WEST PALM BEACH MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Life after a motorcycle accident in West Palm Beach can be unbearable. Victims often have to deal with so much pain and suffering both physically, emotionally, and even financially. From worrying about expensive medical bills to dealing with defensive insurance companies, no words can describe how stressful it can be to be in such a position. 

That's why you need a seasoned attorney by your side — a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyer who understands how to handle such cases and secure fair compensation for your injuries and losses. If that is what you need, fill out this form to get started.

Why Hiring a West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Is Critical

At Morgan and Morgan, our attorneys have handled all kinds of personal injury cases. Those that involve motorcycle accidents are particularly unique. While hiring a lawyer is critical for anyone intending to maximize their claim, certain characteristics about motorcycle accidents make hiring a lawyer particularly important, as we've outlined below. 

Motorcyclists Are Usually Misjudged By Insurance Companies and Society 

The sad truth is that motorcyclists often face unfair stereotypes and biases from society and insurance companies. These biases can influence how their accident claims play out. For example, motorcyclists are often perceived as reckless and risk-takers on the road. 

So when they get involved in an accident, insurance companies are usually quick to question the validity of such claims. That is one reason why hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer is particularly important.

A skilled attorney can help counter these biases by presenting a strong case based on facts, not assumptions, rumors, or hearsay. The attorney will ensure that your side of the story is heard and that the facts of the case take precedence throughout the claims process. 

Insurance Companies May Try To Lowball You 

Because most insurance companies assume that motorcyclists are at fault for such accidents by default, they may downplay the severity of your injuries or try to shift blame onto you. Keep in mind that West Palm Beach and Florida, as a whole, follow the pure comparative negligence legal concept. 

This means that all the insurance company needs to do to minimize your claim is prove that you were somehow at fault for the accident. If they succeed, the amount of compensation you may be entitled to will be reduced to reflect your percentage of fault. 

A skilled motorcycle accident lawyer understands these tactics insurance companies use. As a result, they will protect you from the onset and preserve the value of your claim.

Motorcycle Accidents Often Involve Serious Injuries 

Motorcycle accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries. This is because motorcycle riders are usually more exposed than occupants of enclosed vehicles. 

Some of these injuries tend to have long-term consequences, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. Knowing how expensive it can be to settle such claims, insurance companies often devise ways to avoid liability or have you settle for less than you deserve. They do this knowing that you cannot reopen the claim once you have accepted the settlement and signed the release. 

You can count on a seasoned attorney to accurately assess the true value of your claim. Once they know how much your claim is worth, they will seek maximum compensation from all parties involved. 

The Other Driver Might Not Be the Only Party at Fault

In addition to the other driver, poorly maintained roads, inadequate signage, or hazardous road conditions can contribute to motorcycle accidents. If the accident occurred because a government entity was negligent, you may be able to hold them liable. This is especially true if they fail to repair the said road within a reasonable timeframe.

Motorcycle accidents may also occur due to a defect in the motorcycle or its components. Examples of such defects may include:

• Faulty brakes
• Defective tires
• Poorly designed parts, such as the handlebar
• Suspension system failures
• Electrical system malfunctions

If established that someone down the manufacturing or distribution chain was negligent, they may be held liable for your injuries and losses. In such a situation, you will also need a defective product attorney to work closely with the motorcycle accident lawyer to establish the facts about the accident and the said defective components of the motorcycle. 

The companies in charge of maintaining and repairing these motorcycles may also be held liable. This is particularly common in cases where someone gets injured while operating a company motorcycle. If the company contracted a third party to ensure that these motorcycles were in good condition, the third party might bear some responsibility for the accident if they were negligent in executing their duties. 

Florida has dram shop laws that may hold the establishment that served alcohol to the impaired individual liable under certain circumstances. This law typically applies in situations where the establishment in question continued to serve alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person, who later caused the motorcycle accident.

Damages May Go Beyond Medical Expenses and Lost Wages

Medical expenses and lost wages are the most common damages in these kinds of cases. But what most people do not know is that even though the state follows a no-fault system for car accidents, which requires your own insurance company to compensate you for your economic damages, serious injuries in motorcycle accidents often allow riders to step outside the no-fault system and pursue additional damages from the at-fault party. 

Economic damages that may be available in such a case include but are not limited to the following: 

• The costs of medical treatment related to your injuries.
• Lost current and future wages (the latter only applies if you suffered serious injuries that prevented you from working and earning a living).
•  The cost to repair or replace your motorcycle (and any other property involved in the accident) if seriously damaged.  

After stepping out of the no-fault system, some of the non-economic damages a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover include:

• Physical pain, suffering, and anguish you or your loved one endured as a result of the accident.
• Emotional trauma, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Loss of enjoyment of life, which applies in a situation where your injuries prevent you from engaging in activities or hobbies you used to enjoy. 

If the at-fault party's behavior was particularly reckless, the judge or jury may award you punitive damages. But these damages are very rare and are capped at three times the amount of economic damages or $500,000, whichever is higher. 

It takes the experience of a motorcycle accident attorney to understand the exact damages you may be entitled to. Once they have that in mind, they will collect the most relevant evidence required to prove your eligibility for compensation.