A Summerfield man was seriously injured in a recent motorcycle accident near The Villages that highlights the risk for bikers hitting the road with other traffic.
The 38-year-old man reportedly ran a red light at the intersection of U.S. 301 and County Road 466 in Oxford before colliding with a car. Florida Highway Patrol troopers who arrived on the scene said he failed to slow for a yellow light that turned red as he approached the intersection, Villages-News reports.
The Harley-Davidson bike collided with a Ford Mustang, which was turning west onto County Road 466 from the northbound turn lane of U.S. 301. The car, driven by an 88-year-old Villages resident, reportedly struck the front forks of the oncoming motorcycle.
The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike in the crash and later airlifted to Ocala for emergency medical treatment. He also was ticketed for failure to obey a traffic control signal. The Mustang driver was sent to a local hospital for evaluation.
The stretch of U.S. 301 has seen a spate of serious traffic crashes in recent years. Just weeks after the Summerfield man’s accident, a motorcyclist was severely injured when he slammed his Ducati into a parked construction truck. The collision happened on 301 near the intersection of State Road 471 as the biker tried to negotiate a curve.
Bikers are especially at risk when crashes occur because they have little physical protection between them and other vehicles, and they are prone to being ejected from their motorcycles. Even when they survive these collisions, motorcyclists can incur serious and life-changing injuries.
Some 400 people are killed in motorcycle crashes across the state each year, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Although the biker appears to be to blame in this accident, collisions can involve a variety of factors, from biker or driver mistakes to difficult weather conditions, vehicle defects and drunk driving.
Anyone who is injured in a motorcycle accident has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the collision. That includes money for medical bills, property damage, missed wages and other financial consequences.
In the tragic event that a person dies in a motorcycle accident, his or her family members can seek similar compensation from those responsible by suing for wrongful death. Compensation can never replace a loved one, but pursuing a claim can help ease the financial burden that often comes with these situations.
Speak With a Villages Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle or other accident, it is important to seek the advice of an experienced injury attorney. Villages accident attorney Tim Babiarz has been fighting for people and families across the community for more than two decades.
Our office is conveniently located in the Villages. We are also proud to represent clients throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield, and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages accident attorney.
