Riding motorcycles is a favorite past time of millions of Americans especially in Alabama and the Sunshine State of Florida where the weather is warm and the roads are long. Riding a motorcycle is also dangerous. It’s not a matter of if but when and that ride can end in tragedy if you aren’t using caution or riding safely. We offer this information because we don’t want to see you hurt or worse. Business is good and I’d rather be out-of-business than see anyone hurt. 

 

Do I have to take a safety course to drive a motorcycle in Alabama or Florida?

Safety rider courses are a great idea before you hit the open roads. These courses will teach you all of the rules of the road as well as how to stay safe and drive defensively. If you are going to ride a motorcycle in Florida, you have to take and pass (or renew) the Basic Rider Course (BRC) or have a motorcycle endorsement on your license from your state if you are visiting. Unless … you are from Alabama! Then you have to also have to take and pass Motorcycle Safety Foundation approved Basic Rider Course and have your completion card. So, while Alabama motorcyclists can just take the State written and skill tests, a Basic Rider Course is great idea especially if you are ever planning on riding in Florida.

 

Is it that bad? What are the numbers for motorcycle crashes and deaths in Alabama and Florida?

Unfortunately, odds are good, according the National Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that you will be involved in a crash. In 2023, motorcyclists accounted for 82,564 crash injuries and 6,335 deaths. That’s 15.5% of all traffic related fatalities while only being 3% of the vehicles on the road. That makes you 28x more likely to die in a motorcycle crash than in a car crash! There were 94 fatal motorcycle crashes in Alabama while Florida saw a nation leading 668 rider deaths!

In the dumb ways to die categories: 47% of Alabamians killed in motorcycle crashes were legally drunk versus 38% in Florida. Of those alcohol related deaths, 18% and 15% respectively were hammered drunk with BAC’s over .15. C’mon, do better! Don’t drink and drive ever but especially when you are on something that requires balance and offers zero protection in a crash.

41% of those who died in Florida were not wearing a helmet while that number drops to 13% in Alabama because Alabama requires helmet use and Florida does not. That freedom can end up with a coffin or dysfunctional brain. Listen to Gary Busey and protect your dome!

 

 

If you are hurt or a loved one is killed in a motorcycle crash anywhere in Alabama from Huntsville through Birmingham, Montgomery, Dothan and Mobile or in Florida especially along the Florida Panhandle from Pensacola to Destin, 30A, Panama City, and Port St. Joe calling a motorcycle crash lawyer for help immediately is absolutely critical. Evidence preservation like photographs of the scene, skid marks, and even minor damage to the asphalt, as well as holding and inspecting the vehicles involved is key in these cases. Experts like crash reconstructionists need to get on the scene quickly. Keep reading to learn what you need to do to not end up being a statistic while riding your motorcycle on roadways throughout the states of Florida and Alabama.

 

Does the Right Motorcycle Safety Gear Matter?

Trust me, you don’t want to have a foot ground off by the asphalt because your footwear consisted of flip flops or a lobotomy because it’s cool to ride with a backwards hat instead of a helmet. Some of these photographs still haunt me. I’ve seen a lot of injuries from severe road rash that required skin grafts, the loss of a foot, severe facial injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and death that could have been prevented by wearing protective gear like body armor, leather clothes, boots, and protective eyewear, and a helmet. This type of gear can make riding a motorcycle much more comfortable and help to protect you from injuries and death if you are involved in a motorcycle crash.

 

How can I avoid being in a motorcycle crash in Alabama and Florida?

The very best thing you can do to protect yourself is to avoid accidents altogether. To help you do this, you need to learn about a couple of the most common types of motorcycle crashes that occur on the road today and what you can do to not be in them in the first place.

 

The top three situations for motorcycle crashes and injuries:

1. A Vehicle Makes a Left Turn in Front of You

This is, by far, the most common type of motorcycle accident that occurs. It can happen on an open roadway, in an intersection, or maybe cutting across a divided highway. There are several reasons this may occur. A vehicle may not see you or they can’t judge your speed accurately. They may also be driving recklessly or distracted. We already know that the brain processes and prioritizes images of motorcycles differently than cars and trucks. If they are distracted at all their brain might not ever “see” you until it’s too late or not at all. I’d say that most defendants in motorcycle crash cases that I have litigated testified that they never saw the motorcyclist they hit or that the biker “suddenly appeared out of nowhere”.

 

If you are driving a motorcycle, you need to be prepared for these types of issues. Drivers may show signs that tip off or hint at the action of turning in front of you. One thing you can watch for is the direction of the vehicle’s wheels and which way the driver is looking. The direction is the first indication of what the vehicle may do next. Remember, people turn in front of cars and trucks all the time and you don’t have all the safety devices and protections they do!

2. You Turned too Quickly into a Curve or Turn

If you are going too fast into a curve or turn and you realize that you may not make it, what can you do? The first step is to make sure you aren’t driving too fast for whatever the conditions are. Pay attention to the road, signage, and striping that lets you know what is coming ahead. If you are going to be on unfamiliar roads, use technology like Google Maps to review what you will be seeing.

If you are in this situation, try to ride it out. Slow down but don’t slam on your brakes or try to do anything that is going to result in you losing traction. Lean into the corner you are taking and try to remain in control of your bike. Hitting an oncoming vehicle head-on or being run over will almost certainly end in severe injury or death. If you lay the bike down, try your best to get your body off the road quickly.

3. A Vehicle Changes Lanes Suddenly into You

It is easy for your motorcycle to get into the car’s blind spot just by the nature of driving in traffic and the small size of a rider and bike. If they can’t see you, they likely don’t know you are there and can change lanes right into your lap. If you are on a motorcycle, you need to understand this and remain aware of where the blind spots are. Make sure you take steps to avoid riding into these spots.

Here’s a tip – if you can see the vehicle driver’s eyes in their mirror, then they can see you.

 

Here’s another tip – don’t whip around in traffic or lane split. Both result in you being in other’s blind spots. Lane splitting is illegal in Alabama under Ala. Code §32-5A-242(c) and in Florida under Florida Statute 316.209(3).

 

Do I Need a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Crash in Alabama or Florida?

Motorcycle crash cases can be extremely difficult to litigate and require a lawyer with experience in these kinds of cases as well as motorcycle specific case structuring and court room strategy. Nearly all motorcycle crash cases are defended by blaming the motorcyclist. That can be overcome through physical evidence preservation using photographs and videos of the crash site, using expert crash reconstructions, immediately seizing the cars involved and downloading Event Data Recorders (black boxes in vehicles) that store crucial data as well as inspecting the damage to them, and securing any eyewitness testimony early before memories fade. Jury selection requires rooting out the biases against motorcycles and their riders. These come mostly from the idea that motorcyclists are super dangerous as is and bikers know the risks but do it any way. They also come from motorcyclists driving recklessly. We’ve all seen it whether it be racing, passing dangerously, whipping through traffic and lane splitting, or doing absurd things like popping wheelies and other stunts. These riders are not only more likely to be in a crash but make it vastly more difficult to recover just compensation for others.

Davidson Law has represented those injured and the families of those killed in motorcycle crashes since 1998 recovering millions for our clients across all of Alabama from Huntsville through Birmingham, Montgomery, Dothan and Mobile and across Florida from Pensacola down 30A through Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Panama City and Port Saint Joe. Contact us whenever you need help.