If you or your loved one got hurt in a motorcycle accident, your injuries could be the fault of another driver or other negligent party.
Contact the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733 to speak to a member of our team about how a Daytona Beach motorcycle accident lawyer can help you seek financial compensation for your injuries and more.
Taking the Right Steps After a Motorcycle Accident
We understand the stress associated with motorcycle accidents in Daytona Beach. In many cases, these accidents result in serious injuries and significant damage to all vehicles involved in the collision. Taking the correct steps after an accident can help you build a claim to secure compensation for your losses.
Our team of motorcycle accident lawyers recommends that you complete as many of the following steps as possible after your accident:
Remove Your Vehicle from the Road
Getting your vehicle out of the path of oncoming traffic can prevent additional accidents and injuries. Do your best to get the vehicle onto the shoulder or even into a nearby parking lot. However, do not drive away from the scene of the accident.
Fleeing the scene of a collision can result in hit-and-run charges in Daytona Beach.
Call the Local Police
Getting in touch with the local police after an accident allows you to officially report the accident. Generally, you have a legal obligation to report all accidents that lead to significant property damage, injuries, or a fatality.
Police officers file a report when they come out to the scene of your accident. Our legal team often requests a copy of this report when building your claim.
Gather Evidence About the Accident
We recommend that you collect as much evidence as possible before leaving the scene of your motorcycle collision. After you leave, vehicles will be removed and it’s much harder to prove exactly what happened.
Take pictures of the positions of all vehicles after the collision, the damage to your vehicle, and your injuries. Get contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident occur as well as the drivers of other vehicles involved in the collision.
Finally, we recommend that you write down exactly what happened before you leave the accident scene. Memories fade quickly, especially after traumatic experiences. Writing everything down provides you with a clear explanation of the events that led to the collision.
Get Medical Care for Your Injuries
Motorcycle accidents often lead to severe injuries for all involved drivers. However, motorcyclists generally experience more serious injuries because they lack the protection offered by larger vehicles. Make sure you get professional care if you sustain:
- Broken bones or fractures
- Road rash, cuts, or burns
- Internal injuries or organ damage
- Head, neck, or back injuries
We recommend that you seek medical care quickly to establish the cause of your injuries.
Consider Working With a Lawyer
Getting legal help on your side can help you feel more confident about the outcome of a motorcycle accident claim in Daytona Beach. Our team provides professional assistance to drivers hurt in collisions. We offer you guidance, take over speaking with insurance companies, and walk you through each step of filing a legal claim.
Inform Your Insurance Company
Finally, most drivers need to speak with their insurance company after an accident. Take care with what you say to insurance agents, especially if agents representing the other driver reach out to you in Daytona Beach.
All Drivers Owe One Another a Duty of Care
Operating a motorcycle presents some unique challenges and comes with certain responsibilities. Riders must have the skills to balance and maneuver their motorcycle in all types of weather and road conditions.
Florida Motorcycle Laws
Riders must obtain a motorcycle license and follow several rules of the road specific to motorcyclists. Under the law, motorcycle operators must:
- Wear a helmet if under the age of 21. Riders over age 21 do not have to wear a helmet if they have at least $10,000 in medical insurance coverage for motorcycle accidents.
- Wear approved eye protection.
- Have a motorcycle equipped with a horn, headlamp, rear red reflector, turn signals, taillights, and stop lamps.
- Not wear headsets, headphones, or other listening devices.
- Not lane split, ride more than two abreast in a lane, drag race, or perform a “wheelie.”
It is not only the responsibility of motorcyclists to obey the law and drive safely. Even the most experienced and careful motorcyclist can get into an accident because of a reckless driver or unsafe roadway.
Negligent Driving Behaviors
Motor vehicle drivers should know and understand that motorcycles may be less visible because of their smaller size. They should take care to watch for motorcyclists, especially while turning and at intersections, which can be high-risk areas for motorcycle crashes.
Every driver, no matter what type of vehicle they operate, owes others on the road a duty of care.
All drivers must obey traffic laws and exercise caution. If you were in a motorcycle accident with a car, truck, or other vehicle, the driver may bear responsibility if they were breaking the law or driving negligently.
Examples of negligent driving include, but are not limited to:
- Texting and driving
- Drinking and driving
- Speeding
- Failing to yield
- Making an improper turn
- Failing to stop at stop signs and traffic lights
- Making an improper lane change
- Tailgating
Sometimes, motorcycle accidents are not caused by another driver. If an unsafe road design, poor maintenance, inadequate lighting, or another dangerous road condition caused your crash, the entity in charge of the roadway may be liable. This could be a government entity or owner of a private drive. There may be more than one responsible party.
You Can Hold a Negligent Driver Accountable
Do not let the details of your accident overwhelm you or prevent you from holding the negligent party responsible. A Daytona Beach motorcycle accident lawyer can help investigate your crash and establish liability. The team at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you fight for the compensation you need to get your life back on track.
Call us today at 1-800-747-3733.
Serious Injuries Mean Serious Expenses
Motorcycle accident injuries can lead to major medical expenses. Motorcycles accident victims may suffer from:
- Broken or severed limbs
- Severe lacerations (road rash)
- Spine injuries
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Loss of mobility
- Paralysis
Head injuries are a particular concern for motorcyclists involved in a crash, especially if they were not wearing a helmet.
Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBIs can result in both short and long-term complications with cognitive functions, motor functions, use of the senses, and behavior. TBIs and other severe injuries can cause a lifetime of related expenses, including medical treatments and loss of income.
Seeking Compensation for Your Injuries
If you or a loved one suffered a severe motorcycle accident injury, you can seek financial compensation.
The first step is reporting your accident to your insurance provider. Florida follows a no-fault insurance model, meaning your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage may pay for your medical expenses. However, if your injuries are serious and exceed your PIP, you may have the right to sue the party liable for your accident.
An attorney can help you pursue financial awards for your past and future medical bills, property damages, pain and suffering, and past and future loss of income.
If a motorcycle accident resulted in your loved one’s death, you may have the grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. You may win awards on your loved one’s behalf, as well as additional compensation for your loss of companionship and financial support.
Connect With the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine Before Time Runs Out
If you believe your accident was not your fault, do not hesitate to reach out to our team to see if a Daytona Beach motorcycle accident lawyer can help you. The insurance claims process can take time, and if you must pursue your case in court, you are bound by the statute of limitations. In Florida, you have four years to commence legal action for personal injury and two years to sue for wrongful death.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can help you get started on your case right away with a free, no-obligation consultation. We go the extra mile for our clients. We want to help you win the most advantageous settlement possible as quickly and efficiently as we are able. Give our team a call at 1-800-747-3733.