Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Limited Visibility

Motorcyclists are common on Florida roads, and unfortunately, Florida also is a state with a higher-than-average number of motorcycle accidents, according to statistics for the state. One factor that can play a role in causing these crashes is when another motorist has limited visibility, also known as poor rider conspicuity, and fails to see a motorcyclist. The Miami motorcycle accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon assist victims who have been injured in motorcycle accidents caused by limited visibility.

We can help you investigate the circumstances surrounding an accident in order to establish who was at fault and ensure that victims receive the compensation that they need and to which they are entitled for their injuries. Our attorneys represent accident victims and their families throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, as well as elsewhere in South Florida, in claims arising from a significant motorcycle crash. A motorcycle accident caused by limited visibility can lead to a catastrophic, life-altering injury or even a fatality. Making sure that the people responsible for your harm are held accountable is the first priority at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, and we fight tirelessly on behalf of our clients to pursue justice.

A “limited visibility accident” is any kind of motorcycle collision in which another driver injures a motorcyclist due to that driver’s failure to recognize, and yield the right of way, to the motorcyclist. These accidents occur on streets and highways in dense traffic conditions. Various factors can cause a motorist to fail to recognize a motorcycle traveling on the same road. Common contributors to limited visibility accidents include:

• Driver distraction
• Fatigue
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Failing to check blind spots
• Driving carelessly during poor weather conditions

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, limited visibility contributed to almost 40 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents in the United States in 2011. Motorcyclists can take certain precautions to increase their visibility on the road, such as wearing bright-colored clothing and light-reflective helmets or gear, placing reflectors on their motorcycles, and avoiding traveling in another vehicle’s blind spots. Despite these measures, other motorists may still fail to take proper care on the roads, and those motorists should be held liable for the injuries that they cause to bikers.

If a driver causes an accident due to his or her failure to recognize a motorcyclist, an injured victim can pursue compensation for medical expenses, time missed from work, and other associated costs by filing a personal injury claim. Personal injury cases are based on negligence, which exists when a defendant breaches his or her duty to act reasonably in a given circumstance, causing injuries and resulting in damages. For example, a driver who strikes a motorcyclist after failing to check the vehicle’s blind spots, or because he or she is texting, may be found to have acted unreasonably and therefore would be negligent. When a motorcyclist contributes to causing his or her own injuries, such as by failing to wear a helmet, legal remedies often are still available. Under Florida’s pure comparative fault scheme of liability, victims are awarded compensation in proportion to each party’s assessed degree of liability. Therefore, an injured motorcyclist who is determined to be 35 percent at fault, for example, can recover 65 percent of the total damages from another negligent party.

Injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident are often more catastrophic than those in other types of motor vehicle accidents, with victims facing longer recovery times and more extensive rehabilitative efforts, as well as the costs that accompany healing. The Miami attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon have vast experience in pursuing these cases on behalf of their clients, and they are dedicated to making sure that the proper parties are held accountable. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident caused by limited visibility, call our office today at 877.499.4878 or contact us online to set up a free consultation about your potential claims. We represent people in Miami, West Palm Beach, and the surrounding areas.