South Florida Injury Attorney Blog

A police officer in Cape Coral is hospitalized in intensive care after his motorcycle was hit by an SUV, the Fort Myers News-Press reported June 3. Officer Damien Garcia was on motorcycle patrol for the police department when an SUV made a left turn in front of him, causing him to hit the back of the vehicle at about 40 miles per hour. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening head injuries. No charges have yet been filed, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The article said Garcia was heading south in the left lane of Cultural Park Blvd. on the afternoon of June 2, with a car in the right lane. That car slowed to make a right turn, possibly obscuring Garcia from the view of driver Josephine Pierce, who pulled out to make a left onto Cultural Park. Garcia’s motorcycle hit the back of Pierce’s SUV, causing a slideout that broke his leg and left him with severe head injuries. Pierce did not comment for the article.

As a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer and a motorcyclist myself, I wish Garcia and his family the best of luck. If anything positive can come of such a terrible accident, however, I hope it’s more awareness on the road from both drivers and motorcyclists. According to multiple studies, one of the most common reasons drivers give after a crash with a motorcycle is that they simply didn’t see the bike. Despite the rise in motorcycles’ popularity, many drivers still don’t expect to share the road with motorcycles, and it’s easy to miss things you’re not looking for. Florida drivers should always consider motorcycles before making their turns -- and motorcyclists are safest when they assume drivers can’t see them and ride accordingly.

If you or someone you love was involved in a serious motorcycle accident, you should call us at Cohn, Smith & Cohn right away. I believe I offer an added advantage as a Pompano Beach motorcycle accident attorney representing motorcycle accident victims: I understand what motorcyclists are up against on Florida roads, because my wife and I both ride. I will aggressively protect motorcyclists from the shenanigans insurance companies get up to after an accident, including trying to blame riders for their own injuries because they were riding legally without a helmet. If necessary, I am more than happy to file a Plantation motorcycle accident lawsuit to get my clients the money they need for medical bills, repairs, lost income and compensation for their injuries, pain and emotional anguish.

To set up a free, confidential consultation with Cohn, Smith & Cohn, please contact us online or call (954) 431-8100 today.