Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle accidents often occur unexpectedly, and many victims suffer serious injuries or death. If you want to learn more about what you can do to enforce your legal rights, contact the Florida motorcycle crash accident lawyers at Holliday Karatinos Law Firm today for your free consultation.

We can gather evidence and develop legal strategies while you heal from your injuries.

Motorcycle accidents occur frequently throughout Florida. In fact, in one recent year, more than 8,500 reportable motorcycle accidents resulted in more than 5,400 injuries.

Protect our motorcycle riders.

In many cases, motorcycle accident victims deserve compensation for their severe injuries under Florida law.

If you have recently suffered injuries in an accident, you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

Our experienced Florida motorcycle accident lawyers can review your case, identify liable parties, and protect your rights throughout the motorcycle accident claim process.

Contact our office today to schedule a free case evaluation with a motorcycle accident attorney in Florida.

Motorcycle Accident Compensation 

Motorcycle accident victims may seek financial compensation for their injuries. Typically, the total damages calculated for a motorcycle accident case will reflect the losses suffered by the injured victims.

Most motorcycle accident victims claim general and special damages in motorcycle accident cases. In some cases, victims will also pursue punitive damages.

General damages include non-quantifiable losses such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental distress.

Special damages include more specific and quantifiable losses such as medical bills, property damage, and lost income.

By speaking with a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer in Florida, you can determine the nature and extent of your damages.

Courts award punitive damages in cases where the defendant acted maliciously, wantonly, or recklessly. These damages punish the defendant and hopefully deter others from committing the same wrongful conduct.

The following are common types of damages claimed in motorcycle accident cases: 

• Loss of future benefits
• Loss of future earnings 
• Medical bills 
• Mental distress 
• Pain and suffering 
• Loss of consortium 

One of the most important aspects of any civil lawsuit is determining the total damages of a case.

We can review medical records, hire expert witnesses, and assess how much your losses affected your own life as well as the lives of your loved ones.

It is impossible to provide an exact figure to prospective clients who ask how much their civil case is worth.

The facts of your case and the relevant evidence are two important factors influencing the outcome of a civil lawsuit.

However, sometimes, estimating a case's potential settlement value is possible.

Jury cases may produce different verdicts depending on the makeup of the jury pool and the individual jurors who decide on matters involving the case.

If you suffered injuries during a motorcycle accident, the most important thing you can do is seek medical treatment and speak to a knowledgeable attorney.

Once you better understand your motorcycle accident injuries, you can estimate the potential settlement value of motorcycle accident claims.

Where Do Motorcycle Accidents Occur in Florida

Motorcycle accidents can occur anywhere throughout Florida.

That said, they are more likely to occur in:

• Urban Areas: Motorcycle accidents are more likely to occur in urban areas with heavy traffic, like Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. These cities have more vehicles on the road and a higher risk of collisions.
• Intersections: Intersections are common locations for accidents of all types, including motorcycle accidents. Drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way or run red lights, leading to collisions.
• Highways and Freeways: Florida has many highways and freeways, and motorcycle accidents can happen at high speeds on these roads. Factors such as speeding, lane changes, and distracted driving can contribute to accidents.
• Tourist Areas: Florida is a popular tourist destination, and areas with a high volume of tourists may see more motorcycle accidents due to unfamiliarity with the roads, rental motorcycles, and distractions.
• Rural Roads: While less common than in urban areas, motorcycle accidents can still occur on rural roads in Florida. Factors like sharp curves, poor road maintenance, and wildlife can contribute to accidents in rural areas.
• Coastal Regions: Florida has a vast coastline, and areas near beaches may see more motorcycle traffic. Riders and drivers in coastal regions should be cautious, especially during the tourist season.

Motorcycle accidents can occur anywhere throughout Florida.

That said, they are more likely to occur in:

• Urban Areas: Motorcycle accidents are more likely to occur in areas with heavy traffic, like Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. These cities have more vehicles on the road and a higher risk of collisions.
• Intersections: Intersections are common locations for accidents of all types, including motorcycle accidents. Drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way or run red lights, leading to collisions.
• Highways and Freeways: Florida has many highways and freeways, and motorcycle accidents can happen at high speeds on these roads. Speeding, lane changes, and distracted driving can contribute to accidents.
• Tourist Areas: Florida is a popular tourist destination, and areas with a high volume of tourists may see more motorcycle accidents due to unfamiliar roads, rental motorcycles, and distractions.
• Rural Roads: While less common than in urban areas, motorcycle accidents can still occur on rural roads in Florida. Factors like sharp curves, poor road maintenance, and wildlife can contribute to accidents in rural areas.
• Coastal Regions: Florida has a vast coastline, and areas near beaches may see more motorcycle traffic. Riders and drivers in coastal regions should be cautious, especially during the tourist season.
  Motorcycle accidents often occur at intersections. Environmental conditions may also make particular intersections more or less dangerous during specific times of day. For example, fog and heavy rain may reduce visibility, making motorcyclists more likely to suffer injuries after being struck by a passing motorist.

Some intersections will be more dangerous depending on whether traffic is congested, and commuting may also make some intersections more hazardous at certain times of the day.

Motorcycle Accidents: The Basics

Motorcycle accidents occur in both rural and urban regions of Florida. Motorists cause motorcycle accidents under many different circumstances.

Unfortunately, some motorists do not practice safe driving behaviors when they are near motorcyclists. Instead, many of these individuals view motorcyclists as aggressive and dangerous on both quiet roads and busy highways.

Motorcyclists suffer many injuries when they are involved in motor vehicle accidents.

The following are some of the most common types of injuries suffered by motorcyclists in motorcycle accidents:

• High-speed accidents 
• Corner-turning accidents 
• Driving while intoxicated 
• Lane splitting accidents 
• Head-on collision accidents 
• Lane switching accidents 
• Left-hand turn accidents 

This is not an exhaustive list of the types of motorcycle accidents which may cause you to suffer serious bodily injury. However, these are some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents, and all motorists need to understand the vulnerability associated with riding a motorcycle.

All motorcyclists are exposed to the elements and the automobiles around them. Sometimes, drivers engage in distracted driving and do not see a motorcyclist until it is too late. Motorcyclists need to know the most common types of motorcycle accidents to prevent these incidents from occurring.

Specific injuries are also more common during motorcycle accidents. Due to the lack of a protective barrier between their bodies and other automobiles, motorcyclists are more at risk of suffering catastrophic injuries that cause temporary or permanent disability.

The following are the most common types of injuries motorcyclists suffer during motorcycle accidents:

• Internal organ damage 
• Third-degree burns 
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Traumatic brain injuries 
• Lacerations 
• Abdominal injuries 
• Road rash 
• Dental injuries 
• Lower extremity injuries 

Motorcyclists need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after a motorcycle accident to determine how much help they need to recover from their injuries. Creating a record of your injuries and your medical treatment will help you substantiate your legal claims.

Focus on the best things you can do to document your injuries and determine the rate of your progress as you heal and recover.

Fighting the Insurance Company 

Insurance companies are not interested in providing you with the financial compensation you seek for your injuries. Most insurance companies want to pay you as little as possible to increase their revenues and impress their shareholders.

Stand up to insurance companies' tactics and tools to weaken your case. Providing clear medical records with succinct observations and judgments can help you determine which strategy the insurance company will use to attack your theory of the case.

The majority of insurance companies use insurance claim adjusters to interact with patients. You do not want to volunteer information about your case to the insurance company because they will benefit from the facts learned about your case. Also, do not provide written or recorded statements to the insurance company or representative.

If you feel uncomfortable talking to an insurance company, you should hang up and contact a motorcycle accident attorney in Florida as soon as possible.

If you try to stand up to the insurance companies alone, you may be outnumbered and outmaneuvered. Opposing counsel will attempt to dismiss your legal claims and convince you that your accident case does not have merit.

A skilled Florida motorcycle accident lawyer can make sure you're adequately compensated.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident Section

If you want to know what you should do after suffering injuries during a motorcycle accident, you should focus on taking small steps initially. Keeping an injury journal is critical to the success of your motorcycle accident case.

A daily injury journal will preserve a record of your injuries and subjective experience. You should also follow all treatment plans recommended by your primary care physician and any treating doctors.

Keep all receipts of the medical treatment you receive during your recovery. You do not want an unfortunate accounting error to remove all the proof of your treatment. Request a copy of any traffic collision report and police report which may contain information regarding the cause of the motorcycle accident.

Many traffic collision reports contain maps with a determination of cause section. These details can strengthen your motorcycle accident lawsuit. You are not alone, and we pursue financial compensation for your injuries and ensure that the insurance company respects your rights.

If you schedule a free consultation, you should also bring copies of reports, documents, and receipts with you. We want to know how much medical treatment you have received, whether you are suffering from any undiagnosed conditions, and how often you seek treatment for your injuries.

Speaking to an attorney about the nature and extent of your injuries is one of the most productive things you can do for your civil case. The more information the attorney possesses about your injuries, the better legal advice they can provide.

Unfortunately, some motorcycle accident victims believe they can walk away from the accident scene because they suffered seemingly minor injuries, but this is not the case.

Specific injuries may not produce symptoms immediately, but weeks or months after the incident, a patient may begin suffering from symptoms associated with their undiagnosed injuries.

Call Us Today to Speak to a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Contact us today for your free consultation, during which we can discuss your case. You do not have to stand alone as you seek to assert your legal rights.

Reach out to the Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, PLLC, today at (352) 597-0009 to learn more about what you can do to enforce your legal rights. Our attorneys can handle every aspect of your motorcycle accident case and get you the compensation Florida law entitles you to.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!