Bradenton Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Guiding Injured Clients Through Personal Injury Cases
Motorcycle accidents are known for resulting in severe injuries, and unfortunately, even the most experienced riders can face danger at every turn. That’s because no matter how many precautions they take, careless drivers in other vehicles might not notice them until it’s too late. When you consider the crowded highways, debris-covered roads, and poorly lit city streets motorcyclists must navigate, it’s no wonder they face the possibility of a collision every time they take to the pavement.
While you can’t always prevent tragic motorcycle accidents from occurring, you can pursue your rightful compensation award as an injured victim. Experienced motorcycle accident attorneys can make the legal process easy on you and your family, so if you or a loved one was injured in a Bradenton motorcycle crash, call Legler, Murphy & Battaglia, LLP for a free case evaluation. A caring personal injury attorney from our Florida law firm would be happy to help you through your motorcycle accident claim to ensure you get the maximum compensation.
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Florida?
Due to the fact that the motorcycle itself lacks safety features, riders must rely on their clothing and protective gear to protect them from serious injuries in a motorcycle accident. Some examples of protective gear include heavy boots, leather jackets, and helmets. Not surprisingly, it doesn’t prevent severe injuries when riders collide with other vehicles and are thrown to the pavement or into stationary objects, such as guardrails or light posts.
As a result, riders typically suffer catastrophic injuries that can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Amputation
- Road rash
- Skull fractures and other head injuries
- Multiple lacerations
- Ruptured tendons and torn ligaments
- Internal bleeding
- Paralysis
Additionally, the most severe motorcycle crashes can result in fatalities. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a Bradenton motorcycle accident, it is crucial that you discuss your case with a skilled motorcycle accident attorney. The lawyers at Legler, Murphy & Battaglia, LLP have successfully handled numerous motorcycle accident cases for injured clients, so you can count on us to take on your case with confidence as we work to get you the full compensation you’re entitled to.
What Causes Most Florida Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle accident victims are too often faced with the notion that they were being negligent just by riding a motorcycle. However, that is not the law, and any thoughts or ideas that this is a factor in a tragic accident should be denied. Further, there are different laws that apply to motorcycle accident cases that may have an impact on a particular situation. Therefore, it is always essential to consult a Bradenton motorcycle accident attorney to discuss the particular facts and circumstances of the incident.
Every personal injury claim requires victims to gather evidence showing who caused the accident and how, so be prepared to do the same when you initiate a Florida motorcycle accident case. If you’re unsure how to begin this process, you should hire a Bradenton motorcycle accident attorney to investigate on your behalf before requesting compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance company. While no two Bradenton motorcycle accidents are the same, we’ve observed that many crashes of this kind are caused by one or more of the following actions:
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Distracted driving
- Ignoring stop signs, red lights, and traffic laws
- Drowsy driving
- Tailgating
- Making unsafe turns
- Failing to notice road hazards
- Changing lanes without checking blind spots
- Opening a car door into the path of a motorcycle rider
In many motorcycle accident cases, the evidence shows that the at-fault party is the driver of the larger vehicle, whether it’s a car, truck, or bus. This is because drivers who are distracted, speeding, or otherwise careless on the road often don’t see motorcycle riders until it’s too late.
However, some riders are found to be partly or fully liable for the motorcycle crash that injured them. For example, some riders get on the road despite being impaired by drugs or alcohol, tired, or too distracted to ride their motorcycle safely. If this is the case, the injured party may still be able to collect compensation as long as they’re not more than 50% at fault for the motorcycle accident. This is because Florida uses the modified comparative negligence law when handling personal injury claims.
Your Bradenton motorcycle accident attorney will investigate the cause of your motorcycle crash before letting you know who is at fault. This will determine whose insurance company will be liable for the damages. If you share fault with someone else, your compensation award will be reduced accordingly to abide by Florida’s comparative negligence laws. So, if you’re 30% at fault for the motorcycle accident, your compensation will be reduced by 30%, but the other at-fault party’s insurance company will be expected to pay 70% of the requested damages. If you’re ready to find out who has financial responsibility for your Florida auto accident, contact a Bradenton motorcycle accident lawyer from our law firm for legal representation.
What Compensation Can You Expect from Your Bradenton Motorcycle Accident Claim?
As you recover from your Bradenton motorcycle accident, you might begin to worry about your financial situation. After all, it can take months to heal from broken bones, burns, and other common injuries caused by motorcycle accidents. For this reason, it’s common for an injured motorcyclist to take time off work, causing them to miss out on several paychecks or lose their job completely. It can feel impossible to make up for lost wages while healing from a head injury, road rash, and other severe wounds, which is why victims of Bradenton motorcycle accidents should seek compensation for lost wages during their motorcycle accident case. This is just one example of the economic damages you should pursue from the responsible parties.
Another example is loss of earning capacity, which applies if you’re unable to work in your industry in the future due to a permanent wound, such as brain damage. If you’re wondering how to pay your bills when you can’t work, the answer is to recover compensation by filing a motorcycle accident case in Florida. A fair compensation award should include enough money to make up for not only temporarily lost wages, but also the loss of your normal earning capacity. An experienced personal injury lawyer will calculate an amount that will justly compensate you for life-altering consequences like this one.
Fair compensation after an auto accident should also pay for all the medical expenses associated with the crash. So, if you needed to take an ambulance to the hospital for emergency surgery, followed by pain medication and physical therapy, your settlement should pay for these medical bills. If you need additional medical treatment in the future, your settlement will likely cover those medical expenses, as well.
Serious motorcycle accidents usually destroy motorcycles beyond recognition, leaving injured victims without transportation. You should not have to pay for a new motorcycle or other vehicle out of your own pocket. Instead, make sure your settlement negotiations include money for property damage. A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer will work hard to recover damages sufficient to either pay for a new vehicle or afford any necessary motorcycle repair costs. They can even recover compensation for emotional distress, mental anguish, and other non-economic damages.
Fatal motorcycle accidents can lead to wrongful death lawsuits filed by close family members. These can seek some of the same damages as personal injury cases, such as medical bills for any emergency medical attention given to the victim after the crash. However, wrongful death claims can also recover compensation for funeral and burial costs, as well as the loss of the victim’s income. A trusted Bradenton motorcycle accident attorney will let you know what damages you’re entitled to after a crash, so call our law office today for a free case evaluation.
How Can Bradenton Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Assist You?
At Legler, Murphy & Battaglia, LLP, we’ve seen firsthand the damage motorcycle accidents can cause for injured victims and their families. The injuries are often painful and even debilitating, changing the trajectory of your life within seconds. Even worse, some Florida motorcycle crashes are fatal, causing you to lose a close family member due to the actions of a negligent driver.
You shouldn’t have to struggle to pay your bills as you work on healing from your injuries or grieving your sudden loss. You deserve to rely on a generous settlement that will pay for all your expenses stemming from the crash, from property damage to medical bills. That’s why our team is dedicated to guiding clients through the legal process of pursuing monetary compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
For over 35 years, our firm has provided exceptional client service to injured riders in Bradenton and beyond, including throughout Manatee County. We understand that a serious accident can impact a rider’s entire family, and we fight to recover the maximum compensation possible no matter the injuries and factors that led to the accident.
When you hire our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys, we’ll review important evidence – such as the police report and traffic camera footage – to determine fault and request compensation on your behalf. We’ll also handle all settlement negotiations with the insurance company so you don’t have to. If you’re ready to recover compensation to pay for medical treatment, damaged property, and more, call our Bradenton law office at 941-909-3763 for a free initial consultation with a caring motorcycle accident attorney.