrown off their bikes, make them drive at uncontrollable or irregular speeds, bounce uncontrollably, or lose control of the motorcycle, causing a single vehicle or multi-vehicle crash.
Speak to a Skilled West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Now
If you have suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in West Palm Beach, reach out to Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa right away to discuss your legal options for recovering financial compensation for your injuries and related losses. Set up your free case evaluation with our West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyer by calling our office at 561-478-2500 or filling out our online form.
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
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