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Motorcycle Accidents

Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Helping Injured Motorcyclists Obtain Compensation

Florida is the Sunshine State, and sunshine is a magnet for motorcyclists.  Our weather may be perfect for riding, but we hope that motorcyclists will exercise great caution.  Despite the fact that motorcycles are a year-round feature on Florida roads, motorcycle accidents are quite common. Motorcyclists are exposed to significant dangers when they ride, and — unfortunately — too many drivers do not understand how to operate their vehicle safely around motorcycles.  In some cases, a car or truck driver may simply be unaware of the presence of two-wheelers on the road, as they’re not paying enough attention. Given the risks involved (and the heightened possibility of severe, potentially catastrophic injuries in the event of an accident), it’s important that injured motorcyclists obtain comprehensive representation that can secure adequate compensation.  We encourage you to contact Searcy Denney today for assistance — an experienced Florida motorcycle accident attorney at our firm will evaluate your claims and help you understand the steps necessary for obtaining damages.

Motorcycle Crash Victims Can Turn to Our Florida Personal Injury Law Firm for Justice

The injury lawyers at Searcy Denney are no strangers to motorcycle accident cases. In one recent experience, a South Florida husband and wife were riding their Harley Davidson along an oceanfront road when a restaurant delivery truck driver turned directly in front of them. There was no time for the couple to stop or avoid a collision.

Man riding motorcycle in first person view

The husband was pronounced dead that evening at a local hospital, where his wife was treated for injuries that included large lacerations and fractured bones in both legs. She had surgery and began what was to be long-term physical therapy. The wife retained Searcy Denney personal injury John Shipley, who negotiated a confidential settlement with the restaurant’s insurance company.

Florida Motorcycle Laws Explained by Our Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorneys 

Florida Helmet Law

The issue of helmet laws has become critical to improving motorcycle safety, and the U.S. Department of Transportation has stepped up its efforts to encourage use of helmets that meet federal safety requirements.

The NHTSA estimates that helmets saved the lives of 1,669 motorcyclists in 2014 – and that 660 more lives could have been saved if riders were wearing helmets. Yet just 19 states and the District of Columbia require that all motorcyclists must wear helmets.

  • The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that in 38% of motorcycle accidents in 2014, motorcycle drivers were not wearing helmets.
  • NHTSA studies indicate that Department of Transportation approved helmets are about 37% effective in preventing deaths and about 67% effective in preventing brain injuries among motorcyclists involved in accidents.
  • In states that have universal helmet laws, an estimated 91% of motorcyclists were wearing helmets.
  • In states that do not have helmet laws, only 24% of motorcyclists in accidents were wearing helmets.

Florida law requires motorcycle drivers and riders to wear federally approved helmets unless they are over 21 years old and are covered by a minimum of $10,000 in medical insurance for motorcycle injuries. Florida also requires motorcyclists to have their headlights on at all times while riding, even during the day.

Florida Lane Splitting Law

Lane splitting involves operating a motorcycle along the divider between two lanes for an extended period of time, with no intention to transition between lanes.  In other words, lane splitting involves moving between two adjacent lanes of traffic.

Motorcyclists across the country often lane split during traffic jams to avoid getting stuck behind other vehicles (and to utilize one of the natural “advantages” of the narrow size profile of a motorcycle), but it’s important to note that Florida law prohibits lane splitting.  If you are lane splitting, you could be exposed to a significant risk of injury — particularly in Florida, where the practice is illegal, and as such, drivers are not necessarily expecting a two-wheeler to occupy the space between two lanes.

If you suffer an injury due to your lane splitting antics, all is not lost.  In Florida, the implementation of “modified” comparative fault liability may give you a right to recover damages in such circumstances, so long as your percentage of fault is less than the defendant’s. 

Determining Fault in Motorcycle Accidents

In Florida, motorcyclist plaintiffs whose negligent acts contributed to their own injuries may have their damages reduced proportionally. However, if they are found to be more negligent than the defendant, they cannot recover damages.  

So, how does it work?

If a motorcyclist is speeding at the time of an accident, for example, then they may still be entitled to recover damages for their injuries (even if they were negligently speeding).  It’s worth noting, however, that the amount of damages that are potentially available to them is likely to be reduced due to their own contribution of fault, and if they are found to be more negligent than the defendant, they cannot recover damages.

For example, if the court finds that — by speeding — the motorcyclist is 20 percent at-fault for their own injuries, then a $500,000 damage total could be reduced by $100,000 maximum damages recovery.

Crashed motorcycle on the ground

A Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney from Our Firm Can Handle the Following Claims 

Motorcycle accidents can arise in a variety of situations.  Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to damages as compensation for your losses.

Consider the following.

Impaired Driving Accidents Explained by Our Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Impaired driving — whether due to intoxication, fatigue, or some other condition that causes a significant deficit in the ability of a driver to safely operate on the roadway — is a common cause of motorcycle accidents, in Florida and elsewhere.  Though motorcyclists are quite used to being “extra” attentive on the road due to the failure of many drivers to adequately account for the presence of two-wheelers, there are some situations where an accident is altogether too unexpected (or impossible) to avoid.

In fact, impaired drivers can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists, as a driver who is relying more on “muscle memory” and “instinct” (due to their impairment) may not be prepared to navigate around your motorcycle and give you the space necessary to avoid a collision.

If you’ve been injured by an intoxicated driver, then you may be entitled to assume their negligence — negligence per se laws in Florida allow plaintiffs to assume the negligence of any defendant who causes injury due to their violation of a non-traffic penal statute, such as drunk driving laws.  This can help your Florida motorcycle accident attorney gain leverage during early settlement negotiations, as the liability of the defendant will be much easier to prove.

Head-On Motorcycle Collisions

Head-on motorcycle collisions are perhaps the most devastating of all types, despite the fact that motorcyclists have time to brace for impact and attempt to avoid the collision.  From a physics perspective, a head-on motorcycle collision, both the plaintiff’s and the defendant’s impact forces are combined.  Further, the position of the motorcyclist is such (in relation to the force of impact) that there is a high likelihood they will be thrown off the vehicle and into the roadway, causing further injury and exposing them to a potential second or third hit from incoming traffic.

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end accidents are extremely dangerous for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, as the injured plaintiff does not expect the collision and cannot brace themselves for impact.  Rear-end accidents in the motorcycle context do not give the rider an opportunity to avoid or prepare for the collision, and as such, the rider may be exposed to a needlessly heightened risk of injury.

It’s worth noting that even low-speed rear-end accidents can cause significant injury for which you can recover under Florida law.  For example, if you are stopped at a red light and the defendant-driver rear-ends you, then an existing condition may be exacerbated, such as a deteriorative neck or spinal condition.  Exacerbated conditions give you a right of action for damages, so don’t shy away from the potential for litigation — with the help of your Florida motorcycle accident attorney, of course.

Hit and Run Motorcycle Accidents

Hit and run motorcycle accidents are unfortunately common, at least in part because an accident can fully disable a motorcycle, leaving the rider unable to chase down the liable defendant and identify them.  By contrast, if the defendant collides with a car, it’s possible that the car will not be totaled and will still be operational (enough to follow the hit-and-run defendant and identify them for the eventual lawsuit).

If a defendant-driver commits a hit-and-run against you, then you’ll have a significant advantage during litigation.  We encourage you to contact our firm even if you are not certain who the defendant is — an experienced Florida motorcycle accident lawyer here at Searcy Denney will partner with expert investigators who may be able to locate and identify the defendant.

Intersection Accidents (T-Bone, Broadside)

T-bones, broadside collisions, sideswipe accidents — any collision affecting the side of a motorcycle is likely to have severe injury consequences for the rider, as there is no material to absorb the impact force of the collision.  The full impact force will be felt directly by the rider’s body.  In such cases, the damages tend to be astronomical to account for the catastrophic degree of loss.

Left Turn Collisions

Among the most common motorcycle accidents is the left turn collision occurring at an intersection.  Oftentimes, this sort of accident happens due to the failure of a driver to observe the “see” the motorcycle making a left turn — as such, the driver may turn in front of the motorcyclist and cut them off, causing a collision.

Florida law gives right-of-way to vehicles based on their approach to an intersection.  For example, in Florida, a driver must yield right-of-way to a motorcycle (or any other vehicle) making a left turn at an intersection.

Limited Visibility Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles have a small size profile, making them fun to ride — and highly maneuverable in many cases — but also making them difficult to spot in certain conditions.  For example, if a driver is speeding through foggy weather, there’s a better chance that they’ll spot a full-size car or truck than a motorcycle, unless they’re cognizant of the possibility of there being a motorcycle.

Motorcyclists often try to circumvent this visibility issue by honking more frequently to alert drivers of their presence, or by driving in a pattern so that they create a more obvious visual signature for others.

Motorcycle Maneuverability Accidents

Many drivers lack firsthand experience with motorcycles, and are therefore lacking an understanding of the limitations and maneuverability issues that face motorcyclists on Florida roadways.

In the maneuverability sense, there are a few things that drivers should be aware of so that they can avoid a collision:

  • Motorcycles do not come to a stop faster than cars (despite the fact that they are lighter vehicles).
  • Motorcycles may move a lot “within the lane” to avoid potholes, debris, slick conditions, and further, to signal to other drivers that they are occupying the lane.
  • Motorcycles need space to maneuver and alter their course — drivers should keep the same distance behind a motorcycle as they would a car or a truck.
  • Turn signals may not be clicked off at precise times, so driver should be careful to assume an intent to make a turn.
  • And more

If drivers understood the challenges involved in operating a motorcycle, there would almost certainly be fewer accidents.

Right-of-Way Violations

In Florida, right-of-way is not assigned based on whether a vehicle is a two-wheeler or a four-wheeler.  Traffic lights are — as everyone is well aware — applicable regardless of the vehicle type.  Right-of-way rules are therefore governed by various circumstantial factors, such as signage and intersection approach order.

When approaching an intersection, for example, the defendant must yield right-of-way to your motorcycle if you: 1) reached the intersection before they did; 2) are making a left turn; and 3) are approaching the intersection from an attached secondary road.

Unsafe Lane Changing Accidents

Lane changing accidents are very common in the motorcycle accident context, and for good reason.  Drivers may change lanes recklessly, without taking the time to properly assess their mirrors for the presence of a motorcycle (or other two-wheeler).  This can quite easily lead to an accident, and — depending on the circumstances — you may not have the time necessary to avoid the collision.

Serious Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents expose riders to a risk of severe — even catastrophic — injury due to their structure.  Motorcycles are light and lack full rider coverage in the same way that a driver using a car has.  For example, if a vehicle collides with you from the side, the impact force will be directly imposed on your body.

Though motorcyclists are required to use helmets (and its recommended that motorcyclists wear other protective gear) by law, the direct exposure of one’s body can lead to injuries that include, but are not necessarily limited, to the following:

If you’ve sustained significant injuries in a motorcycle accident, your damages are likely to be quite high.  Those who suffer harm that causes them to experience a range of career-impacting impairments, for example, may be entitled to damages that include pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

Searcy Denney Motorcycle Accident Attorney Verdicts and Settlements

Read about more motorcycle accident case results and verdicts

When You Need a Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney, We’re Here – Contact Us Today

No one expects accidents to happen, but they do. If a family member has been killed or injured or you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, Searcy Denney’s experienced personal injury attorneys and support teams stand ready to help you.

Please take the time to complete our Contact Form, or call us directly at 1-800-780-8607 for a free, confidential consultation with a top Florida motorcycle accident attorney.  Our offices are located in Tampa, West Palm, and Tallahassee.  

Hear What Our Clients Have To Say

"Nick DeBellis obtained the maximum recovery of full insurance limits in the case we worked on. He is a true professional and recommend him to anyone in South Florida."
Posted By: Michael Geoffroy