Motorcyclists have the same responsibilities as every other motorist on the road. They are required to comply with traffic signs, stay within the speed limit and stay focused on the road. Riders also have the same rights to the road as other motorists so it is crucial for every driver to be aware of motorcycles and avoid any behaviors that could put a rider in danger. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen.
Too often, motorcyclists get seriously hurt or killed in crashes caused by a driver who was reckless, distracted or negligent. The sad reality is that these crashes are often preventable; motorcycle crashes can often be avoided if drivers are alert and keep an eye out for riders.
There have been extensive efforts made to increase visibility of motorcycles in an attempt to help drivers see them.
For example, Florida state laws require motorcyclists to always have their headlight on and they prohibit lane-splitting to keep riders from overtaking cars in the same lane or riding between lanes. Further, even though there are laws limiting the maximum sound levels of bikes, they can still be quite loud which can help to alert drivers that they are approaching.
Educational campaigns have also been launched in the hopes of increasing visibility of bikers. For instance, you may have seen bumper stickers that read, “Start seeing motorcycles.” These kinds of messages urge drivers to pay attention to every vehicle on the road, not just other cars.
There are also many bikers who wear certain types of clothing or drive on a certain part of the road so that they can be more easily seen in the rear- or side-view mirrors of a car.
Despite all these efforts, unfortunately, drivers all across Florida still pull onto a road or change lanes without seeing motorcycles.
Even though drivers don’t necessarily intend to crash into a motorcycle, they can still be held accountable if they do. Filing a lawsuit can be an effective way to collect compensation and spread the message that motorists can be held responsible for failing to share the road safely with motorcyclists.