Motorcycle Accident Attorneys In Florida
A motorcycle accident can be particularly devastating for the rider. At Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, PLLC, our Florida personal injury lawyers offer compassionate and competent legal representation to motorcyclists who have been injured in a crash.
Our lawyers are experienced trial advocates with over fifty years of combined legal experience. We understand the traumatic impact a motorcycle crash can have on a victim and are prepared to help you if you were hurt in a collision. Please call our office today to discuss your case.
Motorcycle Crashes in the U.S. and Florida
Motorcycle accidents can be particularly fatal to motorcyclists and riders. Unlike car or truck occupants, a motorcyclist does not have the structural protections these vehicles provide to their drivers and passengers. Florida does not require motorcyclists over the age of 21 to wear helmets, so long as they have $10,000 in medical insurance coverage for crash injuries. Helmets may not protect a motorcyclist from every injury, but the lack of a helmet could leave a rider more susceptible to catastrophic injuries or even death.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows how serious motorcycle crashes can be: almost 11 percent of all fatal 2011 crashes in the U.S. involved a motorcycle. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reported more than 8,600 motorcycle crashes in 2011. Over 400 motorcyclists were killed in these crashes, and almost 7,200 suffered injuries. Fifty-four percent of the motorcyclists who died were not wearing helmets.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Florida
If you are a victim in a motorcycle crash, you can file a personal injury suit against the at-fault party, who is usually another motorist. You may be able to base your claim on a theory of negligence.
Motorcyclists in Florida have the same rights and obligations as motor vehicle drivers. Car and truck drivers, however, often ignore or fail to share the road with motorcyclists. A driver may, for example, make an unsafe lane change in an attempt to pass a motorcyclist. By showing that the driver was negligent, you can hold him or her liable for you injuries.
To prove negligence, you must show that the driver had a duty to exercise reasonable care; breached his or her duty; and caused your injury by breaching the duty. Some indications that a driver was negligent include speeding, unsafe lane changes, texting, or otherwise driving while distracted.
In some motorcycle crash cases, a driver will blame the motorcyclist for causing the accident. This should not deter you from filing a claim against the driver. Florida follows a pure comparative negligence standard in personal injury suits. This means that you can recover damages even if you are partly to blame for your injuries. The amount of damages you can recover will be reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault.
In most cases, Florida gives personal injury victims four years from the date the injury occurred to file a claim. If you were involved in a motorcycle crash, an experienced attorney can help you assert your rights.
Pursuing a Motorcycle Accident Settlement
If you file a timely claim and can establish liability, you may obtain compensation from the at-fault parties in your motorcycle accident case. You may be able to recover for your past medical bills and future medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering. If your family member died in a motorcycle crash, you can file a claim for wrongful death to recover for their funeral bills, medical expenses, and loss of companionship.
In Summary
At Holliday Karatinos Law Firm, PLLC, our motorcycle injury lawyers will fight for your right to compensation. Our lawyers are seasoned trial attorneys with years of experience negotiating settlements for clients and advocating for their rights in the courtroom.
We can evaluate your case, assess your medical records, and discuss your possible legal options with you. If we mutually decide to move forward with your case, you can count on our personalized client service and tenacious representation to seek results for your claim.
We serve clients throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, and Hernando Counties, and the surrounding areas. We have offices in Lutz and Brooksville. To discuss your motorcycle accident case with one of our attorneys, call us or complete our online contact form, and we will arrange a consultation at no cost to you.
