Multiple Motorcycles Involved in Florida Crash

A Florida motorcycle crash involving three motorcycles and a total of six people sent two to the hospital last weekend. The accident happened when two of the motorcycles crashed on an on ramp, causing their passengers to be thrown from the vehicles. The one passenger was a 36 year old male, the other a 40 year old woman. The woman was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for what police have listed as ‘moderate injuries’.

Even with their passengers lying in the road and injured, the two motorcycle drivers fled the scene. Police say the identity of one is known, and charges are pending the results of a lab test. The identity of the second driver is unknown and he remains at large. According to police, drugs are suspected as being involved.

Meanwhile, a third motorcycle traveling on the on ramp crashed at the same site. However, police are uncertain as to whether or not this accident was caused by the previous collision. It is also not clear whether or not the third motorcycle was traveling with the first two. The third crash left an 18 year old passenger injured. Again, the driver of the motorcycle fled the scene, leaving the injured passenger in the road.

Whether you are a passenger or driver, motorcycle crashes are always dangerous – especially when it involves a motorcycle and a car or truck. Because motorcycles lack the structure of a car, drivers and passengers are often thrown from their bikes – sometimes at very great distances. Thus, motorcycle accidents often involve serious injuries such as broken bones, brain trauma and spinal cord injuries. Unfortunately, death is also a common outcome of a motorcycle accident.

If you or a loved one are injured in a motorcycle accident, you could have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. However, it is important to know that this right to be compensated could be negated or significantly reduced if the injured motorcycle driver or passenger was not wearing a helmet. This is because Florida has a contributory negligence law, which reduces the amount of money one receives for their injury by the percentage of that one’s own actions contributed to the injuries. Thus, if one is seeking damages for a head trauma, but they were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, the jury could award one $100,000 in damages, but, finding that not wearing a helmet was 75% of the reason one was injured, reduce this award to $25,000.00.

To learn more about Florida’s contributory negligence law, contact the attorneys at the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.