On the afternoon of July 19, a Wesley Chapel motorcyclist sustained injuries after being hit by a sedan on Old Pasco Road.
At 3:20pm, William Wolden of Wesley Chapel was traveling northbound on Old Pasco Rd, north of Country Club road, when he slowed to a stop to wait to turn left into a driveway. According to Florida Highway Patrol, it was then that the driver of a Chrysler sedan, Tina Thompson of Dade City, rear-ended Wolden's 2008 Yamaha motorcycle.
Wolden was immediately airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa for treatment of critical injuries. Thompson reportedly suffered minor injuries and no charges were announced.
Collisions involving motorcycles happen every day and our office has seen the grueling damages that can result out of such crashes. In 2008, the Insurance Information Institute reported that in an accident, motorcyclists held 39 times the risk (per vehicle mile traveled) of being killed than did passengers in a car, and they were 8 times more likely to be injured.
Unfortunately, many Florida drivers do not elect to carry liability or Uninsured/Undersinsured Motorist coverage since the state does not mandate that drivers carry this kind of coverage. Since motorcyclists are at a higher risk of sustaining injuries while driving, The Law Office of John T. Grove strongly recommends motorcyclists (and automobile drivers alike) obtain these coverages to protect themselves. If you were in an accident, or have questions regarding your current insurance coverages, please do not hesitate to call our office.
