A Tampa man died recently in a motorcycle accident after a car hit the motorcycle that he was driving. The accident occurred at the corner of Harney Road and Davis Road at around 8:00 p.m. that night. Police identified the motorcycle driver as Francis Penon, 49, as a resident of the city.

According to the police report, Mr. Penon was traveling westbound on Harney Road while Michael Goff, 52, was driving his Mazda SUV eastbound on the same road. Phillip Prevatte, 48, was stopped in his Ford van at the intersection of Harney and Davis roads. Officials said that Mr. Goff turned onto Davis Road without checking for traffic and struck Mr. Penon on his motorcycle. Mr. Penon was launched off of his ride and over the hood of Mr. Prevatte’s idling van.

Mr. Penon was rushed to the local Tampa hospital with critical injuries. Sadly, he later died at the hospital, but neither of the other two drivers involved in the accident were injured. No charges have been filed yet in the accident but are expected to be forthcoming as the investigation into the accident is completed.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) first initiated studies about the causes of motorcycle accidents in 1976 and again in 1981 with the “Hurt Report.” These reports have been repeatedly updated throughout the years, but one of the most important results of the initial study was the identification of car driver error in motorcycle accidents. In fact, the Hurt Report found that the failure of other motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominant cause of motorcycle accidents across the United States.

This report and others by the NHTSA as well as state advocacy groups like the Florida Safety Council have identified some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents on the road today. Besides failing to see the motorcycle before the collision or not seeing the motorcycle until it is too late to avoid the accident, other causes of motorcycle accidents include the following:

  • Speeding;
  • Distracted driving;
  • Calling or texting while driving;
  • Failure to obey traffic signals;
  • Making left hand turns without checking traffic;
  • Open car doors;
  • Following too closely;
  • Inclement weather;
  • Road hazards;

…and other instances of negligent driving or roadways that lead to motorcycle accidents across Florida as well as the rest of the country.

Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Motorcycle accidents are often much more serious and devastating than a typical car accident because of the lack of protection that a motorcycle provides for its driver and passenger. Our experienced personal injury attorneys at Reed & Reed, Attorneys at Law understand the intricacies of a motorcycle accident case and are here to help. If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident in the Tampa Bay area, call or contact our office today.

From our office in Brandon, we help clients in Tampa, New Tampa, Plant City, East Hillsborough County and throughout the state of Florida. Contact Reed & Reed for a free consultation.