Motorcycles can give you a sense of freedom and excitement but that excitement can soon turn into terror if you find yourself in a dangerous situation. At Gilbert & Smallman, we want every one of our patients to stay safe. Read on to learn three common causes for motorcycle accidents in Florida. If you or a loved one has been injured in this type of accident, please call our offices today for a free case evaluation.

1. Being “doored”

If you’ve never heard of being “doored” it’s pretty simple – a car opens its door while you’re driving by. This is typically not an issue for a motorcycle that’s driving down the middle of their lane, but if you attempt to go around other cars on the right, you run the risk of someone opening their door straight into you.

The easiest way to prevent this issue is to simply assume that no one is paying any attention to you. Assume that any parked car you’re passing is going to open their door and hit you – because they could. Drive slowly past them and keep an eye on every car.

2. Slipping on a wet road

If a car is driving over a wet street and one or their tires is bald, it’s probably not going to cause any serious issues. That’s not the case with a motorcycle. You must make sure that your tires have plenty of tread – especially when you’re driving in Florida rain. Yes, it costs money to replace your tires but it’s worth it to stay safe.

When it’s raining, whether your tires are brand new or not, slow down and make sure you’re leaving plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front of you. If it’s raining especially hard, it’s worth it to pull over and wait until it stops.

3. Drinking and driving

Unfortunately, this is actually the number one cause of motorcycle accidents: Driving while drunk. Remember that this doesn’t have to mean that you were fall-down drunk. As public safety announcements have been announcing lately, buzzed driving is the same thing as drunk driving.

If you’ve been injured in any type of accident in Florida, we urge you to call Gilbert & Smallman to learn more about your options.