Accident Causes Motorcyclist Fatality
An accident in Tampa recently caused the death of one motorcyclist and the serious injury of another. The three vehicle accident took place on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard on a Saturday night. According to the police, Kristopher Graham, 20, and Antoine Jones, 20, were each riding a motorcycle southbound on the boulevard last weekend when Geraldine Bedford, 80, turned left in front of them while attempting to enter the University Plaza.
Mr. Graham attempted to avoid hitting Ms. Bedford’s car but crashed into the passenger’s side of her Toyota Camry. Mr. Jones’ motorcycle hit Mr. Graham’s bike and sent Antoine crashing to the ground. Kristopher Graham was declared dead at the scene of the accident, and Mr. Jones was taken to Florida Hospital where he was treated for non-incapacitating injuries. The authorities have said that the investigation remains open, and no charges have been filed against Mrs. Bedford for the accident.
Florida Motorcycle Accidents
The number of motorcycle accidents has increased every year since 2011 across the state of Florida. Around the country, there were nearly 5,000 motorcycle fatalities in 2012 and accounted for around 15 percent of all vehicle deaths. In Florida, around 400 people die every year in motorcycle accidents and thousands are injured. They account for around eight percent of all fatalities across the state. If you are injured or a loved one is killed in a motorcycle accident, there are some important steps that you should take immediately following the crash.
The most important thing for you to do immediately after the accident is to seek medical attention if you are hurt. Even if you believe that the injuries are minor, it is important to get a professional opinion and document the damage that has occurred immediately after the accident. Be sure to speak with the police and have a police report taken that describes the details of the accident. This can be important evidence later on when establishing liability and compensation for your motorcycle accident.
If possible, try to get the contact information of anyone who may be a witness to the accident. Try to take pictures of the scene or preserve any evidence that you can that may help establish damages later on. Save every receipt, expense report, invoice, and other documents that record the damages incurred by the accident.
If this is not possible, try to write down everything that you remember about the accident as soon as you are able. All of these things that you do immediately after an accident help to solidify your claims against the person or parties responsible for the accident.
Call Our Office Now
Call the office or contact us today for a confidential and free consultation of your motorcycle accident claims. Our experienced personal injury lawyers at The Pendas Law Firm have represented victims of motorcycle accidents in Orlando, Fort Myers, Tampa, Jacksonville, and West Palm Beach with successful results, and we can help you get the compensation that you deserve.
