Florida Motorcycle Accidents

For many people, riding a motorcycle is relaxing. You feel the wind on your face and can experience the road while you lean into and out of corners.

It’s also dangerous. Motorcycles do not have many of the safety features of a motor vehicle. In 2012, nearly 5,000 people were killed in motorcycle accidents on American roads, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Another 100,000 people were injured.

Florida ranked third for the number of fatal motorcycle accidents, only after California and Texas. In fact, you are 30 times more likely to die per mile in a motorcycle than automobile, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Am I entitled to compensation after a motorcycle accident?

That is a complicated question. It depends on who caused the accident and the severity of the injuries you sustained. In Florida, a motor vehicle is required to carry personal injury protection insurance. When an accident occurs, no fault is assigned and drivers use their own personal injury protection policies to pay claims for lost wages and medical bills.

Motorcyclists are not required to carry personal injury protection policies in Florida, therefore they can only access an insurance policy if substantial bodily injury occurs. This means you must have suffered one of the following:

• Permanent and serious disfigurement;
• Serious impairment of a body function;
• Death

This is why it is important to hire a Florida personal injury attorney. The lawyer can talk with you about Florida’s motorcycle accident laws.

What if the driver of the motor vehicle was negligent?

If you suffered serious bodily injury and the driver of the motorcycle was negligent, meaning he or she failed in his or her duty, you may receive compensation for economic losses, like medical bills and lost wages, and perhaps more. Negligence happens, for example, if the driver was drunk or was operating a motorcycle unsafely, like speeding.

If you've been injured in a Florida motorcycle accident, contact us today 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) for a free initial consultation.