Tampa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Navigating Motorcycle Accident Claims in Florida
With beautiful weather year-round, Tampa is a hot spot for motorcycling. Unfortunately, motorcyclists and their passengers are 27 times more likely to die in a crash than people who drive or ride in passenger vehicles.
Without the protection of passenger vehicles, motorcyclists are more vulnerable to collisions – even when accidents are not their fault. Drivers who fail to check their blind spots and do not exercise caution around motorcyclists contribute to nearly 5,000 deaths every year, and 80% of motorcycle crashes end in injury or death to the motorcyclist.
When negligent drivers ruin your ride and you sustain serious injures as a result, Four Rivers Law Firm is here to help secure your future.
Call us at (813) 773-5105 to find out what kind of compensation you may be entitled to.
Identifying Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
More than half (63%) of all motorcycle accidents involve more than one vehicle, and accidents between cars and motorcycles usually involve negligence.
Negligent behaviors that lead to motorcycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes
- Aggressive driving
- Drowsy driving
- Failure to yield
- Improper turns
- And more
Many motorcycle accidents occur in intersections when cars turn into the path of an oncoming motorcycle. Another accident that affects motorcyclists and bicyclists, specifically, is called “dooring.” Dooring happens when someone opens their car door into a motorcyclist or a motorcyclist’s path.
No matter how your accident happens, however, you shouldn’t have to face the financial fallout of an accident that isn’t your fault. Our Tampa motorcycle accident attorneys help ensure you don’t have to.
Understanding Florida’s Motorcycle Laws
In Florida, all motorcyclists and passengers must wear protective headgear and eye protection. While some riders are exempt from this requirement – if they carry an insurance policy of $10,000 or more for motorcycle accident injuries – all riders and passengers under 16 must wear a helmet. Additionally, all motorcyclists must have a motorcycle endorsement added to their license.
The rules for Florida motorcyclists are outlined in Sections 322.12(5)(a) and 316.211 of The 2020 Florida Statutes, and you can find more information on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ website.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
You should wear a helmet every time you ride a motorcycle because helmets decrease the likelihood of death and brain injuries in motorcycle accidents. Aside from traumatic brain injuries, the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Road rash
- Broken bones
- Amputation injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Leg and foot injuries
- Torso and pelvic trauma
- Death
Even those who survive motorcycle injuries frequently suffer serious injuries and permanent disabilities. Getting in a motorcycle accident can change your life, and not necessarily for the better. While nothing we can do will change what happened, we can help you secure the resources you need to adjust to your post-accident life.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Victims
Many motorcycle accidents warrant personal injury or catastrophic injury lawsuits. When successful, these claims result in damages, or money that compensates you for injuries and losses.
Damages can be economic, non-economic, or punitive. Economic damages cover real expenses like medical bills, time away from work, lost earning potential, and more. Non-economic damages cover costs that are harder to measure such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. Finally, punitive damages serve to punish the wrongdoer in cases of extreme negligence or wrongdoing, such as drinking and driving.
At Four Rivers Law Firm, we help make sure you get all the damages you are entitled to. Our attorney fast and efficient, and we never forget that we work for you. The law is about justice, advocacy, and fairness, but most importantly, it’s about you.
Call us at (813) 773-5105 or contact us online to get personalized legal help during a free consultation.