More than any other kind of accident on Hialeah’s roadways, motorcycle accidents can result in devastating injuries. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident that another party caused, you can seek compensation for your damages.
Our Hialeah motorcycle accident lawyer understands how these cases differ from other motor vehicle crashes. The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine helps injured motorcyclists exercise their rights so they get the money they need to pay for medical treatment, make up for lost income, and compensate for pain and suffering. During a free initial consultation, we can explain more about how our Hialeah personal injury lawyer can help your case.
How Our Personal Injury Attorneys Advocate for Motorcycle Accident Victims’ Financial Recovery
If you are a motorcycle accident victim in Hialeah, our legal team is prepared to fight for a fair settlement on your behalf. When you bring your case to the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we will:
- Speak to all parties involved in your case for you, including insurance companies and the liable party’s attorney
- Determine which damages you can recover
- Answer all your legal questions
- Provide you with your attorney’s phone number
- Ensure you’re updated about the status of your case
- Inform you of any laws that apply to your case, such as the personal injury statute of limitations, Florida Statutes § 95.11
Damages You Can Recover After a Hialeah Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can lead to serious injuries that are costly to treat. Injured motorcyclists can recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Present and future lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
In many cases, our attorneys will use medical experts, photographs, medical records, and testimony of family or others to prove how an accident has changed your life.
Recovering Wrongful Death Damages After a Motorcycle Crash
If your loved one lost their life in a fatal motorcycle accident, our law firm is prepared to advocate for your family’s financial recovery. While only certain parties can file a wrongful death lawsuit per Florida Statutes § 768.20, your family members may benefit from compensation for damages such as:
- Your loved one’s medical care costs related to the accident
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of parental guidance and companionship
- Your family’s mental anguish
- Loss of your loved one’s income
- Loss of support and services
You can leave your case to our wrongful death attorney in Hialeah while you spend time with your family.
Avoid These Mistakes After a Motorcycle Accident in Hialeah
After your accident, the actions you take can influence the outcome of your case. Our motorcycle accident attorney recommends that you:
- Do not delay seeking medical care. Our firm has represented many clients who did not think their injuries were serious at the time of the accident, only to later find that the damage was more severe than they initially thought. If you did not receive emergency care immediately after your crash, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away for an evaluation. Insurance companies can use time gaps between the accident and initial treatment to argue the claimant’s injuries are minor or unrelated to the wreck.
- Avoid admitting fault. You should not admit fault or take blame for the accident. If an insurance adjuster asks you how the accident happened, refrain from giving a statement until you speak with a lawyer at our firm. Riding a motorcycle does not make you responsible for an accident. According to the Sun-Sentinel, one Florida Department of Transportation study found that car drivers are responsible for motorcycle accidents 60% of the time.
- Do not accept a low settlement offer. You may want to refrain from accepting any settlement offer from another driver or an insurance company until you speak with a lawyer. Agreeing to a settlement before you know the extent of your injuries can prevent you from obtaining fair compensation. Once you settle your claim, you cannot reopen it.
How Are Motorcycle Accidents Different From Other Accidents?
Some differences between motorcycle accidents and other motor vehicle accident cases include:
Different Insurance Laws Apply to Motorcyclists
Some Florida laws are different for motorcyclists than for other drivers. For example, car drivers must have a personal injury protection (PIP) insurance policy, which compensates policyholders and their passengers for their injuries or lost wages after an accident, regardless of who is at fault.
However, state laws do not require PIP insurance for motorcycle riders. Many insurers do not offer it, even if the motorcyclist has PIP insurance for another vehicle. If you are in a wreck, our attorneys can evaluate the insurance coverages available to you, including liability coverage on the at-fault driver’s policy. We will then help you open claims, pursue compensation for your injuries, and file a lawsuit if necessary.
You May Hold Another Driver Liable for Your Injuries
To hold a party liable for damages after an accident, car drivers must show that their injuries are so severe they meet Florida’s serious injury threshold. This can be a tough requirement to meet.
As a motorcyclist, you do not have to meet that requirement. Any injury sustained in the accident, regardless of how serious or permanent, qualifies you to hold the negligent driver personally responsible.
Proving Another Driver Was Responsible for Your Motorcycle Accident
To recover compensation from an at-fault driver, your case must establish both liability and damages. A driver who caused an accident due to negligence is liable for injuries the motorcyclist suffered.
Negligent drivers may:
- Engage in distracted driving
- Drive too fast
- Drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Fail to recognize motorcyclists’ right to the road
- Fail to check for motorcyclists when changing lanes
- Violate traffic laws
To prove negligence, we secure eyewitness testimony, retrieve the accident report, and may even hire a crash investigator or reconstruction expert.
What If You Were Not Wearing a Helmet When You Crashed?
According to state law, if you carry an insurance policy with at least $10,000 in injury coverage and are over age 21, you do not have to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle. It is a safer practice to wear one, but failure to wear one does not prevent you from taking action against a negligent driver.
Negligent drivers and their insurance companies often try to blame riders who do not wear helmets, claiming the failure to do so caused or contributed to the victim’s head or neck injuries. If successful, this tactic can reduce the value of your settlement. By consulting with doctors and other experts, we will work to defeat this defense. We can instead demonstrate that it was the negligent driver who caused your injuries.
What If a Road Hazard Caused Your Motorcycle Accident in Hialeah?
Since they are smaller and lighter than cars, motorcycles can be especially susceptible to hazards or debris on Hialeah’s roads. When a motorcycle hits a large object in the road, it may seem impossible to identify the negligent party.
We can analyze whether your insurance covers your accident and whether another party—such as the government agency in charge of road maintenance—may be responsible for your crash.
We Can Help You Settle Your Injury Claim After a Motorcycle Crash
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, we work to get you the compensation you need to recover after a motorcycle accident.
Contact us today to speak with a team who can discuss obtaining fair compensation for your injuries. Call us today to begin with a free case evaluation.
We Can Help.
