Higher Motorcycle Sales in the
Tampa, FL Area Mean More Accidents According to Tampa
Auto Accident Injury Lawyer
In the Tampa, FL area and across the
country, gasoline prices have been anything but stable
over the past few years. Ranging from $2 to $5 per gallon—or
more in some cases—residents in Tampa, Clearwater, St
Petersburg, and throughout the Suncoast are fearful that,
one day, sky-high gas prices will be here to stay. This
leaves most folks wondering, "What will I do if gas stays
at $5 per gallon? What if a hurricane comes and it drives
gas prices even higher in the Southeast? How will I pay
for my commute to work? How will I afford anything else?"
To prepare for the possibility that
gas prices may skyrocket at any moment, many residents
in Tampa and surrounding communities have purchased motorcycles.
Averaging a fuel economy of 40-60 miles per gallon and
sometimes better, motorcycles can cut a person's fuel
costs in half or more. This is a very attractive alternative
to those who worry that gas prices could double or triple
over a short period of time.
According to the latest data, it appears
that motorcycle sales are following the trend. Since 2001,
there has been about a 30 percent increase in motorcycle
sales. In addition, people who used to ride their motorcycles
only for occasional pleasure are now using them for all
transportation needs, from their daily commute to Tampa
to their local trips to Clearwater and St Petersburg to
visit family.
And, as many a Tampa
auto accident injury lawyer can tell you, there has
been a significant increase in motorcycle accidents, injuries,
and deaths since 2001, as well. In 2001, there were 5,766
motorcycle crashes in Florida, resulting in 5,101 injured
bikers and 252 motorcyclists killed. In 2008, those numbers
jumped to 9,618 motorcycle accidents with 9,402 bikers
injured and 532 killed. In addition to the sheer numbers
of motorcycles on Tampa, FL area roads, other reasons
for the increase in motorcycle accident injuries and deaths
include:
- Lack of experience—new bikers often
do not know how to handle the power of their motorcycles,
nor do they know how to maneuver them safely in heavy
Tampa Bay traffic
- Road conditions—heavy road construction
and frequent thundershowers leave roads wet and full
of debris, both mortal dangers to motorcyclists
- Lack of protection—not only are
Florida bikers at risk simply because they are not protected
in the same way that automobile passengers are, but
adult bikers also are not required by law to wear helmets,
greatly increasing their chances of injury and death
- Car driver inexperience—many drivers
in the greater Tampa area are not aware that they need
to take extra-special precautions around motorcycles
Tampa auto accident injury lawyer Dale
Appell, P.A. has represented many injured motorcyclists
in our area, fighting vigorously for their right to compensation
for their injuries. Since Dale's brother was seriously
injured decades ago in a motorcycle accident as a teenager—and
never received a fair settlement to pay for his injuries—Dale
has made it his life's work to help those who are injured
in motorcycle and auto accidents receive the money they
need to pay for medical bills, lost wages, lost ability
to work, and the other losses forced upon injury victims
by negligent drivers in Sun City, Lutz, Town & Country,
Ybor City, and throughout the Tampa, Florida region.
If you would like a free initial consultation
with Tampa auto accident injury lawyer Dale Appell, P.A.
about your injury case, please contact our law firm today.
We look forward to assisting you.
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