Motorcycles are a particularly popular vehicle choice all of the world over, but especially on the roads of Florida, where some cities boast the highest number of registered motorcycles in all of America. While there is no denying they are a fun mode of transport, they are also well known for their status as a dangerous vehicle. Their speed and ability to weave in and out of traffic make them an especially common source of maneuvers that put other drivers at risk and can easily lead to a serious accident case.
If you have been involved in a Bradenton motorcycle accident that was not your fault, it is likely that you will be able to receive a compensatory amount for any injuries you received as a result. To stand the best chance at winning a fair amount of compensation in your settlement, you will need the assistance of an experienced Bradenton motorcycle accident attorney. Here at The Law Place, our staff has over 75 years of combined experience, and we are happy to offer all of our clients a free consultation at no obligation around the clock.
For free legal advice related to your Bradenton motorcycle accident, all you need to do is call our office. Our contact phone number is (941) 444-4444!
Common Causes of a Bradenton Motorcycle Accident
As mentioned above, there are a number of maneuvers possible only with this type of vehicle that leads to a large percentage of motorcycle crashes.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents often seen by our personal injury and accident lawyer team include:
- A motorcycle driver failing to check if they are at risk of a car turning left.
- A motorcycle driver driving straight through the middle of an intersection without checking and exhibiting necessary care, caution, and consideration for other drivers.
- Negligent overtaking of other vehicles on the road, which is encouraged by the motorcycle’s small and nimble size.
- Speeding, which is often encouraged by the high-speed capacity of motorcycles.
- Sudden stops or breaking.
- Operating a motorcycle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
- Riding a motorcycle that is in bad condition or poorly maintained.
Unfortunately, motorcycle crashes commonly occur as a result of negligent driving. These high-power and high-performance motor vehicles tend to encourage overconfident and reckless driving.
If you have been a victim of an overconfident or negligent motorcyclist in an accident that was not your fault, The Law Place will fight for the compensation you deserve.
Which Road Traffic Rules Apply Specifically to Motorcyclists in Bradenton, FL.
There are a number of road traffic rules that apply specifically to motorcycle riders, both to keep them and other road users around them safe.
For a full and comprehensive look at the rules of the roads in Florida, the State of Florida’s Driver’s Handbook is an excellent resource that details the rules of the road, specific license requirements, various information on signals and signage, and how to keep your specific vehicle safely roadworthy.
The specific rules and regulations that apply to every motorcyclist in Florida are as follows:
- Every motorcyclist utilizing the public roads of Florida must be in possession of either a specific motorcycle license or have a motorcycle endorsement added to their driver’s license.
- It is against the law for anybody under the age of 21 to operate a two-wheeled vehicle (such as a motorcycle or scooter) without wearing a helmet. For safety reasons, we also highly recommend anyone over this age wear a helmet due to the high rate of brain injuries involved in motorcycle crashes.
- Motorcyclists must be wearing some form of eye protection that has been pre-approved by the Florida Department of Transport guidelines.
- Personal injury insurance does not include their motorcycle, nor the actual bodies or motor vehicles of those around them. Therefore they must, by law, possess the right insurance coverage to cover third parties.
If motorcycle riders fail to comply with the above legal requirements, they are considered a negligent driver in line with Florida Statute 768.21.
Injuries Commonly Sustained by Those Involved in a Bradenton Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can often be the source of catastrophic personal injury cases, especially as a negligent driver can easily cause a road accident involving multiple vehicles.
Injuries commonly seen by our team of Bradenton motorcycle accident attorneys include:
- Cuts, abrasions, lacerations, and road rash.
- Injuries to the back or spinal cord, which are particularly dangerous for their high probability of causing movement impairments or even complete paralysis.
- Broken, splintered, or fractured bones, which again can cause mobility impairments if they are serious enough.
- Internal injuries, such as ruptured organs or internal bleeding.
- Burns or scalds.
- Blunt force trauma to the head, which can lead to serious brain injuries and their resulting consequences of emotional, intellectual, or mobility-based disabilities.
While physical injuries can have life-altering consequences, so too can the mental impacts of suffering from a serious motorcycle crash.
Mental complications commonly seen by our Bradenton motorcycle accident lawyer team include:
- Anxiety, which can manifest itself either as generalized anxiety or acute anxiety surrounding roads or vehicle travel in general.
- Depression.
- A loss of enjoyment of life in general.
- Sleep issues, which range from night terrors to insomnia or frequently broken sleep.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Whether your personal injury claim is centered around physical injuries or mental health complications, or a combination of the two, your motorcycle accident attorney will fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Types of Damages Can Your Bradenton Motorcycle Accident Attorney Fight for You to Win?
Your motorcycle accident lawyers will be able to fight to get you compensation for several different types of damages. The damages that apply to your case will depend on what exactly happened, how you were injured and whether there were any permanent impacts on the rest of your life going forwards.
The most common types of damages awarded to motorcycle accident victims are:
- Property damage – If your car was damaged when a negligent driver crashed their motorcycle into it, your attorney could help you to seek compensation for the material damages.
- Medical expenses – Sometimes, the actual physical injury isn’t the worst part of a motorcycle crash. Medical bills are a leading cause of bankruptcy in the US today. If you retain copies of the bills, your attorney can help you seek compensation.
- Lost wages – If you had no option but to remain off work while you recovered from your injuries, compensation can also be sought for this. Your attorney will use copies of your correspondence with your employer as proof to the insurance company.
- Pain and suffering – These damages are designed to put into economic terms the length of your recovery process, the pain level involved, and whether your injuries left you with any long-term complications.
- Wrongful death – If your loved one was fatally injured in a motorcycle crash, Florida Statute 768.21 allows you to seek compensation. While no amount of money will make the process easier, the financial uncertainty that comes with this kind of change can often overwhelm someone at their lowest. Wrongful death claims take into account lost income, funeral expenses, and loss of consortium.
If you would like to know which of these damages applies to your case, schedule a free case evaluation with our experienced Bradenton motorcycle accident attorneys using the contact phone number at the bottom of this website.
How Does the Statute of Limitations Work for Motorcycle Accident Victims?
The statute of limitations describes the amount of time that can pass after any kind of accident before the accident victim is no longer able to make a claim for compensation.
As detailed in Florida Statute 95.11, motorcycle accident victims have exactly four years from the day on which their crash occurred to file a claim for their injuries or complications.
Be aware, one thing that often catches people out is that the statute of limitations differs between claiming for injuries and claiming for the death of a loved one through a wrongful death claim. With a wrongful death claim, the time limit is two years.
Comparative Fault in Florida Motorcycle Accidents
Due to the small size and often reckless driving on the part of motorcyclists, many situations arise where the designation of fault in motorcycle accidents is not clear-cut.
When this happens, comparative fault comes into play. What this means is that the compensatory settlement will be cut by an amount that corresponds to your level of fault for the accident. For example, if you are found to be 30 percent at fault for the accident, your settlement will be reduced by 30 percent.
If you find yourself in this situation, the Bradenton motorcycle accident attorneys at our law firm will fight to get you assigned the lowest percent of blame possible and maximize the amount of compensation you can expect.
Dealing With Insurance Companies After Motorcycle Accidents
As some of you may know, insurance companies are not our friends, no matter how much they may pretend to be. In fact, it is the highest priority for the insurance company to reduce your total settlement potential, as it benefits them financially to do so.
They employ their own legal teams and claims adjusters to these ends. However, our team of Bradenton motorcycle accident lawyers knows exactly how to deal with them. We will assemble the strongest case possible for you utilizing all of the evidence and resources at our disposal.
There are also some things you can do. Ensure that when you disclose your accident to the insurance company, as you are obliged to do, usually within a period of 24 hours, that you give them minimal information. Anything unnecessarily disclosed may be used to lower your claim value. Additionally, you should never sign anything without your lawyer present.
Evidence plays a key part when it comes to overcoming the hindering efforts of your insurance company.
How Your Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help Acquire Evidence to Build Your Case
As well as helping to collect and collate evidence in the usual ways, accident victims using The Law Place can benefit from the excellent long-term contacts our legal office has been working beside for years.
We have dedicated personal investigators who can help to acquire evidence that may otherwise be impossible to obtain. Amongst other things, they are particularly handy for tracking down driver eyewitnesses who could be key to your testimony.
We also have access to excellent car and motorcycle crash scene recreation teams. With their help, we can get an exact idea of what happened at the scene of your accident.
Important Evidence You Should Retain
There is some key evidence that will be out of the reach of our law firm. To stand the best chance at maximizing the compensation for your accident, you should:
- Thoroughly photograph the crash scene when it is safe to do so. This includes all vehicles, skid marks on the roads, damage to the surrounding scenery, and your injuries.
- Acquire all of the details of other crash participants and those who witnessed it. This should at least include their full name, insurance details, registration number, driver’s license number, and phone number.
- As well as retaining medical bills, you should also seek a copy of your full medical history. Insurance companies often try to pass of complications from your accident as pre-existing conditions.
- Photograph your injury at each stage in its healing process.
With all of this information, your accident lawyer will stand the best chance at maximizing the compensation you can expect for your injuries.
If you would like more information, advice, or a free case evaluation, call our Florida office using the contact telephone number at the top or bottom of this webpage.
How Much Will Your Case Cost?
The cost of your Florida motorcycle accident lawyer will depend on the specifics of your case. However, when you choose to be represented by our law firm, you benefit from our contingency work.
This means that your case will be entirely no-win-no-fee. The fees will only ever be subtracted from the final settlement for your injuries, damages, or complications. Should your case somehow be unsuccessful, the whole legal process will not cost you a cent.
No hidden fees or surprising extra costs are involved anywhere along the process. For further reassurance, all of our contingency work is continuously monitored by The State Bar Association.
Contact The Law Place Today
If you have been involved in a car crash, no matter how serious, which involved one or more motorcycle riders, you could be entitled to compensation. Don’t let medical bills or lost wages get the better of you, raise a no-win-no-fee case instead. We ensure that our fees are only subtracted from a successful client’s settlement fee once the legal process is entirely complete. We believe that nobody should experience risk when pursuing financial compensation for an accident that was not their fault.
The legal team here at The Law Place in Florida has over 75 years of experience dealing with motorcycle accidents. Our personal injury lawyers were specially chosen for their skill sets, tenacity, and empathy to ensure you stand the greatest chance of winning your case. To get started, give our office a call and arrange a free consultation. Your free case evaluation will also be at no obligation, and your details will remain entirely confidential. What’s more, we ensure that our phone lines are operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so that you can call whenever is convenient.
For a free consultation with a member of our team, call (941) 444-4444.