Alejandro Figueroa | January 31, 2022 | Motorcycle Accidents
Florida has a poor track record for motorcycle safety. Motorcycle accident fatalities make up 18.6% of all traffic deaths in Florida. But motorcycles make up only 7% of registered vehicles in Florida, making motorcyclists more than twice as likely as motorists to die in a crash.
Tampa follows the statewide trend. The city only holds about one-quarter of Hillsborough County residents but accounts for almost half of motorcycle accidents in the county.
Here are some Tampa motorcycle accident statistics to remember the next time you ride your motorcycle.
Tampa Motorcycle Accidents
Tampa has about 8,000 registered motorcycles. The heavy traffic in Tampa endangers motorcyclists and passengers every time they ride. This partially explains the high number of motorcycle accidents in the city.
Even accounting for the heavy traffic, Tampa’s motorcycle accident statistics show the risks of riding a motorcycle in the city. In 2021, Tampa had 236 motorcycle accidents. These accidents caused 14 deaths and 36 serious injuries.
But since Florida has not completed its data collection for 2021, this number is not the true total. An average year with a full data set might look more like 2019. In 2019, Tampa had 299 motorcycle accidents, with 14 deaths and 38 serious injuries.
Tampa Motorcycle Accident Rate
With 8,000 registered motorcycles, the motorcycle accident rate in Tampa is 3.7%. Each year, around 3.7% of motorcycles in Tampa will get into an accident.
This number is shockingly high. The car accident rate in Tampa is 1.8%, about half of that for motorcycles.
Tampa Motorcycle Injury Rate
Tampa motorcycle accidents in 2021 caused 36 serious injuries. These injuries include life-threatening harm such as brain injuries and burns.
You have about a one in seven chance of getting seriously injured if you have a motorcycle accident in Tampa. But once you include minor injuries, your chances of getting injured are higher than your chances of walking away unscathed.
Across the state of Florida, 76% of motorcycle accidents caused some kind of injury in 2021. Applying this statewide statistic to Tampa motorcycle accidents, you can infer that Tampa’s 236 motorcycle accidents in 2021 injured 180 motorcyclists. Only 56 walked away without any injury.
Tampa Motorcycle Death Rate
In Tampa, 14 people died in motorcycle accidents in 2021. Nearly 6% of Tampa’s motorcycle accidents caused a fatality. This is lower than the Florida average, which is closer to 7%.
Helmet use has a strong connection to Florida motorcycle fatalities. Florida does not have a mandatory helmet law. As a result, only about 53% of Floridians wear motorcycle helmets.
This statistic shows up in the fatalities. In Florida, your chances of dying in a motorcycle crash increase by 8% if you wear no helmet or a novelty helmet. This means that one to two people who die in Tampa motorcycle accidents every year could have survived if they had worn a motorcycle helmet.
Common Conditions for Tampa Motorcycle Accidents
Tampa motorcycle accidents commonly happen during the noon and afternoon rush hours. 36% of motorcycle accidents happen between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Another 12% happen between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This makes sense because heavy traffic causes most motorcycle accidents. Other causes include poor road conditions, distracted driving, and speeding.
January, April, and December see more motorcycle accidents than the other months. But this statistic may be slightly misleading since the rainy season runs from May through September. As a result, these months may see fewer motorcycles on the road. Only 36% of accidents happen during Florida’s hot, humid summers.
Lessons from Tampa’s Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Motorcycle accidents happen frequently in Tampa. Within the city, a motorcycle accident happens about once every 37 hours.
With such a high frequency, you should consider what you can do to reduce your risk of death or serious injury when you get hit. Wearing a helmet, driving defensively, and slowing down can save your life in a motorcycle crash.
If you were in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your case.
Contact Our Motorcycle Accident Law Firm in Tampa, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Tampa, FL, and need legal help, contact our Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers at Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Catania & Catania Injury Lawyers
Bank of America Plaza
101 E Kennedy Blvd #2400
Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 222-8656
We also provide legal assistance throughout the Tampa Bay Area including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Bradenton.
