If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident in Florida that was caused by the negligent actions of another person, state law gives you the right to seek compensation for the damages caused by your accident-related injuries.
Because of the lack of enclosure and safety restraints, injuries to riders in motorcycle accidents are often more severe than injuries to automobile drivers or passengers. These injuries can include:
- Cuts, scrapes and abrasions
- Road rash
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head, neck, or back injuries
- Disfigurement, scarring
- Limb amputation
- Internal organ damage
- Paralysis
Medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering are just a few of the losses injured motorcycle riders experience after a motorcycle accident in Florida. Some of these injuries are so severe they leave the rider permanently disabled, unable to return to work and stuck with ongoing medical expenses.
Most of us can’t afford to take a financial hit like that. And why should you? The accident and resulting injuries weren’t your fault.
In order to recover compensation for the losses due to your injuries, you must file a motorcycle accident injury claim with yours or the other driver’s insurance company.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Florida
To best help your claim, try to gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident. Exchange names, insurance policy numbers, drivers’ license numbers, and contact information. Take pictures of the accident scene and get the names and contact information of any witnesses to the accident. File a police report. Seek immediate medical attention, taking special care to save all your medical reports and receipts. These will be important for establishing a dollar figure for your damages when you file your claim.
The next thing you should do after a Florida motorcycle accident: hire a personal injury attorney with experience negotiating and litigating motorcycle accident injury claims.
NOTE: Don’t wait too long to file your claim. Strict statute of limitations laws apply to motorcycle injury claims in Florida; if you wait too long, the courts may refuse to hear your case!
If damages caused by your injuries total $10,000 or less, then your PIP insurance policy (if you have one; Florida state law doesn’t require motorcyclists to have PIP insurance) or the at-fault driver’s PIP insurance company will cover your costs.
If your damages total to more than $10,000, you’ll definitely want an Lutz motorcycle accident attorney to represent your interests. Why? In order to get more than $10,000 dollars for your injuries, you’ll need to negotiate a settlement with the at-fault party and their insurance company. If you aren’t familiar with the law, or know the exact costs of your injuries, how can you negotiate to get a satisfactory settlement? Your attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement that covers the full costs of your injuries, not just the expenses you’re facing right now.
If negotiations fail to produce the desired results, your next step would be to trial. Again, a lawyer’s representation will be invaluable. They will know how to effectively argue your case in front of a judge and jury. For instance, Florida is a comparative fault liability state; in order to avoid taking full responsibility for their policyholder’s actions, the insurance company will often attempt to place as much blame as possible on the motorcyclist for the accident. This includes playing on a jury’s prejudices with allegations that the motorcyclist’s “outlaw” lifestyle somehow played a major part in causing the accident.
Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Tania Rivas
The Rivas Law Group is here to help you file your Florida motorcycle accident injury claim. We have successfully represented clients living in Lutz, Tampa, Brandon, Winter Haven, Lakeland, Orlando and other Central Florida communities who have been injured in motorcycle accidents that were caused by the reckless actions of a motorist or trucker. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients and will fight to get you the total compensation you are due for your injuries and the negative impact they’ve had on your life.
Schedule an appointment with Lutz motorcycle accident injury lawyer Tania Rivas today. The Rivas Law Group handles all motorcycle accident injury cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no up-front charges if we decide to take your case, and you only pay as a percentage of your settlement after we’ve won your case.
