Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Orlando

If you’re in a serious motorcycle accident, you may have severe injuries that require immediate medical attention. Motorcycles offer no protection from the open road; even safety equipment like helmets and jackets can’t save you from unforgiving hard concrete.

However, if you’re still conscious and able to move around, try photographing the scene of the accident, including all vehicles involved in the crash. If something on the road resulted in your accident, like unrepaired concrete or an oil spill, make sure to document it.

Call 911 for police and ambulatory assistance. While you may feel okay, motorcycle accidents rarely result in no injuries. You may have internal organ damage, back sprains, strains, or other wounds. Sometimes it takes a few days for the symptoms of these injuries to appear. It’s best to go to the hospital immediately to put medical concerns to rest.

The police will investigate the crash scene and determine who was at fault for the wreck. Make sure to obtain a copy of the police report for your records.

Next, seek the advice of a qualified attorney. An attorney can help you recover financial compensation for your injuries related to the accident.

If you decide to file a lawsuit, your motorcycle accident lawyer will help you determine what type of compensation you may be eligible for. Typically, you can obtain monetary damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and household services while you recover. 

Compensation for emotional distress, disability and disfigurement, and loss of quality of life may also be available.

Your attorney can help you determine the value of your case and negotiate with insurance providers to obtain a fair amount for your losses.

Insurance providers often rush to speak with the victim after a motorcycle accident and offer a settlement. Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries and may be fatal, so insurance companies want to avoid paying significant damages. Instead, they’ll offer victims an insufficient amount for their losses, hoping the victim will take it.

It’s never a good idea to accept the first offer from an insurance provider. While having immediate funds may sound attractive, you may be entitled to much more. To ensure you get an adequate settlement for your injuries, work with an experienced Orlando motorcycle attorney. 

Orlando motorcycle attorneys know insurance negotiation practices and Florida personal injury law. They can ensure that the insurance provider doesn’t use unfair methods to manipulate you into accepting less than you deserve. An attorney will handle all communication with the insurance provider so you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

Under no circumstances should you provide an insurance carrier a written or recorded oral statement concerning the accident. An insurance provider may use any information you give against you. If you have severe injuries or property damage from the motorcycle accident, you don’t want to say something that may negatively affect your case.

Instead, work with an Orlando motorcycle attorney at Morgan & Morgan. We’ll speak directly with the insurance company on your behalf, ensuring that all communication is handled favorably for you.

Each state has a statute of limitations that caps the time a personal injury victim has to file for damages. Florida has adopted several statutes of limitations that apply to various motorcycle cases.

For personal injury cases resulting from a collision with another driver, the victim has four years to file a claim for damages. If the motorcycle accident is fatal, surviving family members have two years to file a wrongful death claim.

If the accident resulted from a motorcycle part defect, like bad tires or an exploding fuel tank, the victim might file a product liability case against the manufacturer. The four-year statute of limitation applies to injuries. Product defects that result in fatality have a two-year statute of limitations.

Finally, if the accident resulted from poorly maintained public roads or other government property, the victim has up to three years to file a lawsuit against the appropriate government entity.

Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that you may collect damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident. 

For instance, if you were speeding but a driver ran a red light and hit you, a court may decide you are 20% at fault for the accident. If the court estimates your damages to be $200,000, they will reduce your claim by 20%, and you will receive 80% of the award, or $160,000. 

An Orlando motorcycle accident attorney at Morgan & Morgan can evaluate your case to determine whether you were partially at fault for the accident and by how much.

You can, but you shouldn’t. Personal injury law is complicated. And insurance lawyers work hard to protect their companies from paying high settlements to accident victims. Unless you are a lawyer yourself, it’s unwise to handle your case on your own. You’ll likely make mistakes that can reduce or eliminate the potential of a settlement. 

Instead, put your trust in Morgan & Morgan. As the nation’s largest personal injury firm, we have over 1,000 attorneys devoted to recovering fair monetary compensation for accident victims. We’ll do our best to ensure you get the money you deserve.