Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Proudly Representing Injured Riders

At Burnetti, P.A., we understand the importance of sharing the road and believe that every motorist deserves to get from Point A to Point B in safety, including motorcyclists, of course. Far too often, though, riders are caught in devastating accidents caused by other motorists who fail to give them the same space and right-of-way as other vehicles. Whenever and wherever a motorcycle accident occurs in Florida, we’ll be ready to offer our trusted legal counsel. We represent injured riders in and out of court!

Contact us online or call (888) 444-8508 to request a FREE case review.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

When a motorcycle accident occurs, insurance companies tend to jump at the chance to blame the motorcyclist and label them as “reckless” just for choosing a two-wheeled mode of transportation. A review of the facts often shows the opposite, though: the wreck was caused by a party other than the motorcycle rider.

Third-party mistakes that often cause motorcycle accidents include:

• Driver following a motorcycle too closely
• Driver turning left in front of an approaching motorcycle
• Driver not checking for motorcycles in the car’s blind spots
• Opening a car door in front of an approaching motorcycle
• Driving while drunk or distracted
• Defects with the motorcycle that cause a loss of control

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcyclists do not have any protection from accidents beyond what they can wear on their bodies. As a direct result, even a crash that might be called “minor” had it involved a passenger vehicle can be devastating to a motorcycle rider. It is unusual for a high-speed or serious motorcycle accident to occur and not result in severe or catastrophic injuries suffered by the motorcyclist.

In a wreck, a motorcyclist might suffer life-changing injuries, such as:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injury or paralysis
• Road rash
• Broken bones
• Internal organ damage
• Soft tissue damage

Florida Motorcycle Laws

Florida motorcycle-related laws that could be relevant to your case are:

• Helmet use: Recent updates to Florida law require all motorcyclists to wear a helmet and some form of eye protection (such as a visor integrated into the helmet) while the vehicle is in use.
• Passenger safety: Florida law prohibits motorcyclists from carrying passengers unless the motorcycle has footrests and seats that are designed for passengers.
• Lane-splitting: Only California allows lane-splitting or riding a motorcycle between lanes of occupied traffic, so it is unlawful in Florida.

Were you not wearing a helmet when you crashed? Or were you lane-splitting when a vehicle clipped you? Although Florida law may complicate your case if so, it doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim at all. Talk with us to see how your case could be affected by any apparent violations of Florida motorcycle safety laws.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

After you have been in a motorcycle accident, you should always try to:

• Get help: Call 911 and summon emergency responders to the scene. Even if you feel fine, you should call 911 because there might be vehicle debris on the road that could cause other crashes unless responders get control of the area.
• Seek medical attention: Allow EMTs to treat your injuries if necessary. If you don’t need emergency care, you should still go to a medical center for a checkup once you are permitted to leave the scene of the motorcycle accident.
• Collect information: Take photographs of the motorcycle accident scene, documenting as much as you can. Write down the contact and insurance information of anyone involved in the crash, as well as contact information for people who witnessed the wreck.
• Talk with our attorneys: Soon after the motorcycle accident and before you speak with your insurance company, you should dial (888) 444-8508 and let our attorneys know what happened. We can notify the insurance company on your behalf or coach you about how to phrase your report, which can help avoid misspeaking in a way that could damage your claim.

Potential Liable Parties in a Motorcycle Accident

Our Florida motorcycle accident attorneys have decades of collective experience working on complex and hard-fought accident claims. We know what types of evidence can strengthen a claim and how to use it in compelling ways. Importantly, we also know how to analyze evidence of negligence to determine what party is at fault or liable for the wreck and the resulting losses.

Parties that might be liable in a motorcycle accident are:

• Another motorist like a distracted driver
• Motorcycle part manufacturer
• Pedestrian who walked into or in front of the rider
• Local municipality if the crash involves poor road conditions

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Florida?

Florida’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims – like those following a motorcycle accident – is typically only two years from the date of the accident. If no claim is filed with the court within this time limit, the injured party may lose the option to file a claim ever again, effectively blocking them from pursuing compensation for their losses. Act quickly after a motorcycle accident and talk to our attorneys, so you can know for certain how much time you have left to start a claim.

How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?

Every motorcycle accident case has a unique value or worth. This value reflects the total economic and non-economic losses suffered by the injured rider. The purpose of an injury claim or lawsuit is to compel the liable party to provide compensation that matches that value. If the defendant does not want to offer a settlement, the case may go to trial and could result in the court ordering the defendant to provide the compensation; sometimes, the compensation approved by a court order will be different from what the plaintiff or injured rider initially demanded.

Compensation available for motorcycle accident claims can include:

• Past and future medical treatment costs
• Past and future lost wages and income
• Hardships caused by new disabilities
• Pain, suffering, and lessened enjoyment of life

Get a Free Consultation – Call Now

Find out more about your legal options after a motorcycle accident anywhere in Florida. Start by talking with Burnetti, P.A. and our motorcycle accident attorneys. We are always ready to do the right thing for clients in need, so never hesitate to reach out when you need help.

Get a free case evaluation by calling (888) 444-8508 now.