Stuart, FL (PRWEB) May 11, 2012
Florida motorcycle accident lawyer Philip DeBerard, III, today called on motorists throughout South Florida and the Treasure Coast to focus on properly sharing the road with motorcycles.
?With May being Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Florida and across the U.S., it?s a good time to remind people that motorcycle riders have the same rights and privileges as those who drive other vehicles on our roads,? said DeBerard, founder of the Stuart personal injury firm, Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney.
The firm has a long history of representing Florida motorcycle accident victims and their families in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
?Too often,? DeBerard said, ?motorcyclists suffer accidents, injuries and deaths because other vehicle drivers failed to give them that respect.?
DeBerard pointed to the most recent statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. According to the agency, a total of 15,797 Florida motorcycle crashes occurred during the 2009 to 2010 period. Those crashes resulted in 15,613 injuries and 785 deaths to the motorcyclists and their passengers.
?Because motorcycle riders lack the same protection found in a car, these accidents can be extremely serious,? DeBerard said. ?What?s tragic is that, in many instances, these accidents could have been avoided if the other vehicle involved in the wreck had been paying proper attention.?
The South Florida personal injury lawyer urged car, truck and bus drivers to focus on:
Leaving extra room between their vehicle and the motorcycle when following behind it or when making a pass on a two-lane road.
Checking their mirror or blind spots to keep a proper lookout when they know a motorcycle is nearby.
Never turning in front of a motorcycle or moving into the motorcycle?s lane without first signaling and making sure there is proper distance in front of the motorcycle.
Under Florida law, a motorcyclist can ride without a helmet as long as they are at least age 21 and have a minimum of $ 10,000 in medical insurance coverage. However, for the sake of safety, DeBerard said it is important for drivers and passengers alike to wear a helmet at all times when on a motorcycle.
He also said it is important to contact an accident attorney right away if a motorcyclist is involved in a crash that was caused by another driver. Depending on the situation, the motorcyclist and passenger may be able to recover money for the motorcycle damage that covers hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other losses from the accident, he said.
?Insurance companies often try to blame the motorcyclist for the accident or say the motorcyclist could have taken steps to minimize their injuries,? DeBerard said. ?A lawyer who knows how insurance companies operate can stand by one?s side and make sure their right to compensation is protected.?
About Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney
The law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, has provided professional and compassionate legal assistance to personal injury and accident victims in South Florida on the Treasure Coast since 1975. The firm?s practice areas include car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, product liability, medical malpractice, dog bite injuries, slip and fall injuries, swimming pool accidents and wrongful death claims. The firm?s office is located at 215 Southwest Federal Hwy., Suite 300, Stuart, FL, 34994, and it represents clients throughout the South Florida communities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and Vero Beach and across the state of Florida. For more information, call (800) 299-8878 or use the firm?s online contact form.
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