Want a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Florida?
The motorcycle accident lawyers in Florida of Brooks Law Group represent riders who’ve been hurt due to negligence. This could be the fault of other drivers, vehicle or parts manufacturers, and government entities that fail to maintain roads and streets.
We know that motorcycles, while fun to ride, provide little to no protection for the rider in the event of a crash. Because of this, a rider can be fatally injured in a motorcycle accident.
We believe that someone should stand up for motorcyclists who’ve been hurt through no fault of their own. Our Florida, law firm is ready to go to court to get you money for your:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Motorcycle repairs or replacement
- Other damages you’ve suffered
If you were hurt while riding a motorcycle in Florida, get in touch with us. Working with an experienced Florida motorcycle lawyer is the best way to get the most money out of a motorcycle accident claim.
Let our team stand up for you, and let us put our experience to work on your case. Our consultations are free, and you won’t pay us anything unless and until we win your case.
Contact us by phone, chat with us live on our website, or fill out a contact form to schedule your confidential consultation with us today.
Why Are Motorcycle Accident/Injury Claims More Complicated?
Motorcycle accident cases are often incredibly complex. One reason for this is that motorcycle accidents typically result in more serious injuries than car accidents. Liability is hotly contested in many motorcycle accident claims.
Because motorcycle accidents often leave the rider badly hurt, it’s not easy to settle a legal claim for compensation. If a rider is injured, they may quickly rack up expensive medical bills.
Also, recovering from serious injuries from a motorcycle accident can take years. This makes it hard to decide how much the rider should get paid. Any settlement must take into account the rider’s future medical costs.
In a motorcycle accident, the other motorist’s insurance company will try to get out of paying by saying that the motorcycle rider was at fault. They may try to play on negative stereotypes about motorcyclists to avoid liability.
Our lawyers for motorcycle accidents don’t let insurance companies get away with using unfair anti-biker prejudice. We know most riders are cautious, and many motorcycle accidents are caused by the driver of another vehicle.
You must prove that someone else caused the accident to be entitled to compensation for losses. Traffic violations, such as speeding or failing to stop at a red light, can be used as evidence to establish fault in the accident.
In other cases, it may be necessary to hire an accident reconstruction expert. These professionals can figure out how the accident occurred and how the other driver or drivers were responsible for causing the accident
Our attorneys have the resources to fully investigate your case and determine who was at fault and what sources of insurance coverage are available.
Compensation in a Florida Motorcycle Accident Claim
Compensation for injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident generally falls into two categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are intended to compensate an accident victim for expenses and economic losses they incur as a result of their injuries.
Economic damages typically include:
- Medical expenses – Medical expenses can include:
- Hospital stays
- Surgery
- Doctor visits
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Prescription medication
- Medical equipment
- Braces
- Crutches
- Wheelchairs
- Lost income – Lost income compensation can include income you lose when you miss work due to injuries. If your injuries prevent you from returning to your old job or pre-accident level of work, you may also be entitled to compensation. They will pay you for the difference between your pre-accident and post-accident income.
Non-economic damages are meant to make up for the pain and suffering a victim feels because of their injuries, both physically and emotionally or mentally. Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages cannot be easily calculated by referencing bills or invoices.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering – This includes the emotional distress you feel if your injuries prevent you from carrying out daily tasks or activities you used to enjoy. It also includes the physical and mental suffering brought on by your injuries.
- Loss of companionship – Compensates your spouse and family member(s) for the loss of your companionship, society, and services lost as a result of your injuries.
You may also be entitled to claim compensation for property damage you’ve suffered. In other words, you may receive money for property damage caused by your motorcycle accident. This could include the cost to fix or replace your bike and any other damaged items, like your clothes or helmet.
If the motorcyclist dies, close relatives may be entitled to pursue a wrongful death claim. This is meant to make up for what the deceased victim’s family and estate lost when they died.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Collision in Florida
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident in Florida, there are certain steps you should take in the minutes, hours, and days after your accident. This will protect your rights and put you in the best position to claim compensation.
When you are in a motorcycle accident, you should:
- First, check that everyone involved in the accident is OK or see if they need immediate medical attention.
- Call 911 to request police and, if necessary, emergency medical services.
- Seek medical attention, even if you do not believe at first that you were injured in the accident. An accident injury can take days, weeks, or more to show symptoms, but prompt medical attention can improve your prognosis.
- Collect the information – especially insurance information – of all the motorists involved in the accident.
- Record the contact information for any eyewitnesses to the accident.
- Photograph the accident scene, preferably before any vehicles are moved, recording the positions of vehicles, damage to vehicles, skid marks, and traffic controls at the scene.
- Avoid making statements or admissions of fault to police or insurance representatives. Don’t make statements like “I didn’t see the other vehicle” or “I was probably going too fast” or apologize for the accident.
- Write down a detailed recollection of the accident after the excitement and stress of the accident has subsided, and you’ve had a chance to clear your mind.
- Contact a Florida motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. Once you have legal representation, you don’t need to speak with anyone yourself. You can request that other parties such as the police or insurance representatives contact your motorcycle attorney instead of contacting you directly.
Tips for Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Motorcycle Crash
Remember that insurance companies are looking to minimize the amount of money they must pay out for the motorcycle accident. Despite what they may say, insurance companies are not looking out for you.
To protect your interests, you should get a motorcycle accident injury lawyer in Florida as quickly as possible after your crash. Then, the insurance company must deal with your motorcycle attorney instead of you.
If you must deal with an insurance company after a motorcycle crash, some tips to keep in mind include:
- You don’t have to talk to the insurance company.
The insurance adjuster may try to get you to make statements about the accident. They will use these later to argue that you bear some responsibility for the accident. Although an adjuster may claim that they need a statement from you to process a claim, you are under no obligation to speak with the insurance company. If you are represented by a motorcycle accident law firm, you can request that the insurance company direct any communications to your motorcycle lawyer instead.
- Do not sign anything without having it reviewed by a motorcycle accident injury attorney. Some insurance companies may pressure you to sign documents, claiming that they need your signature to begin processing your claim. However, those documents may contain provisions in which you agree to waive important rights.
- Do not accept the first settlement offer.
Insurance companies are looking to minimize the amount of money they must pay out. The first settlement offer an insurance company makes is rarely the best offer you can get from them. Don’t accept them, even if you are experiencing financial strain due to medical bills and lost work.
The best way to deal with insurance companies after a motorcycle crash is to obtain legal representation. A lawyer specializing in motorcycle accidents can advise you as to whether the offer an insurance company makes is a fair one.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Florida
No one likes to think about motorcycle accidents, but it’s important to be aware of the leading causes of these crashes. By understanding the root causes, you can take steps to avoid being involved in an accident.
Some of the more common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Vehicles making unsafe left turns in front of an oncoming motorcycle
- Drivers failing to signal lane changes or check blind spots
- Other motorists not sharing the road with bikers
- Speeding
- Alcohol and drug use
- Distracted driving
- Following too closely
There are many dangers that riders face on a daily basis. Motorcyclists and other nearby drivers can lose control of their vehicles because of road construction, mechanical failures, or severe weather conditions.
In addition, motorcycle accidents may be caused by defects. These defects include:
- The motorcycle itself
- Other vehicles on the road
- Road conditions
All too frequently, drivers do not see a motorcycle until it’s too late.
Regardless of what caused the accident, the motorcyclist has a huge disadvantage. Without a seatbelt or vehicle walls between them and the road, a biker has very little to protect their body.
According to the NHTSA, accidents involving a motorcycle are 29 times more likely to result in death. If you are lucky to live, you may be left with severe injuries.
Motorcycle Personal Injuries
Because motorcycle riders are more capable of being thrown from their bikes, an accident can be life-threatening. When traffic accidents involve a motorcycle, it’s common for the rider to suffer serious personal injury.
Common injuries suffered by riders in motorcycle accidents include the following:
- Spinal cord injuries – Motorcycle crashes can easily fracture vertebrae and injure the spinal cord due to swelling or tears of the tissue. This can cause temporary or permanent paralysis, including paraplegia or quadriplegia.
- Traumatic brain injuries – Impacts to the head can inflict damaging force to the brain, causing injuries ranging from a concussion to a brain bleed or coma.
- Bone fractures – Riders can suffer skull, wrist, arm, shoulder, rib, leg, ankle, and foot fractures, among others.
- Soft-tissue joint injuries – Riders can suffer strains and tears of muscles, ligaments, and tendons, especially in the joint areas that are susceptible to hyperextension.
- Amputations – A rider’s extremities (fingers, hands, arms, legs, and feet) can get crushed or mangled in a motorcycle accident, possibly leading to an amputation.
- Internal injuries – The force of an accident can cause bruising, perforation, and bleeding of internal tissues and organs. A rider can also suffer injury to internal organs if their body is punctured by an object.
- Road rash – This includes contusions, abrasions, and burns on the skin, caused when a rider slides across the pavement after being knocked off their motorcycle.
How Our Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
Have you been in a Florida motorcycle accident? The legal team of Brooks Law Group can help you pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve.
Our Florida motorcycle accident lawyers can look into the accident and gather evidence to start building a strong legal case. Then our motorcycle accident law firm can negotiate a potential settlement.
We will talk to the insurance company for you and can push back against the tricks and strategies that insurance companies use to reduce their payouts.
If the insurance company does not offer you a full and fair settlement, our motorcycle attorneys are prepared to take your claim to court and file a lawsuit. We will vigorously argue on your behalf to seek a favorable verdict and judgment.
Don’t wait another day to get the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of the best motorcycle accident injury lawyers in Florida.
