May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This coincides with the beginning of what is traditionally the riding season in the U.S. However, the amazing weather we enjoy year-round allows residents and visitors of Florida to ride at any time. Nonetheless, taking time this month to reassess your commitment to motorcycle safety can help to prevent serious or fatal injury if you happen to be involved in an accident.
What to Wear
Florida is hot, but that’s no reason to skimp on your motorcycle safety gear. This includes:
- Leathers
- Gloves
- Boots
- Goggles
- A helmet
If you are over the age of 21 and carry at least $10,000 in medical payment insurance, you will not be required to wear a helmet in this state of Florida. But do bear in mind: failure to wear a helmet increases the risk of serious injury by 3x. Non-helmeted motorcyclists are also over 40% more likely to die in these accidents.
Eye protection, such as goggles, will need to be worn even if you have a windshield. Mirrors, working signals, and a daytime running headlamp are required for motorcycle use in Florida as well.
How to Drive
Motorcyclists must drive defensively. This means avoiding all forms of distraction, remaining sober, and giving surrounding vehicles room to maneuver. It also means obeying traffic signs and signals, and following the flow of traffic.
The leading cause of motorcycle accidents is the drivers of other vehicles. Knowing this, it becomes all the more important that motorcyclists drive with extra caution to avoid injury.
When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, regardless of the safety equipment you were using, you may be entitled to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and personal pain and suffering. The best way to learn if you have cause to file suit is through a free and confidential consultation at one of our offices. During this visit, we can listen to your story, provide straightforward information about your options, and help you choose the best way to move your case forward.
Please call Kelleher Law at 833-546-3675 to schedule your complimentary case review today. We maintain offices in Naples, Ft. Myers, and Atlanta. We serve victims of motorcycle accidents in all nearby areas of Florida and Georgia.
