A motorcyclist was killed on State Road 54, east of the Suncoast Parkway, last Friday afternoon. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that the motorcycle accident happened at approximately 4:09 p.m. on S.R. 54 near the intersection of Hunting Bow Circle.
The motorcyclist from Lutz, aged 50, was riding his motorcycle east on S.R. 54 on the inside lane. An SUV driven by a Land O’ Lakes woman, aged 56, was also traveling east on S.R. 54 ahead of the motorcyclist. According to reports, the biker attempted to pass the SUV by entering the center lane, but instead collided with the rear of the other vehicle.
The impact of the collision caused the motorcycle to overturn, and it came to a final rest on the south shoulder of S.R. 54. The motorcyclist was taken to an area hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The SUV driver and passenger did not report any injuries.
Motorcyclists at higher risk for severe injury and death
Even though cars are involved in many more accidents than motorcycles, bikers suffer higher rates of injuries and fatalities. According to the NHTSA, motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in a traffic collision than car drivers. Frontal collisions occur in 75% of all accidents, and 25% happen when the motorcyclist collides with a stationary object.
Bikers are at much higher risk of injury and death for several reasons. Cars and motorcycles share the roads and travel at the same speeds, but in any collision, the biker’s body will bear the direct impact, and often the biker will be thrown from the bike.
Motorcyclists are also more likely to experience severe head, neck and spine trauma in an accident. Medical bills for initial treatment of injuries are also higher for motorcyclists than for car accident victims, and can range anywhere from $6,000 to $30,000.
Coping with trauma after an accident
People who are involved in a serious accident can have their lives changed in an instant, leaving them with a long road to recovery that can take months or even years. Loved ones often must take on the challenges of supporting and caring for a catastrophic injury victim. Insurance companies can delay or refuse to pay claims, causing additional challenges to recovery, and receiving compensation if the other driver was negligent can be challenging.
For Florida residents, it can help to have a compassionate personal injury attorney serving west central Florida and Hernando County to represent their interests as they take the first steps toward recovery.