Tag: Motorcycle Accident

How To Pick The Best Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney

How To Pick The Best Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Nothing can compare to hopping on your bike and having a long, soul-quenching ride. Florida bikers know that the state has some fantastic roads to ride on. From Gainesville to Ocala to Fort Lauderdale, there are hundreds of miles of beautiful scenery while barreling down the road. Unfortunately, a motorcycle accident can kill the good vibes quicker than an alligator’s snap. If your shiny side went belly up and you’ve got a bellyful of road rash, get in touch with the motorcycle accident lawyers at Meldon Law. While you’re recovering from your crash, they’ll fight for you to receive the best settlement possible. How To Pick A Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney Motorcycle accidents can be particularly tragic. Any accident, no matter how minor, can cause life-altering injuries when rolling around on two wheels. Pavement isn’t kind and can cause painful road rash, snap bones, and worse. Bikers who’ve been hit can be affected deeper than physical injuries, and these emotional scars can run deep. To be fully compensated for their physical and emotional trauma, bikers should hire the best motorcycle accident attorney they can find. But how do you pick the best one? Here are some tips for finding the best personal injury attorney for a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Word Of Mouth Chances are, if you know other folks who ride regularly, one of them has probably been in a crash. And if they have, they’ve also probably filed a personal injury lawsuit. Ask around, and if you find a trusted buddy working with a personal injury attorney, ask them about the experience. Sometimes word of mouth advertising is the best and the most honest. Experience When searching for a personal injury attorney for your bike accident, it's best to seek out one with a background in not just personal injury lawsuits but motorcycle accidents. Bike crash incidents can be very different from other types of vehicular accidents, and working with an attorney with an extensive background in your type of case can help you get the best results. Proven Results Once you’ve located one or a few law firms with a background in motorcycle cases, ask for proof of their successful motorcycle accident lawsuits and how often they obtain satisfactory settlements. You’ll want to work with an attorney whose track record of results is exemplary. Costs And Fees There’s no need to hire an attorney asking for an upfront fee as a retainer. Most personal injury attorneys with motorcycle accident experience will not only offer a free consultation to discuss your case's details, but they also work for a contingency fee. This means they’ll only be paid if you win a settlement, and they’ll take a percentage of what you recover for your damages. Other Information For Florida Motorcycle Crash Victims For bikers involved in a crash seeking justice and compensation, navigating Florida’s personal injury laws can quickly become a confusing blur of legalese. Riders on two wheels aren’t required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage like those on four wheels are required to do. This makes it much easier for bikers to go straight to a lawsuit before filing a claim with their insurance company. Florida Helmet Laws Florida Statute 316.211 can be a bit confusing when understanding the state’s helmet law. The statute states that all motorcycle riders must wear protective headgear that’s securely fastened. However, this helmet law bites the dust if the motorcycle operator is 21 or older and carries an insurance policy that covers at least $10,000 in medical benefits in the event of a motorcycle crash. It’s on many a biker’s mind if they can still file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver of the accident if they weren’t wearing a helmet. The answer is yes, but it could make receiving a favorable settlement more difficult. Although comparable negligence doesn’t apply to motorcycle laws as to seatbelt laws for automobile drivers, insurance companies and defense lawyers will use the lack of wearing a helmet to deny or reduce the settlement amount. How To Pick The Best Motorcycle Crash Lawyer Explained After a motorcycle accident, your priority is to seek medical attention. Even the most minor of falls from a motorcycle can cause severe, life-changing medical issues. The next priority is to find the best motorcycle accident attorney so you can file a lawsuit and recover your damages. Each motorcycle crash personal injury case is different and requires the attention of a legal team with practical experience with cases similar to yours. Helmet or no helmet, you can still seek to recover damages from the accident. The best way to receive maximum compensation is to work with a law firm that has the know-how to handle the nuances of a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Read Also: What you need to know to win your slip & fall case Do I Need a Lawyer for a Car Accident that wasn’t My Fault?

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Motorcycle Accident

How to Properly Handle a Motorcycle Accident

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, you need to take sensible actions to protect your health and your personal injury claim. Read the guide below to prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario on the road: 1. Ensure Your Safety First and foremost, you need to carefully handle yourself at the accident scene. You have to get yourself to safety. Distance yourself from anything harmful and immediately get out of traffic. If safe, try to take pictures that show the positions of vehicles before moving them. 2. Check Yourself for Injuries Second, you need to check if you are physically injured. You should also check on the other people involved in the accident. If anyone is seriously hurt, call 911 for emergency help. You should seek medical attention even if you are not severely harmed so your injuries can be documented. 3. Stay Composed Up next, you need to remain calm. Don’t panic as you could end up making the situation worse. Don’t say admit fault or aggressively assign blame to another party. Stick to the basic facts if questioned by the police. 4. Call the Police It is best that you immediately call the police and may be required if the accident caused injury or serious property damage, depending on your state. Police officers can control the traffic, make a report on the accident scene, and make arrests if warranted. 5. Collect Evidence of the Scene If you are physically able to do so, gather evidence of the scene. You can take photos from your phone and record videos to document damage to your motorcycle and your injuries. 6. Gather Information from Witnesses You can also talk to witnesses and obtain the necessary information. Try to collect their names, phone numbers, and addresses. This way, your lawyer can follow up and determine if their deposition might contribute to your case should it proceed to discovery. 7. Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Next, you should call a qualified attorney to help with your motorcycle accident case. If you don’t know any lawyers, you can contact the Oxnard motorcycle accident attorneys at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. in California to inquire about legal assistance. A dedicated motorcycle accident attorney can compile evidence, file the necessary paperwork, help you avoid mistakes, and pursue the highest settlement on your behalf. 8. Avoid Mistakes Do not provide a statement to the insurance company without your lawyer’s approval. Do not discuss the accident online or post pictures of your injuries. In fact, you should deactivate your social media accounts. Do not discard evidence or documents pertaining to the accident, your injuries, or the associated costs. Follow your doctor’s orders exactly. Above all, ride carefully next time to prevent motorcycle accidents and injuries. Always wear protective gear. Never ride a motorcycle if you are drunk. Obey traffic laws, follow road signs, adhere to speed limits, and avoid risky behaviors. Read Also: Motorcycle Accident Attorney: Ask When You’re In An Accident What Are the 6 Steps to Take to Become a Proud Motorcyclist?

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Motorcycle Accident

Dos and Don’ts When You’re Involved in a Motorcycle Accident

Unlike most of the other cities in the world, Syracuse in New York has an abridged biking season. Hence, bikers tend to squeeze in and make the most that they can in the short season to enjoy their motorbike and have fun! This fact, unfortunately, may lead to untoward accidents. If you, your friend, or family member happens to find yourself in such a situation, it’s beneficial for you to know what you should do. Here are some of the dos and don'ts when you're involved in a motorcycle accident in Syracuse: The Do’s: Do remember that you can sue even for minor injuries: It’s worth remembering that in the event of a motorcycle accident in Syracuse, you can sue the negligent driver who is at fault, even if you sustained only minor injuries. Do not confuse this with the situation when driving your car – with four-wheeled vehicles, you can sue the driver at fault if you sustained major injuries. After getting yourself involved in a motorcycle accident, you can sue the negligent driver for the following injuries: Spinal cord injuries Pelvic, arm, and leg fractures Neck and back injuries Skin abrasions like cuts, scratches, and rashes Chest trauma To know more of the extent of what you can sue for, click here. Do seek medical help, no matter how small your injury is: Many motorcycle accident victims tend to forego a medical checkup after the collision especially if they haven’t sustained any significant injuries. However, do remember that injuries are not only external. You may be clean on the outside, but you may have internal injuries or traumas that can put you to harm if left unchecked. Furthermore, you’ll need a certificate from a medical doctor to verify and describe the injuries you sustained, albeit minor, when you sue the negligent driver. Do consult a lawyer: Consulting an attorney is very important, even if you can settle your case amicably, without the need of a court hearing. Many things entail expert help and opinion, such as the payment of insurance, claims, lost wages, and other reimbursements, and an attorney will be able to help you with all of these. When you have a Syracuse lawyer by your side, you are more well informed of your rights as the victim or of your obligations as the erring driver. Do know your rights: Some motorcycle drivers still do not know their fundamental rights. If you’re one of these people, it will be to your favor to consult a lawyer. For example, in Syracuse, New York, the wearing of a helmet and protective gear is required by law. However, if you do fail to wear one and meet an accident, this failure to wear a helmet does not hinder you from obtaining damages against the negligent driver. This is a critical situation to highlight, as some insurance companies may try to cheat you out from any claim that you may be entitled to by shifting the blame on you for your failure to wear a helmet. Some of your other rights center around the following: Claims for your damaged motorcycle Claims for lost wages and earning capacity, if applicable Other medical bills from injuries that you may have sustained Reimbursement for additional expenses incurred related to the injury, such as a psychologist's fee and your lawyer's fee The Don’ts: Don’t take your jury for granted: When you decide to sue in court for the damages that you have sustained, don’t take for granted the act of choosing the right jury. In New York State Laws, the jurors contribute a hefty weight to the final judgment of your case. It is unfortunate, however, that sometimes, some jurors will blame you for the accident especially if you are going against a four-wheeled vehicle. They will merely say that it is your fault in the first place for choosing to be on the road with a much riskier form of transportation. However, laws in Syracuse give you an absolute right to be on your motorcycle. Therefore, choose the right jurors who are aware of this absolute right. Don’t stop yourself from driving your motorcycle again: Some motorcycle drivers tend to let go of their motorcycle after meeting an accident. This usually arises out of fear of encountering another accident or any emotional and psychological traumas that have been incurred. This advice may be the last but also the most important one for you. Don’t let your fear pull down your hobby or your love for motorcycles. Accidents can happen at any time and any place, regardless of what vehicle you’re driving. Just don’t forget to drive safely all the time to decrease your chances of meeting another accident. Conclusion: All these dos and don'ts are crucial for you to know, as riding your motorcycle always poses more risks than driving your car. Remember, a bike has lesser balance with only two wheels compared with a four-wheel vehicle; hence, you have to exercise extra care and caution when driving one around Syracuse. Getting yourself in a motorcycle accident not only affects you physically, but it also can also affect you emotionally, mentally, and psychologically. It’s, therefore, crucial for you to know what to do when an unfortunate accident happens. Read Also: 6 Important Questions To Ask A Personal Injury Lawyer 5 Types Of Damages You Can Claim After A Car Accident The 5 Most Important Motorcycle Safety Tips All Riders Need To Know

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