Talk to a Tallahassee Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

While the weather brings bikers to Florida all year round, the beautiful rolling hills of the Tallahassee region add an appeal for motorcycle riding that is unmatched in the rest of the state. Winding roads, live oak canopies, and beautiful beaches—our area is perfect for a ride.

That is, unless you encounter someone whose irresponsible behavior causes a motorcycle accident. When you’re riding on a motorcycle, you don’t have the same protections as people riding in enclosed vehicles like cars and trucks, so injuries in motorcycle accidents are often much more severe than in other types of accidents. Unfortunately, these injuries can lead to permanent disabilities.

A Tallahassee motorcycle accident lawyer at Searcy Denney can’t restore your lost health or erase your pain, but our team can work effectively to ensure that you receive the maximum compensation from those responsible for your injuries. We fight for justice and resources to meet your needs now and in the future.

We understand the factors that make motorcycle accidents unique and know how to ensure that you receive damages to account for all the different ways the accident will impact your life. It’s not fair that someone else acted negligently, and you’re the one suffering as a result. Our team will work to ensure that you get the help you deserve at this difficult time.

Types of Motorcycle Accidents Common in Tallahassee

In 2024, there were 9,442 motorcycle accidents reported in Florida, with 582 deaths. Florida has consistently had the highest rate of motorcycle accidents and fatalities in the country. Average yearly trends show those numbers on the rise in Leon County, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Motorcycle accidents are caused by a number of different factors. While some factors are under the control of the rider, many more are not. No matter how many precautions riders take, they still often find themselves the victims of a serious motorcycle crash. While every accident is unique, it is helpful to consider some of the common general types of motorcycle accidents common in the Tallahassee area and the causes of these accidents.

Rear-End Collisions

While rear-end collisions between two cars often do not lead to serious injuries, the same is not true of rear-end collisions involving a motorcycle. When the driver of a heavy car or truck hits the back of a motorcycle, the force can easily knock the rider off and potentially throw the rider into oncoming traffic. When the collision knocks the rider to the ground, often the bike will slam down on top of them, producing additional injuries.

Motorcycles are able to start and stop faster than many other vehicles, and when the drivers of those vehicles follow a motorcycle too closely, those drivers are often not able to stop in time to avoid colliding. In addition to not allowing a safe distance behind a motorcycle, another common reason for rear-end collisions is that the driver of the vehicle behind the motorcycle was not paying close attention because they were distracted by a cell phone, too tired to be driving safely, or impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Front-End Collisions

Although motorcycle riders are often capable of reacting and stopping faster than drivers of other vehicles, they can have difficulty seeing around certain vehicles and anticipating the need to slow down or stop. When a vehicle stops unexpectedly, the front end of the motorcycle traveling behind that vehicle can collide with the rear of the vehicle, causing serious injuries to the motorcyclist.

These accidents sometimes occur when a motorcycle rider is taking evasive action to avoid a hazard on the road. They also frequently occur when a driver’s taillights aren’t working properly.

Turn Crashes

Motorcycle accidents frequently involve turns. Often, when drivers of other vehicles are anxiously trying to make a left turn, they take off at what they perceive to be a break in traffic, not realizing there is a motorcycle in the lane. Drivers are often too quick to act and too impatient to look for anything other than a large vehicle. A Tallahassee motorcycle accident lawyer knows that, unfortunately, the motorcyclist is the one who has to pay the price for the negligence of the other driver, because the biker will be knocked over and seriously hurt, while the motorist who failed to yield may suffer no injuries whatsoever.

When it’s necessary to take a wide turn around an oversized corner, this can put a motorcyclist in a difficult position. They may spin out, particularly if there is debris in the road.

Lane-Change Accidents

Just as drivers often fail to look closely enough to spot motorcycles when they are making a left turn, they also neglect to look closely when changing lanes, particularly when traveling at high speeds. Drivers who are in a hurry or impatient with slower traffic often hit motorcycles when weaving quickly from lane to lane. In other cases, drivers neglect to check their blind spot before making a lane change, and they fail to notice a motorcycle in the lane.

Lane change accidents can be among the most dangerous because the motorcycle rider is knocked to the ground at a high rate of speed and is in danger of being hit by other vehicles.

T-Bone Motorcycle Collisions

When the front of one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle, that side impact crash is often referred to as a “T-bone” collision or broadside accident. Even those in heavier vehicles have less protection when hit on the side, so a side-impact crash can lead to serious injuries in all different types of situations.

Because T-bone collisions occur between vehicles traveling in two different directions, the force of the impact is often much greater. Many accidents that occur while a motorcycle rider or driver is turning are broadside accidents.

Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Accidents

Because motorcycles operate on two wheels, they are much less stable than vehicles with more points of contact with the pavement. This makes single-vehicle accidents involving motorcycles much more likely to result in serious injuries.

A single-vehicle accident is usually a crash where a driver hits a stationary object like a telephone pole instead of another vehicle. However, a single-vehicle motorcycle accident might not involve a collision at all. If a truck spills debris on the road, for instance, that could cause a motorcycle rider to lose control and fall. Even if the motorcycle doesn’t hit anything, the force of the fall can cause severe injuries.

Consequences of Motorcycle Crashes in Tallahassee

A motorcycle crash can have a devastating effect on your life. In addition to the destruction of your bike, you are faced with injuries that may never heal, leading to costly medical bills at a time when you are unable to work to pay those bills. Bikers hurt in accidents frequently suffer injuries to the back and spinal cord, severe burns, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and painful and disfiguring injuries to the ears, eyes, and face.

While sometimes these injuries are apparent, in other cases, the rush of adrenaline during and after an accident can mask symptoms of severe injuries. In other cases, such as in the case of head injuries and internal bleeding, the injuries worsen after the accident. It is vitally important for a motorcycle accident victim to get a thorough medical exam and return to the doctor if new symptoms develop.

The accident can prevent you from working at the same type of job in the future, interfering with your ability to support yourself and your family. Even worse, pain and limited mobility could prevent you from enjoying the features that have been such a big part of your life. On top of physical pain, you are also likely to suffer emotional trauma that can haunt you far into the future.

A Tallahassee motorcycle accident lawyer at Searcy Denney Tallahassee can work to ensure that you receive compensation for every consequence stemming from the accident, including amounts to account for:

• Past medical bills
• Future medical needs
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Loss of enjoyment of favorite activities

When a motorcycle accident leads to a wrongful death, our team of compassionate and knowledgeable attorneys works to ensure that the family receives adequate compensation to make up for the guidance and support they have lost.

Contact Searcy Denney to Get Help After a Motorcycle Accident

Even when a motorcycle accident results in serious injuries or death, the victims still need to collect evidence and build a solid legal case for liability before they are able to receive full compensation for the accident. An insurance company might offer a small amount to settle a case, but it is usually far less than you are entitled to.

A knowledgeable Tallahassee motorcycle accident lawyer at Searcy Denney can determine a fair value for each consequence of the accident to calculate what your accident claim should be worth. That enables you to assess whether a settlement offer is fair or whether you may need to move forward with a lawsuit to get fair compensation for your losses.

Our team knows how to achieve effective results through negotiation and in court, and we understand how to fight the tactics of insurance companies. If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, call us at 888-549-7011 or contact us online today for a free consultation and case evaluation to find out more about the ways we can help.