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Motorcycle accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. Motorcyclists have less physical protection than passengers inside a car or truck, making serious injury more likely in a crash. No matter if you were riding on Park Boulevard, Seminole Boulevard, or headed to nearby Madeira Beach when another driver harmed you, you could face months of medical bills and financial uncertainty. A Seminole motorcycle accident lawyer can help you in your case.
Ronald Bone, P.A., has helped people and families throughout Florida recover compensation in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases since 1997. Bone is an attorney with over 30 years of courtroom experience and is proud to have earned the highest AV rating from Martindale- Hubbell. However, awards and recognition are not guarantees of future results. Selection criteria vary by organization.
The firm has handled a number of jury cases that have resulted in our clients receiving sizable awards.
A $2.4 million verdict in a wrongful death claim involving a motorcycle, a $6 million settlement for a serious traumatic brain injury, and an $8.5 million judgment for a rear-end collision requiring jaw surgery are among the notable outcomes from cases handled by the firm. Keep in mind that past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own merits.
Motorcycles have the same right to share the road as passenger vehicles. However, specific aspects do set motorcycle accident claims apart. Motorcycles offer less physical protection to the rider, which increases the risk of serious injuries. A low-speed crash could cause a rider to be thrown onto the pavement or into another vehicle, resulting in significant harm.
Motorcycle accidents can also present unique challenges during the investigation process. Insurance companies may treat motorcyclists differently due to perceived biases or preconceived notions. Operating a motorcycle does not make someone reckless or mean they were speeding. However, insurance adjusters might try to leverage those assumptions when assessing your claim.
Motorcycle accidents have a tendency to cause serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment, professional opinions, and proof of long-term financial losses. In 2023, Pinellas County, where Seminole is located, had 420 motorcycle accidents with 23 fatalities and 365 injuries.
Motorcycle accidents can lead to a wide variety of injuries, many of which can be serious. The severity of an injury often depends on the speed of the crash, what the motorcyclist collided with, and whether he or she was wearing protective gear. Some of the most common injuries include:
Accident-related injuries often require surgical intervention, rehabilitation, or additional medical treatment. Some victims are permanently unable to return to work, especially when injuries result in long-term mobility issues or cognitive damage. Calculating these losses is often a critical step in valuing your motorcycle accident claim.
Insurance companies have claims adjusters review motorcycle accidents to determine liability and value. They review all of the evidence they can gather about the crash and make an initial determination on who was at fault and how much the injuries are worth.
Adjusters typically review police reports, photos from the scene, witness statements, vehicle damage, medical records, and video footage if it is available. They may also review factors such as the weather, traffic conditions, and road design to help recreate how the accident occurred.
Insurance companies may be biased against motorcyclists. If possible, they could argue that the motorcycle rider was speeding, changing lanes without signaling, or did not take enough time to react to traffic. Insurance companies may also question whether injuries were caused by the crash or existed prior.
Another thing insurance companies review is whether you are consistent with your medical treatment. Missed appointments and gaps in treatment can create disputes with insurance companies when trying to establish the extent of injuries.
Early settlement offers are very common with insurance companies. Every case is different, but injured victims should be cautious of early offers. Insurance companies may low-ball initial offers because they do not have full insight into future medical treatments, ongoing care, or lost wages if you are unable to return to work.
Florida has several laws and legal concepts that can affect a motorcycle accident claim. Florida’s modified comparative negligence law is one of the most significant.
Florida Statutes § 768.81 allows compensation to be reduced if the injured party was partially at fault. If a court awards damages in a motorcycle accident claim, damages may be lowered by the percentage of blame the court assigns to the victim. In many negligence claims, including accidents, the person who is found 50% or more at fault for an accident cannot recover damages from the other parties.
Evidence can play a major role in motorcycle accidents where there is a dispute about who caused the collision. Accident reconstruction professionals, witness testimony, photographs from the scene, and electronic data from the vehicles may help determine exactly what happened.
While many of these cases can be resolved in a settlement without going to court, some cases do require litigation if an agreement cannot be made. If your case goes to trial, it may be held at the Pinellas County Justice Center located at 14250 49th Street North, Clearwater, FL 33762.
For many people, the damaged motorcycle is fixed or replaced long before the financial impacts of the crash are over. Although emergency room visits and hospital stays can result in overwhelming bills, many injury victims struggle with financial losses for months or years afterward.
Physical therapy, corrective surgeries, prescription drugs, and durable medical equipment are just a few examples of the costs injured riders can face in the future. Some people who are permanently disabled in motorcycle accidents need renovations to their living spaces, wheelchairs or other mobility devices, or round-the-clock care.
Loss of income can also have a major impact on the financial future of injury victims. Some people take months off of work to recover from serious injuries. Others are never able to return to work in the same profession. Determining the value of lost future income can require examining the victim’s job, education level, likely career path, and more.
Personal property can also be damaged in motorcycle accidents. Helmets, jackets, boots, intercoms, and other gear might need to be replaced if they are damaged in a crash.
When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer with Ronald Bone, P.A., you can have peace of mind knowing that every angle of your claim has been thoroughly investigated and supported by evidence.
A Seminole motorcycle accident attorney can collect evidence from the scene of the accident before it’s unavailable, secure surveillance camera footage, talk to witnesses, work with accident reconstruction professionals, review your medical records, calculate your future losses, and identify every party who may bear responsibility for your accident.
If liability or valuation disputes cannot be resolved, your lawyer can file claims, conduct discovery, present evidence in mediation, and represent you at trial if necessary, making sure all damages are considered.
Who is at fault in a motorcycle accident depends on the facts of the case. Many motorcycle accidents are caused by passenger vehicle drivers who fail to yield, make improper left turns, change lanes without looking, or are distracted. Liability is only determined by carefully reviewing all of the evidence, including police reports, witness statements, photos, and other information that demonstrates who caused the crash.
No, Florida does not have a recognized dead red law. A dead red law means if a traffic signal fails to detect a motorcycle and the signal remains red even after the motorcyclist has come to a complete stop, then he or she may cautiously proceed through the intersection when it is safe to do so after exercising due care. However, this is not permitted in Florida.
The 12-second rule is a defensive driving technique that advises motorcyclists to scan the roadway about 12 seconds in front of them. By looking further down the road, you have more time to recognize potential hazards, anticipate other drivers’ actions, and react safely. While this is a good rule of thumb for safe motorcycle operation, it is not a legal requirement in Florida.
One of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents is drivers failing to see motorcycles in traffic. Some of the most frequent types of motorcycle accidents are left-turn accidents, unsafe lane changes, and failure to yield accidents. Motorcycles can be harder for drivers to see because they are smaller than passenger vehicles. If a driver is distracted or not paying attention, they might not see a motorcycle.
Being injured in a motorcycle accident in Seminole can severely impact your physical abilities, as well as your financial standing. At Ronald Bone, P.A., we understand how serious these accidents can be and work to seek the compensation you need so you can focus on recovery. Contact us today for a consultation and to begin advocating for your future.
Thoughtful, trial-ready personal injury representation in Tampa Bay.
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