A 2016 study by SmartAsset concluded that Florida has the worst drivers in the country. This comes as no surprise to anyone who has ever been cut off by an elderly driver who has had their left blinker on since 1987, or has dealt with throngs of unaware snowbirds on I-4, or has screamed at the sky due to a traffic jam that moves slightly slower than a glacier.
If you are hurt in an accident, call one of the top personal injury lawyers and keep reading.
Car Accidents in Florida
If there is one thing that you need to know about car accidents, it is that they are far more common than motorcycle accidents. In Florida, there were
395,785 collisions in 2016. A little math shows that there was an average of 1,081 crashes per day.
When we break the data down a little bit further, there were 2,935 fatal crashes in our state alone. This means that only 0.7% of crashes resulted in a fatality. You should also keep in mind that this number includes people who were driving drunk or driving while using another illicit substance.
After a crash, there is a chance that you have been injured. If this is the case, you may have a claim against the negligent person. Talking to a personal injury lawyer can be helpful because they can explain the process to you far better.
Cars provide some natural defenses against injuries and harm. If you think about it, you are in a metal box. There is a built-in layer of protection between you and the other vehicles on the road. Cars are larger and far easier to notice. Also, cars have seatbelts and airbags to reduce the likelihood of severe injuries.
Motorcycle Accidents
On the surface, it may seem that motorcycle accidents are less common. This is only true when you look at the absolute number, as opposed to the rate. In 2016 alone, 11.6 people out of every 100,000 were involved in fatal crashes. 72.3 out of 100,000 motorcycles end up in fatal crashes. Five times as many motorcycles see their riders crash and perish.
While Florida has nearly 600,000 motorcycles registered with the DMV, the ratio of person to bike is around 33 to 1 in 2014. This puts us more in line with Rhode Island and Oregon than it does with the motorcycle-loving Midwest.
For you, this means that many people are not necessarily looking for motorcyclists. When you add that to the reputation of Floridians’ poor driving skills, that is a dangerous cocktail.
The state of Florida treats motorcycle accidents very similarly to how they treat car accidents; however, there is a big difference in how the insurance laws apply to motorcyclists. Therefore, it is so important you obtain legal counsel skilled in handling motorcycle collisions specifically.
If you have any questions about what you should do after a car or motorcycle accident, reach out to a top personal injury lawyer. Marsalisi Law offers free consultations.
Our team has the experience you need. Marsalisi Law is Where Law Gets Personal. Call us today!
