Florida Personal Injury Blog - Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclist Raymond Leo Horn Dies in Collision with Auto Driver

K.C. Bouchillon — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:27:16 GMT

Raymond Leo Horn III, riding his motorcycle, died when Jaimee Lynn Piechota pulled in front of Horn Saturday night.

The collision occurred on U.S. 98 North at about 9 p.m. He was wearing his helmet.

Our condolences go to Mr. Horn's family. He was just 21 years old.

All too often, it is easy to blame a motorcycle driver for being involved in a motor vehicle accident, but the fact is, Mr. Horn was doing everything right. He had the right of way, he was wearing his helmet, and there is no indication that he was speeding. So what's the difference between an automobile and a motorcycle at night? One headlight.

There's simply no excuse for not seeing a motorcycle -- by day or night -- and at Lilly, O'Toole & Brown, we don't accept excuses or stereotypes. If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorcycle collision, give me a call.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by K.C. Bouchillon

Crimestoppers Needs Your Help In Motorcycle Fatality

Eddie Farah — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:27:00 GMT

64-year-old Bobby Nixon was returning from a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Light the Night Charity Ride on Friday when he was thrown from his motorcycle and killed. It happened in front of the Eagle Hammocks subdivision, about a miles from his home off Yellow Bluff Road.

Nixon had on his helmet. No one knows what made him stop suddenly. The gravel and skid marks remained behind in the place where he died.

Crimestoppers would like any information from witnesses. You may be eligible for a cash reward and may remain anonymous. It’s very unlikely there was not another person or vehicle involved. Someone might have even rolled through a stop sign causing Nixon to slam on his brakes. Automobile drivers are notorious for failing to see motorcycles.

What a tragic ending for Nixon, who everyone said was a safe driver. If anyone would go the speed limit it was him. In fact, he just returned from a 7,000 mile road trip out west. Ironically, less than a mile from home, something happened to cause him to crash.

If you know or saw anything, Crimestoppers would like to hear from you. Please call 1-866-845-TIPS. You will help bring some closure to this family that desperately wants and deserves some answers.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Do You Meet Florida Requirements to Ride a Motorcycle Without a Helmet?

Sandy Grinnell — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:01:12 GMT

If you are riding a motorcylcle in Florida, you might not have to wear a helmet. In 2000, Florida changed its helmet law to exclude riders who are 21 or older and have an insurance policy providing for at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries incurred as a result of a crash while operating or riding on a motorcycle. All riders who are younger than 21 or do not have insurance must still wear a helmet. This goes for when you’re driving the motorcycle as well as when you’re just the passenger.

A violation of the helmet law is punishable as a nonmoving traffic violation. But some argue the consequences could be much more dire. An evaluation of the Florida law change by NHTSA found that motorcyclist deaths per 10,000 motorcycle registrations increased 21 percent during the two years after the law was changed compared with the two years before. Others say that it is a matter of personal choice and you should be able to ride without a helmet as an adult in this still free country. Florida seems to have a compromise. If you’re 21 or older with at least $10,000 of medical insurance coverage you don’t have to wear a helmet. You may be safer if you do, but are you less free if you are forced to? We suspect with the mandatory seatbelt laws in Florida and the controversies over universal healthcare that the arguments will heat up again. Just don't ask me to take sides on this one!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

UNF Student Hit And Killed By Two Hit-And-Run Drivers

Eddie Farah — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:27:05 GMT

He was a 23-year-old graduate student at the University of North Florida.

Yasser Hamdy, from Egypt, was killed in a double hit-and-run early Thursday morning.

Hamdy and two friends were riding their scooters back to the UNF campus from McDonalds about 2 a.m. Traveling eastbound on Beach Boulevard, one driver struck him from behind. Hamdy was then thrown into the middle of the road. That's where a second car struck him and dragged him 60 to 70 feet, Channel 4 reports.

Hamdy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends of Yasser say the MBA student was a wonderful friend and person who would do anything for you and always had a smile. His classmates say they are still in shock.

Neither one of these driver stopped. That is a big mistake that can land a driver in jail for up to 15 years.

Thursday afternoon, the second driver turned himself in to authorities.

The Florida Highway Patrol would like the public's help in finding the first vehicle, reported to be a light-colored Honda, or Honda-type car. It likely sustained front-end or windshield damage when it hit Hamdy.

Crimstoppers can be reached a 1-866-845-TIPS.

Our heart goes out to his family for this senseless loss.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Three Injured In ATV Accident In North Florida

Eddie Farah — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:00:37 GMT

One man is in critical condition in North Florida following an all terrain vehicle (ATV) crash Sunday morning.

St. Johns County deputies are trying to figure out what caused the Arctic Cat recreational vehicle to overturn on a private dirt road on Bartram Air Park property off County Road 13 in northwest St. Johns.

All three men were riding the ATV when it rolled.

Emergency crews responding to the scene do not know who was driving, but all three were injured. 39-year-old Ronald Drawdy of St. Augustine was the most seriously injured. He was taken to Shands Jacksonville and is in critical condition.

One person was treated at the scene and a third, William Byrd, 37, of St. Augustine was taken to Flagler Hospital by emergency crews. At this time it is suspected that alcohol may have been a factor in the crash and none of the men was wearing his seatbelt.

Even the manufacturers warn that ATVs are not toys. You are told to always wear proper protective gear, including a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing. You are told not to carry passengers unless the ATV is specifically engineered to accommodate them. And of course excess speeds, stunt riding, unknown terrain, drugs or alcohol are all discouraged as part of the basic package when you purchase one of these ATVs.

If indeed alcohol was involved and three men were riding one vehicle, this accident could well be due to negligent operation. If you have not been negligent in the operation of an ATV, your accident could be due to a design defect as many models have been recalled over the years.

These ATV are very popular. Since their introduction about 40 years ago, part of the appeal is the amount of danger one undertakes while riding. With no true center of gravity, the three-wheeler was an accident waiting to happen. When the industry converted to four-wheelers, it was thought that accidents would decrease but the safety of the four-wheeler is still a concern within the industry.

In 2006, federal statistics show 8,100 lost their lives in ATV accidents, 349 in Florida alone.

Traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, permanent disability, and death, can result from ATVs that can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and go 75 mph.

We wish a very speedy recovery for the men injured in this ATV mishap. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Officers Escorting Harley Dealer Funeral Collide

Eddie Farah — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:43:00 GMT

The irony is pretty amazing. Six officers on motorcycles, escorting a funeral for the late motorcycle dealer, Bruce Rossmeyer in Ormond Beach, Florida, Tuesday, were involved in a crash.

The officers, from various agencies, were riding along with the funeral party when the lead rider slowed down. The others behind him did not and that caused a chain reaction crash involving six motorcycles at the corners of North Halifax Drive and Granada Boulevard. They represented the police and fire departments of Daytona Beach, as well as the Ormond Beach and Port Orange police departments.

Rossmeyer was one of the largest Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealers in the country. He died last week in Wyoming on his way to a motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. He passed a truck pulling a trailer on the left just as the truck was making a left turn. The driver didn’t see Rossmeyer, 66, and turned into him. Rossmeyer died instantly.

The officers were wearing their helmets and sustained minor injuries. Two of the officers were hurt, though not seriously and they damaged their motorcycle

Rossmeyer was not wearing his helmet when he died.

He more than anyone else, put Daytona Beach on the map as the Harley-Davidson center of the country, along with the image of freedom taking to the road.

Part of that freedom means freedom from helmets. Helmets are not required in Florida unless you do not have enough medical insurance, or you are under the age of 21. Adults can do what they want. In Florida, about half of riders do not wear a helmet.

In 2000, when Florida decided to repeal its mandatory helmet law, there were 933 motorcyclists killed in the state. After that time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcycle deaths tripled.

Besides his charitable work helping children, Rossmeyer became one of the nation’s largest Harley dealers with 15 dealerships in Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Rossmeyer also co-owned three car dealerships and a complex in Daytona Beach that includes shops and restaurants which employed about 500.

His family says his name will remain on his 15 Harley dealership.

Our condolences go out to the Rossmeyer family as well as our wishes for the speedy recovery of the officers involved in the mishap. My heart goes out to his family. He will be greatly missed by many. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Deputy and Girlfriend Hurt In ATV Accident

Eddie Farah — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:42:00 GMT

A Baker County, Florida deputy and his girlfriend were riding their all-terrain vehicle last Sunday night when they went off the road and hit a tree in the Osceola National Forest.

Deputy Matt Sigers was a bit roughed up but was treated at the hospital and released. His girlfriend, 21-year-old Ashley Davis was not as lucky. Both suffered head injuries and she was listed in critical condition. Neither individual was wearing a helmet. Alcohol was not a factor in this crash.

Davis has since had to endure surgery to relieve pressure on the brain from a blood clot. She had her spleen removed but was able to move her toes and fingers, always a concern in a neck and head injury. She is also on a special ventilator reportedly brought in from Orlando.

Our condolences go out to both families with wishes that they pull through this accident.

State law says that helmets on ATVs are optional in Florida and in a rural area like Baker County, many riders fail to wear any safety gear. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that statewide there were at least 30 more crashes involving ATVs in 2007 than the previous year. Figures for 2008 have not been released.

And even though we don’t know whether this Yamaha was a Rhino, if it was it has a reputation as a dangerous and defectively designed. With a high center of gravity and small wheels, the Rhino can rollover easily resulting in serious injury. These are so unstable they can even role on a flat surface. At the very least a helmet should be mandatory if you care about your life and that of your passenger.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Pinellas Park Motorcyclist Killed in Crash on I-75

Joe Saunders — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:59:26 GMT

A 24 year old Pinellas Park motorcyclist was killed early this morning when his motorcycle veered into the path of a tractor trailer. The crash caused the motorcycle to split in two and catch on fire. The cyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the early morning crash.

This is another Bay area motorcycle crash that has resulted in a fatality or serious injury. Serious motorcycle accidents are a recurring headline in the local news here with no end in sight. Recently enacted motorcycle safety programs have not stemmed the tide of death and injury in the accidents. Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the country for motorcyclists. Population, road congestion, and construction contribute to this sorry statistic. Other factors include driver (whether it's car or motorcycle) inattention, cyclists who don't wear a helmet, and speed.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Joe Saunders

National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

Sandy Grinnell — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:14:00 GMT

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is promoting May as National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. With motorcycle deaths on a steady climb since 1997 to a total of 5,154 in 2007, NHTSA's main mission is

aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to "Share the Road" with each other.

National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month has two target audiences: motorcyclists, or course, and the drivers of all other motor vehicles on the road.

For the motorcyclists, NHTSA has and always will be a big supporter of motorcycle riders wearing helmets. It is one of their main safety topics. Now I know that is a hot topic for a lot of motorcycle riders, but they should not overlook the other good things that NHTSA is trying to accomplish with this annual awareness campaign such as: getting motorcyclists to obey all traffic laws, promoting sober driving among their peers, increasing their visibility with bright colored clothing or reflective tape and requiring driver training to all new motorcycle riders.

NHTSA officials are also trying to make the drivers of other vehicles to be more aware of the motorcycles around them, which is one reason it's called "Share the Road." More than 50% of all motorcycle accidents involved another motor vehicle and 40% of those were because a vehicle made a left-hand turn into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. They suggest drivers check their side and rear-view mirrors before changing lanes and to be alert and cautious when traveling the road with motorcycles.

There are several good websites devoted to motorcycle safety and they are:

Motorcycle Safety Foundation

www.forcardrivers.com/a new website for non-motorcycle riders

American Motorcyclists Foundation

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Sandy Grinnell

Bike Week 2009 wrapping up.

Jeffrey Meldon — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:54:47 GMT

Daytona Beach Bike Week 2009 is wrapping up the festivities today and regrettably there have been 7 reported deaths this past 10 days. Fortunately this number is down considerably from 2006 when there were 26 reported deaths. Perhaps the cold dry weather earlier in the week and the sunny weather the past few days helped provide some measure of safety to the motorcyclists riding and partying in Daytona Beach this bike week.

Some of the deaths could possibly have been avoided if the riders were wearing helmets but most would have occurred regardless of this safety measure. Most bikers realize that it is the other car or truck driver who is either drinking, talking on their cell phone or even texting that is responsible for most of the accidents involving motorcycles. During a bike festival where 250,000 bikes converge in one town it is likely that the number of accidents, injuries and death will increase. However credit should be given to the Daytona Beach/Volusia County law enforcement agencies for planning ahead to slow down traffic and make pedestrian crosswalks in congested areas such as the Iron Horse Saloon and Destination Daytona to reduce the risk to bikers and pedestrians alike.

Unfortunately one couple on foot was mowed down on U.S. 1 by a careless driver while they were trying to get across the street to their pickup truck parked near Smiley’s Tap and the Broken Spoke in Ormond Beach. On Saturday a pickup truck reared ended a motorcycle in Daytona Beach ejecting and killing a passenger on the bike. Alcohol may have been a factor in the case and the driver of the pickup tuck is under investigation.

Some bikers insist that loud pipes help save more lives than any other single safety measure motorcyclists can take. While some people object to the noise there is no doubt that loud pipes do indeed let car and truck drivers know they are around. Interestingly the American Motorcycle Association is concerned that the controversy over loud pipes will damage the political movement for greater biker rights. They want to make sure that bikers can have the right to choose whether to wear helmets and don’t want to put stumbling blocks in the way of legislation to create more options for bikers.

As far as I could see, the great majority of the motorcyclists in town for Bike Week 2009 acted responsibly and from all appearances had a fabulous time in the motorcycle capital of the world. Let’s hope that Bike Week 2010 is even safer than this year.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeffrey Meldon