Why Are There So Many Motorcycle Accidents on the Highway?

Riding a motorcycle is always a dangerous proposition. Motorcycle accidents are common because motorcyclists have less protection than drivers in their cars. In 2019, 5,014 motorcyclists were killed in motorcycle crashes, with the percentage of deaths per miles traveled 29% higher than that of car drivers.

There are always ways to mitigate that risk. An experienced driver can take the precautions necessary to avoid fatal crashes. But that risk is increased even for the best of motorcyclists when they have to take their motorcycle out for a ride on the highway.

What Makes a Florida Highway More Dangerous Than a Regular Street?

Highways are inherently more dangerous than regular streets, no matter what vehicle you are riding in. With the increased speed limits, heavier concentration of vehicles, fewer speed deterrents, and the high-risk maneuvers needed to navigate them, highways can pose a significant threat to even the safest drivers.

Florida’s highways are notoriously dangerous. States with higher traffic densities experience more crashes, and that is exactly the situation in Florida. The vast number of Florida highways host tourists and locals alike all heading to their favorite recreational activities, including Disney World, Universal, and various beaches. Throughout the day, you’re rarely going to find a highway not backed up with traffic.

According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida had 398,603 crashes in total during 2021, with 8,571 motorcycle crashes. Backed-up traffic, dangerous exit ramps, and high-speed limits are some of the things that make a Florida highway so calamitous for a driver.

How the Highway Increases the Risk of a Motorcycle Accident

With the dangers posed by a highway to cars and trucks, what specific dangers can a highway pose to a motorcyclist? Motorcyclists must adhere to a different set of laws than car or truck drivers, and the way highways operate exacerbates the risks of these techniques. Motorcycles are a high-risk investment, especially if they need to be taken out on the highway.

Here are some of the ways that a highway can be specifically dangerous for a motorcyclist:

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Heavy Traffic Can Lead to Motorcycle Accidents

As already stated, traffic congestion is a leading cause of accidents on highways. In the case of a motorcycle, this traffic can be even more dangerous.

With the number of larger vehicles littering the highway, a motorcycle can get lost. A motorcycle is tiny compared to a large tanker or delivery truck. In the case of a traffic buildup, a motorcycle can be hard to see in the muck of cars and trucks, which can lead to an accident.

But, as a motorcyclist, you have options available to you to stay safe on the highway.

If you are in the middle of a traffic buildup and want to make the cars around you aware of your presence, flag down the other drivers. A hand waving in the air could be the difference between safety and years of pain and suffering.

Motorcycle Crashes Can Be Caused by Difficult Lane-Shifts

It is entirely unsafe for a motorcycle to operate the same way a car would. You cannot just go with the flow of traffic. Due to the size and lack of protection, a motorcyclist has to weave through traffic at a faster rate, which can lead to a collision with a car.

Due to the speed at which a motorcycle moves, the necessary shifting between lanes can be a dangerous proposition. In some states, lane-splitting, which involves riding on the white divider line between two lanes of traffic, is legal but not in Florida. So, Florida motorcyclists have to adhere to stricter rules of the road, which include lane-shifting as a car would. There may be a case where a motorcyclist has to move from lane to lane at a speed so fast that they miss another car shifting into the same lane.

Motorcyclists Can Lose Control at the Higher Speed Limits and End Up in Accidents

Florida highway speed limits can get up to 70 mph, which is very fast for such a small vehicle as a motorcycle. Motorcycles already have less control than regular vehicles. Going that fast will only make it more difficult for motorcyclists. One car shifting lanes unexpectedly can lead to dire consequences for a motorcyclist.

Another factor that can make maintaining control of a fast-moving motorcycle even more difficult is weather conditions. If the road is slick from a storm, control can be even more impossible. On top of a crash, motorcyclists are in danger of losing control of their vehicle and spinning out. This type of high-speed accident can lead to brain injuries.

There is Less Reaction Time Available on the Highway for a Motorcyclist

Due to the speed at which highway traffic moves, drivers need to make quick-time decisions to keep moving through traffic at a good pace. The higher the degree of control you have, the larger the margin for error. However, with a motorcycle, the window for making these decisions is much narrower. Coupled with the higher speed limits of highways, these decisions can come down to just a couple of seconds. One wrong decision can lead to a motorcycle accident, which can be far more severe than a car accident.

Contact Dolman Law Group For Help With your Motorcycle Accident Case

The most important next step to take after suffering a severe injury after a motorcycle accident is to get in touch with an attorney. Getting the help of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney after your accident can mean the difference between drowning in medical bills, lost wages, and other damages or getting the compensation you need to get your life back on track.

At Dolman Law Group, our motorcycle accident attorneys have extensive experience in getting victims compensation for their damages by working closely with motorcycle accident survivors and using the full breadth of available resources at our disposal.

Dealing with a motorcycle accident claim can be frustrating and can conquer your time when you should be focusing on recovery and picking up the pieces. Dolman LAw Group understands how difficult the aftermath of a motorcycle collision can be and can assist you with contacting the insurance company, sorting your documentation, negotiating a fair settlement and more in an effort to resolve your case and attain fair compensation for your damages.

For your free motorcycle accident consultation, feel free to call us at 833-55-CRASH or leave us a message on our online contact page.

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