Florida Motorcycle Accident Claims & Road Safety

02 Mar

Written by admin
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Good to Know

When it comes to motorcycle accidents, Florida continues to lead the country in the number of fatal accidents every year. The state has the second-highest number of registered motorcyclists in all of the United States. On average, nearly 5,000 motorcyclists are killed each year in accidents. Statistically, these fatalities often occur during the day, with clear conditions, and not at intersections.

Motorcycle accidents happen often. If you plan to ride a motorcycle, here are some key practices you should know about in order to protect yourself during accidents and what to do after an accident has happened.

Wear the Right Motorcycle Gear

While Florida state law does not require that motorcyclists over the age of 21 wear helmets or protective gear, this gear can save your life. Always wear your gear. This means wearing a helmet, a durable jacket, gloves, boots, pants, or a one-piece suit. Other protections to consider are ear and eye protection.

Common Motorcycle Accident Causes

Aggressive drivers
Defective motorcycle parts
Distracted drivers
Drunk drivers
Road hazards
Traffic violations

Severe Motorcycle Injuries

Motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries, especially in cases where the rider does not wear the proper protective gear. Since Florida doesn’t require helmet wearing, motorcycle injuries are much more likely to be fatal. However, even with a helmet, a motorcycle injury can cause life-altering injuries:

Back injuries
Broken jaws, noses, or cheekbones
Broken arms, wrists, or hands
Dislocations
Eye injuries
Internal organ injuries
Internal hemorrhaging
Leg fractures
Neck injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Skull fractures
Soft tissue sprains and tears
Fractured collarbones
Fractured ribs

Many of these injuries require immediate medical attention, extensive emergency care, and lengthy recovery times. These accidents can not only cause serious life interruptions but come with a number of high medical bills as well. In some cases, a motorcycle accident victim will not be able to work for a long time.

After a Motorcycle Accident

After you’ve suffered a motorcycle accident, take stock of your body and possible injuries. If you’re able to get up, here’s the list of what you should do to be proactive in your safety and accident report.

Safety

Get out of the road. If you are able, move your motorcycle and all other hazards from the road so that other drivers will not be in danger.

Call the Police

While it may feel like you’re making too big of a deal of the accident, a police report can be helpful if you decide to seek damages. Some accident-related injuries won’t show up immediately. The police report can be useful for insurance purposes as well.

Eyewitnesses

Talk to the people nearby and ask them to write down what they saw of the accident and to include their contact information. Eyewitnesses can offer helpful information about the accident before, during, or after.

Document the Scene

Use your smartphone or someone’s phone to take photos of the accident. Take photos of the road, the intersection, the vehicles, and whatever else might have been a part of the accident.

Doctor Evaluation

If you don’t end up at the hospital for your motorcycle injuries, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to get evaluated for injuries. You will want to have your head, neck, and other parts of your body evaluated. Some injuries may not show up until later, but a doctor may catch them early on.

Make a Motorcycle Accident Claim

When you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, there is a possibility that your situation may be eligible for certain legal damages and rights. The only way to be sure of this is to speak with a lawyer. Florida specifically has a no-fault policy when it comes to vehicle accidents; however, certain situations may still be able to have a claim filed.

Florida Motorcycle Case Damages

You may have a claim with a motorcycle accident if you were injured as the result of someone else’s negligence. And every claim will have a different number associated with its worth in damages.

Damages often include medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and out of pocket costs. While those are more easily evaluated, other trickier damages include pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, or emotional distress. Damages can be difficult to quantify, but an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can help.

The statute of limitations in Florida for filing a personal injury claim is four years. However, if the motorcyclist dies due to the accident, the claim can only be made within two years.

Since Florida is a no-fault state, this means that motorcyclists and drivers are meant to turn to their own vehicle insurance for coverage. Obviously, this can make it difficult to make a claim for damages. In some situations, a motorcycle accident may have a case under Florida law, but that is best determined by a lawyer. Reach out today to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer at office@carrilloinjurylaw.com.