Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Were you injured in an accident while riding your motorcycle? Was it due to someone else’s carelessness or negligent actions? If so, call the Florida personal injury lawyers of Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. to discuss your options for holding that person liable. You might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and other losses.

Our team of dedicated lawyers has the experience and resources to handle any accident case involving a motorcycle. The injuries are often severe, and medical treatment can become a significant expense. We can provide the quality legal representation you deserve and fight for justice against the at-fault driver. You should not be forced to pay for any incurred costs if you don’t share any responsibility for causing the accident.

The Florida motorcycle accident lawyers of Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. are ready to take on your legal matter and complete every step of the process on your behalf — you won’t have to lift a finger during your case. We take care of all legal aspects so that you can focus on healing your injuries and moving forward with your life. We are always aggressive in our settlement negotiations and aren’t afraid to file a lawsuit and take cases to court.

Contact Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. at 561.689.8180 for a free consultation to learn more about what we can do for you after a motorcycle accident. Call Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. now at 561.689.8180.

Types of Motorcycle Accidents That Can Occur

Riding a motorcycle is exhilarating and a convenient form of transportation during heavy traffic. Unfortunately, it’s also dangerous, as a helmet is the only safety device protecting the rider from harm. These limited safety features contribute to the increased risk of injury and death motorcyclists face in an accident.

The most common types of motorcycle accidents include:

• Dooring – After someone parks their car, they should look behind them before opening their door. If they don’t, they could open the door in the path of an approaching motorcyclist.
• Rear-end collisions – Following any vehicle too closely is dangerous. If it involves a motorcyclist, they are at serious risk of harm if a crash occurs. The rider could get ejected from their bike during the violent impact of the collision.
• Left-hand turn accidents – Turning left requires motorists to look for passing vehicles and proceed with caution. They could end up in a motorcyclist’s path if they decide to turn without checking their surroundings first.
• Lane splitting – Lane splitting is illegal in Florida, but that doesn’t stop many people from doing it anyway. Riding between two lanes of traffic is risky behavior. Another driver could suddenly change lanes without warning or checking their blind spots, sideswiping a motorcyclist.
• Head-on accidents – Drifting or turning into oncoming traffic commonly leads to head-on collisions. The driver becomes distracted and doesn’t notice their vehicle drifting into a different lane. This is one of the most deadly types of motorcycle accidents.

Call Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. immediately if you were involved in any type of motorcycle crash in Florida that wasn’t your fault. When you’re in pain and struggling to recover, you should not have to take on the responsibility of an insurance claim or lawsuit. We can relieve your burden in that regard and handle everything on your behalf.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Despite traffic laws, many drivers are still unaware of the rights afforded to motorcyclists. They might not realize that the same laws apply and that they must yield in specific situations. Other drivers ignore motorcycles altogether. Instead, they’re on the lookout for other cars and trucks, and often fall habit to changing lanes without checking their blind spots, which puts the rider at risk of an injury.

Without a seatbelt or airbag to protect you during an accident, you’re at the mercy of other vehicles and the surrounding environment. The initial impact of a crash has the potential to launch you from your bike and cause blunt force trauma to your body. Subsequent injuries can follow from landing on the pavement, being hit by oncoming traffic, or being impaled by sharp debris.

Even if you operate your motorcycle safely, you cannot control what the people around you do. Unfortunately, the slightest error or split second of inattention can put you on a collision course with another vehicle. The most common causes of motorcycle accidents are:

• Speeding – Driving above the speed limit is dangerous for everyone on the road. If you encounter a speeding motorist, they could suddenly lose control of their vehicle and crash into you.
• Distracted driving – Distracted driving caused 3,142 fatalities in 2019. The most common type is texting. When someone focuses on a task other than operating their car, they likely won’t notice anything around them. By the time their brain registers stopped traffic or a road hazard, there isn’t enough time to stop or swerve to avoid a collision.
• Failure to check blind spots – Since motorcycles are smaller than most vehicles, drivers should thoroughly check their blind spots before turning, merging onto a highway, and changing lanes. If they don’t, they could sideswipe a nearby motorcyclist.
• Tailgating – The recommended stopping distance for a car traveling at 60 miles per hour is 240 feet. Driving closely behind a motorcyclist prevents the driver from coming to a complete stop to avoid a collision when necessary. There isn’t enough space between both vehicles.
• Defective parts – Some motorcycles have faulty parts due to a poor design or manufacturing error. If you were unaware of a defect and your bike malfunctioned, resulting in your injury, the manufacturer could be at fault.
• Failure to yield – Different circumstances require drivers to yield to others before proceeding along the road. Entering an intersection first means you can continue driving. However, if someone else runs the stop sign, they could crash into you.
• Dangerous road conditions – Although government entities and some companies are responsible for maintaining roadways, it’s up to every driver to take safety precautions around potholes and other hazards. Multiple parties could be liable for an accident caused by road defects.

No matter what another person did to cause the crash, you have a right to hold them accountable and seek the compensation you need to pay for your medical treatment and other costs.

How to Handle a Motorcycle Accident

Most motorcycle accidents cause severe or debilitating injuries. In most cases, you won’t be able to walk around to collect evidence at the scene and exchange insurance information with other people involved in the crash.

Instead, you should focus on the weeks, months, and years ahead. Go to the hospital immediately for a doctor to evaluate your injuries and determine a treatment plan. It is important that you follow the orders and treatment plan underlined by your doctor.

You might not realize this, but insurance companies don’t look out for a claimant’s interests. They want to save money whenever possible and look for every valid reason to deny a person’s claim or offer a low settlement. If your initial medical evaluation isn’t until weeks after the accident, or you regularly skip your doctor’s appointments, it could indicate a minor or non-existent injury.

You should also considering hiring one of the Florida motorcycle accident lawyers from Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. immediately after the crash. You may feel that you can take on the insurance company by yourself, however, there are multiple aspects of a claim and unforeseen obstacles that could arise. If you’re unfamiliar with how this process works, you could make a mistake and end up with an inadequate settlement.

Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. has the resources to request copies of your medical records and collect other necessary evidence. Most accident victims forget vital details of their treatment. For example, if you went to a facility for an X-ray at some point after your accident, you might not remember it months or years later. For this reason, it’s crucial to keep copies of every document you receive during your case. We can review what you have and ensure your medical records contain every treatment date.

Compensation You Might Be Entitled to Following a Motorcycle Accident

Florida is a no-fault state when it comes to car insurance. That means the injured victim must turn to their personal injury insurance (PIP) for compensation for their medical bills and other expenses before going after the at-fault driver’s insurer. However, PIP only covers motor vehicles that have at least four wheels. Since a motorcycle only has two wheels, the rider would not be covered by PIP, and the no-fault rules would not apply.

You could file a claim with the negligent driver’s car insurance company if they carry liability coverage. The compensation you receive could cover the losses you suffered, such as:

• Property damage
• Vehicle rental expenses
• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Physical impairment or disfigurement

If the other person involved in the accident doesn’t have liability insurance, you might be able to file a claim with your UM carrier. Uninsured motorist (UM) is optional coverage in Florida. If you chose to purchase it, you could file a claim to compensate for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage, you could also seek compensation for the cost to repair your motorcycle.

Contact Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. for Your Free Consultation

You do not have to go through this traumatic experience alone. Our Florida motorcycle accident lawyers will remain by your side and help you recover from your injuries so that you can move forward with your life. We understand your pain, and the challenges you face regarding the long-term effects of the crash. Someone else put you in this situation, and you can count on us to fight for you.

If you sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident in Florida, call Schuler, Halvorson, Weisser, Zoeller, Overbeck & Baxter P.A. now at 561.689.8180.