Auto accidents can be a stressful and painful experience. Luckily, vehicles are designed to protect their passengers. Motorcyclists, unfortunately, are open and vulnerable when it comes to accidents. In an instant, they can be flung from their motorcycle and wind up with a lifetime of injury — all from someone else’s negligence. After a motorcycle accident, facing insurance companies and attorneys on your own can be difficult and stressful, even if the accident wasn’t your fault. In order to recover the financial compensation you may be entitled to, you should consider hiring an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to advocate on your behalf.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle accident, you may have legal options to recover compensation. Our Winter Haven attorneys have decades of experience fighting for the rights of those who have suffered in an accident, and they may be able to help you as well. To learn more, fill out our case review form for a free evaluation.
Motorcycle Accident Causes
In 2015, Florida motorcycle fatalities increased by nearly 29 percent from the year before, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, It’s an alarming number, especially considering the seriousness of motorcycle injuries. The unfortunate reality of being in a motorcycle accident is that you can do everything right — like follow the laws of the road and wear proper safety equipment — and someone else’s carelessness and negligence on the road can still cause a devastating accident.
Some of the resulting injuries are immediate, but not all of them manifest as quickly. This can be a problem, as insurance companies and defense attorneys may try to minimize the severity of your injury and the role their client played in causing it. In addition to the injuries that come with a direct collision, a motorcyclist can end up with particularly disfiguring injuries from their contact with the road after falling off their vehicle. This injury is referred to as “road rash.” In order to avoid getting into a motorcycle accident it is best to be cautious on the road and obey traffic laws at all times. Many accidents are caused when riders and drivers alike are lax in their adherence to the laws of the road. Some of the frequent causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding;
- Following a motorcyclist too closely;
- Turning left into the path of a motorcyclist;
- Changing lanes without looking;
- Failing to yield to the biker;
- Using a cell phone while driving;
- Collisions with fixed objects;
- Improperly maintained roadways;
- Pulling out in front of a motorcycle without enough time or space; and
- Failing to pay attention to the surroundings.
How A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help
Most motorcycle accident lawsuits are pursued under the theory of negligence. A motorcycle accident injury attorney can prove that another individual or entity was negligent, and that this negligence played a direct role in causing your injury. Determining just how much the other driver was at fault for your injury is crucial to recovering compensation, and that’s where a Morgan & Morgan attorney can help. To determine fault, your attorney will perform a thorough investigation into your accident and injury.
Our Winter Haven lawyers are familiar with the tactics insurance companies and defense attorneys may use to try and pay out as little as possible, and we’re committed to helping clients recover the amount they are rightfully owed. Some of the things your attorney might do to compile evidence and build your case include:
- Evaluating the scene of the accident;
- Reviewing reports from Winter Haven police, photographs, and sobriety tests, if available;
- Reviewing your medical records;
- Questioning witnesses;
- Recreating the accident;
- Contacting experts in the areas of accident injuries, motorcycle performance, collisions, and scene investigation;
- Contacting insurance companies;
- Review your driving history; and
- Reviewing the driving history of any other drivers involved in the accident.
With this information, our attorneys can then begin building a compelling case that someone else was responsible for your injury and that you deserve compensation for your damages.
Contact Morgan & Morgan Today
Getting into a motorcycle accident is already a physically and emotionally debilitating experience. You shouldn’t have to bear the medical expenses of your accident if you didn’t cause it too. Morgan & Morgan attorneys may be able to help you receive compensation for your damages. Our Winter Haven office has a strong history of recovering compensation for our clients. Fill out our free, no-obligation case evaluation form if you’re ready to seek justice today.