Most motorcycle accidents happen at intersections, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This may be where an Orlando motorcycle accident is most likely to happen and may be where an accident involving you or a loved one occurred. Wherever your accident occurred, you may be entitled to compensation if your accident was the result of negligence (by a motorist or another party). An Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation through an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Motorcycle Accidents Generally Produce Injury
Statistics indicate that, regardless of where a motorcycle happens, it is overwhelmingly likely to produce injury. Per Insurance Information Institute (III) findings, “in 2017, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled.” Some factors that could determine if an injury occurs, or how serious an injury to your or a loved one is, include:
- How fast the vehicle that struck you was traveling
- Whether the driver of the vehicle that struck you was able to brake or make other impact-reducing measures before they struck you
- Whether the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident, as it may impact their alertness and ability to stop before impact
- The safety equipment that you were (or were not) wearing at the time of the accident
- The angle at which your accident occurred
Your lawyer will gather all of the facts relevant to your accident so that they can make the case that you were the victim of wrongdoing by a motorist and possibly other parties.
Motorists Have a Responsibility to Motorcyclists
Motorists have a responsibility to all parties on or near a roadway. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists, other motorists, and passengers in other vehicles. The Legal Information Institute (LII) explains the legal principle of duty of care, which all motorists must adhere to. It means that a motorist must act as a reasonable person would, to avoid causing an accident.
Motorcyclists may be especially vulnerable to motorists who violate their duty of care. Because most Orlando motorcycle accidents are likely to happen at an intersection, consider how a motorist may violate their duty of care at an intersection. They may:
- Turn right at a light without noticing that your motorcycle was oncoming
- Make a left turn in front of a motorcyclist, causing a collision or you to lose control of your motorcycle
- Run a red light, causing a collision with your motorcycle
- Stop unexpectedly and unjustifiably in front of you, causing a rear-end collision
Additional types of motorist behaviors that can occur anywhere on the road may also have contributed to your accident. Such behaviors may make a motorist responsible for your accident-related losses. These may include:
- Speeding
- Merging into an occupied lane
- Driving at night without headlights
- Driving without functional mirrors
- Driving without functional brake lights
- Failing to properly secure items to the outside of a vehicle
- Allowing items inside of a vehicle to fly out while driving
- Texting while driving
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Striking your vehicle in the rear, which may be caused by tailgating
Every motorcycle accident is unique, but they may generally have a common thread: when a motorist strikes a motorcyclist, there is a great risk of injury.
Your Lawyer Will Survey Your Losses
Your lawyer will survey all of your accident-related losses in order to determine how much compensation you should be entitled to. Your motorcycle could be seriously damaged or even totaled because of your accident. You may deserve compensation for such harm. Your injuries could produce losses beyond property damage, however.
Your injuries could require emergency care, follow-up treatment, and rehabilitation. You may collect compensation for the cost of such care. You may also be entitled to awards covering:
- Costs associated with you being unable to work, including your lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Specific psychological or emotional conditions resulting from your accident, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Specific physical conditions that are the result of accident-related injuries, such as chronic pain or loss of certain bodily functions
- The cost of transportation to appointments stemming from your motorcycle accident
Your lawyer will put together a case for compensation, then negotiate a settlement or seek a judgment in pursuit of the awards you are due.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Today
You are not alone after an Orlando motorcycle accident. The team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will provide responsive legal care and serve as your advocates. In the aftermath of an accident causing injury or the passing of a loved one, we are here for you.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at 1-407-500-4000 for a free consultation. You worry about getting better. We take care of everything else.
