Florida’s roads prove a particularly dangerous environment for motorcyclists. More than 9,100 crashes involved motorcycles in Florida in 2018, with 531 proving fatal, according to the Florida Department Of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Motorcycles lack the physical barriers to injury provided by cars and trucks; therefore, crashes involving motorcycles have a disproportionately high rate of injury and death.
Drivers of motor vehicles have a duty to act in a safe manner, and that includes a responsibility to look out for and avoid striking motorcyclists. If you or a loved one sustained injuries as the driver or passenger of a motorcycle in Florida, then you may qualify for compensation for your losses. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC at 800-924-3113 for a free consultation regarding your case.
Motorcycle Accidents Can Result in Serious Injury
Florida represents one of three states that lead the entire country in terms of motorcycle deaths, according to The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Motorcycle accidents often result in more losses due to the extensive injuries they can cause. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the average annual cost of care for a motorcyclist involved in an accident reached about 12.8 billion dollars.
This figure illustrates the seriousness of motorcycle-related crash injuries, as well as the need to hold accountable those whose actions lead to motorcycle crashes.
Distracted Driving Presents a Direct Threat to Motorcyclists
Every motorist takes an implied oath, referred to as a duty of care, to act in a reasonably safe manner when driving. However, in a time when drivers use cell phones without discretion, motorists often violate this oath without thinking twice. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that any activity that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off driving qualifies as distracted driving and account for nine fatal crashes each year.
Some forms of distracted driving include:
- Texting while driving.
- Making a phone call while driving, whether you are using a hand to hold the phone or calling hands-free.
- Eating food while driving.
- Drinking a beverage while driving, especially alcohol.
- Using a hand to smoke while driving.
- Talking to others in the vehicle.
- Tending to pets in the vehicle.
- Turning your attention to other motorists.
- Reaching to pick something you have dropped.
- Adjusting the vehicle’s entertainment system.
If distracted driving played a role in the accident that caused you or a loved one to sustain injuries, then you may have a clear case for negligence-based awards.
Other Dangerous Motorist Behaviors
While distracted driving is a clear threat to motorcyclists’ safety, it is far from the only one. Other dangerous driving behaviors that routinely cause accidents are:
- Speeding.
- Tailgating.
- Being drunk or under the influence of drugs.
- Changing lanes abruptly, even if you use a signal.
- Changing lanes without signaling.
- Ignoring critical road indicators, such as stoplights or road signs.
- Driving without adequate headlights.
- Driving into oncoming traffic without adequate clearance.
Other behaviors may qualify as negligence if they caused the accident in which you sustained injuries. Consider hiring a Lauderhill motorcycle accident lawyer to find out about pursuing compensation based on negligence. Call our team at 800-924-3113 for a free consultation.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accidents lawyer serving Lauderhill, call 800-924-3113
A Lawyer Will Handle Your Case for Compensation
Whether you are bringing a case for injuries that you have personally sustained or are bringing a case on behalf of a loved one who passed away, a Lauderhill motorcycle accident lawyer may help you file a claim or lawsuit. While you focus on recovery or mourning your loved one, a lawyer may:
- Identify whether additional parties share liability for your losses other than the driver who caused your accident.
- File the required paperwork so that the court recognizes your case as soon as possible.
- Collect and organize all evidence pertaining to your case, especially any proof that shows the defendant or defendants acted in a negligent manner.
- Collecting witness testimony and re-interviewing any witnesses of the negligent behavior by the defendant.
- Completing every step required to bring your case to a conclusion.
- Consulting a medical professional to understand and show the court the full extent of your injuries.
- Defending your rights throughout the legal process.
Your Lauderhill motorcycle accident lawyer will aim to prove that the defendant(s) in your case shoulder the responsibility for your injuries or your loved one’s death. While all motorcyclists must adhere to motorcycle laws as stated in that Florida Statute 316 § 2085, the accident was likely due to driver error.
Florida Statute 316 § 211 requires motorcycle riders to wear protective gear to keep themselves as safe as possible. Riders 21 and over, however do not need to wear a helmet if they are protected by a certain insurance policy.
Motorcycles lack the physical barriers to injury provided by cars and trucks; therefore, crashes involving motorcycles have a disproportionately high rate of injury and death.
Statute of Limitations
A statute of limitations is a law that determines the timeframe in which you must file your legal claim for compensation. Throughout all of Florida, the statute of limitations for motorcycle claims is set at four years. In general, your claim must be filed within four years of your initial accident or you risk losing the ability to recover any compensation at all. However, there are often complications and factors that can alter the time limits for your specific case. It’s best to discuss your claim with skilled Lauderhill motorcycle accident lawyers who can provide experienced advice and preserve your right to pursue compensation.
Potential Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident
Every motorcycle accident comes with unique circumstances that may affect your eligibility for compensation, as well as the specific forms of compensation for which you may qualify. Some possibilities in terms of compensation include coverage for:
- Emergency transportation that you or your loved one took from the scene of the accident.
- Any care that you received in the emergency room.
- Any diagnostic tests required to pinpoint your injuries.
- Any other required medical procedures, such as surgery, for your injuries from the accident.
- Income that you lost due to injuries sustained in the accident.
- Diminished earning power caused by your injuries.
- The cost of any physical and psychological rehab that you may require because of the accident.
- Pain and suffering.
If you are bringing a wrongful death claim, you may qualify for an additional set of awards.
Lauderhill Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 800-924-3113
Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC
We do not shy away from tough cases and will fight for the compensation that you deserve. Call our team at 800-924-3113 for a free consultation. You will not pay anything upfront, as we only collect a fee if we secure compensation on your behalf.
Click to contact our Lauderhill Personal Injury Lawyers today
Call or text 800-924-3113 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form