Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Sarasota & Bradenton, FL

While motorcycle accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, one of the most common reasons is simple negligence. Some of the most common reasons for negligence-related motorcycle crashes include:

• Inattentive drivers/driver awareness deficit
• Speeding and reckless driving
• Impaired and imperiled driving (generally driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or prescription medication)
• Texting and cell phone usage
• Reckless activity in hazardous conditions
• Rear-end collisions
• T-bone collisions/sideswipes
• Mechanical failure (such as brake, tire failure, suspension, or engine problems)

Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents can lead to a variety of injuries. These include:

• Spinal Injuries: Currently, there are an estimated 300,000 individuals with spinal injuries in the United States, with about 18,000 new cases per year. Less severe spinal injuries can cause pain, numbness, headaches, and some loss of function in limbs. However, the vast majority of spinal injuries, however, involve some part of partial (paraplegia) or full paralysis (quadriplegia). Spinal injuries can also lead to anxiety, depression, loss of consortium (problems in intimate relationships), and PTSD. Some studies have indicated that more than 10% of motorcycle accident victims experience spinal injuries after an accident.
• Soft-Tissue Injuries: Motorcycle accident victims are highly likely to experience some soft-tissue injuries, with one study showing between 40-60% of accident victims sustaining injuries through a thin layer of clothing. Soft tissue injuries may be mostly harmless, but they could also be signs of a concussion if the injuries involve the head. Soft tissue injuries in the chest area could also be signs of an organ injury, such as a bruise or abrasion on the heart, liver, lungs, or kidneys.
• Broken Bones: Broken bones are another common symptom of motorcycle accidents. A broken bone can lead to serious debilitation, and may leave an accident victim unable to drive, walk, or take care of daily work and life activities. In addition to often taking months to heal, broken bones can be an incredibly expensive injury. An ambulance ride, combined with X-rays, MRIs, other scans, and follow-up treatments, can easily cost between $5,000 to $10,000.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are injuries that result from significant damage to the head, and therefore, the soft tissue of the brain. The CDC estimates that 1.5 million Americans experience a TBI each year. Mild TBIs can result in headaches and fatigue, while more serious TBIs can result in depression, anxiety, PTSD, changes in personality, learning deficits, and memory issues, among other things.
• Scrapes and Cuts: Scrapes and cuts can often appear minor, but they can become serious if infected. A scrape or cut may also be a sign of a more significant injury, such as a bruised organ or a TBI.

If you’re a driver:

• Always look both ways.
• Drive within the speed limit.
• Look out for small, dark objects.

If you’re a motorcyclist:

• Wear bright clothing.
• Add reflective coverings to your clothes and bike.
• Wear a bright, department of transportation-approved helmet.
• Avoid bad weather.

If you’ve been in a crash involving a motorcycle, make sure that the incident is reported to local law enforcement. That way, the correct forms will be filled out, which is the first step in a process that could lead to you being compensated for your injuries. Next, call an experienced accident attorney who can advise you through the next stages of the process. It’s essential to avoid apologizing or “admitting fault,” at this time, as this could be held against you later. You’ll also want to avoid negotiating any settlement or non-insurance related payment on the scene. 

If you’re involved in an accident in the state of Florida, you’ll need to seek medical and wage loss compensation from your insurance company first. This applies to the accident victim, the perpetrator, and even the passengers in their cars. Florida’s no-fault insurance laws may appear to put the burden back on insurance companies. However, even if you’re working with your own insurance company, know that it’s focused on paying out the smallest settlements allowable.

If you own a car, truck, or other vehicle with a Florida license plate, the state requires you to have car insurance. Florida’s No-Fault Law and Florida’s Financial Responsibility Law each set minimum coverage amounts for Florida drivers. However, you may wish to get insurance above the limited amount in order to protect yourself in the case of a serious accident.

If you have rental car coverage on your own car insurance policy, then your insurance company will foot the bill for any car rental costs. In other cases, you may be eligible for rental car coverage from the other driver’s insurance policy. As it takes time for the company to complete their investigation, you’re unlikely to receive a rental car from the other driver’s insurance within 24 hours of the accident. Investigations will typically involve interviewing the other party, as well as witnesses who may have been at the scene. In most cases, you’ll likely want to rent a car under your own policy, so you can get back on the road immediately.

The Florida Financial Responsibility Law requires that any person at fault in a crash resulting in bodily injury and property damage to others must have in effect at the time of the crash full liability insurance coverage. This coverage includes minimum limits of bodily injury liability of $10,000 per person, $20,000 per crash, $10,000 property damage liability per crash and personal injury protection limits of $10,000 per person per crash.