Were you or a loved one injured in a motorcycle accident in Florida? Motorcycle wrecks can leave victims struggling with life-changing injuries. If someone else was responsible, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more. An experienced Florida motorcycle accident lawyer at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight to maximize your financial recovery.
With more than 119 years of experience and tens of millions of dollars recovered, we know what it takes to get the fair compensation you deserve.
If you were injured, contact our law offices in Florida today at (866) 311-6869 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll do everything we can to get the money you need to get back on your feet again.
How Can Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Motorcycle Wreck in Florida?
The time after a motorcycle crash is overwhelming. You’re dealing with painful injuries. The bills might already be piling up. Unfortunately, insurance companies often add insult to injury by denying claims or offering lowball settlement deals.
You deserve an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer who knows how the system works. At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our team has been fighting for people like you since 2001. Our entire law firm is dedicated to personal injury law.
When you trust us to handle your case, you can expect a lawyer to:
- Handle all communications and paperwork
- Investigate and collect evidence to build your case
- Protect you from blame-the-victim strategies
- Calculate the true value of your personal injury case
- Work with experts on various aspects of your case
- Negotiate with the insurance company for a full settlement
- Fight for you in court if necessary
Our Florida personal injury attorneys believe in holding careless drivers accountable. We’ve been doing it for decades already. To learn more about how we can help you after an accident, call to schedule a free case review today.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Florida?
Florida is one of the most dangerous places in the U.S. for motorcyclists. While our year-round moderate temperature and scenic views make riding a motorcycle appealing, congested roadways and aggressive drivers put motorcyclists at risk every day.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 9.252 motorcycle accidents were reported statewide in 2022. Overall, 598 people were killed in those crashes. Another 6,228 motorcycle wrecks were reported in the first eight months of 2023. Based on preliminary data, at least 372 people were killed.
What Is My Florida Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Before you sit down at the negotiating table, it’s crucial to understand your case value. The value of your case can be based on a virtually endless list of factors. The most important is typically the severity of your injuries.
Additional factors to consider include:
- The cost of your medical treatment, considering rehab and future medical care
- How the injury impacts your earnings during recovery
- Whether you’ll return to the same earnings level after you’ve recovered
- Any permanent or long-term impairments you suffer
- Damage to your mental health
- Your physical pain
- The strength of the evidence your lawyer presents
- Whether you share some blame for the crash
Insurance companies almost always focus on the facts that can reduce the value of your personal injury claim. Without an experienced lawyer’s advice, you might think you have no choice but to accept whatever offer they give you.
Our lawyers in Florida know how to help clients get the maximum compensation they deserve. We’ve been helping clients like you for decades, so call us today to learn more about how we can put our skills to work for you.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Motorcycle Injury Victims in Florida?
After a motorcycle accident in Florida, you may be entitled to compensation for your financial losses and suffering. These are referred to as economic and non-economic damages, respectively.
Examples of the types of compensation you may be entitled to receive include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Reduced future earning potential
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
In rare situations, punitive damages may also be available. Punitive damages don’t compensate for a specific loss. Instead, they punish defendants for intentional wrongdoing, gross negligence, or reckless disregard for human life.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for Causing a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
Florida has a modified comparative negligence law. In plain English, motorcycle accident victims can recover compensation if they’re less than 51% responsible for their own injuries. Once your percentage of fault reaches 51%, you lose your right to pursue compensation.
If you’re allocated any blame at all, your compensation will be reduced. Say the insurance company can prove you were 30% to blame. You’re only entitled to 70% of your compensation.
The less fault that’s allocated to you, the higher your settlement or verdict. If you’re being blamed, contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers today. We know how these insurance strategies work–and how to minimize their impact.
Our Florida Motorcycle Crash Attorneys Will Fight To Recover Fair Compensation for Your Injuries
Motorcycle accidents regularly cause debilitating injuries. You could be dealing with the aftermath for months, if not years. Some victims never fully recover from the most serious motorcycle accident injuries.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, our experienced Florida motorcycle accident attorneys often represent clients who have suffered:
- Crushing injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Multiple broken bones
- Nerve injuries
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Back injuries
- Organ damage and bleeding
- Chest injuries
- Burns
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Even if you wear a helmet, you have almost nothing to protect your body in a crash. If you were injured and it wasn’t your fault, contact our law firm today. We offer a free consultation.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents in the State of Florida?
When about 25 motorcycle accidents happen every single day in Florida, it’s common to wonder why crashes are occurring so often. There are many different factors that contribute to these motorcycle wrecks.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Weaving between lanes
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Failing to use turn signals
- Lane splitting
- Fatigued driving
- Driving in a vehicle’s blind spots
- Road hazards
- Defective motorcycles or cars
Crashes can happen for more than one reason. That makes it particularly important to consult an experienced lawyer. Your lawyer can investigate and determine who and what caused your crash. With that information, you’ll have the best shot at recovering full compensation.
How Do I Recover Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
In most motorcycle accident cases, victims must prove negligence to recover compensation. That’s because motorcycles aren’t subject to Florida’s “no-fault” insurance rules that apply to cars. Negligence is a legal term. It basically means that someone failed to exercise a reasonable amount of caution and caused an injury.
The four elements of negligence are:
- A legal duty of care existed
- The defendant breached that duty of care
- Causation, meaning that the breach was the direct cause of the accident
- Damages, or injuries, financial costs, and emotional suffering
The insurance company will want to see evidence about each of these elements. Our lawyers don’t rely on police reports alone. Instead, we conduct our own investigation.
We’ll search for:
- Video surveillance footage from dash cams, traffic lights, and businesses
- Eyewitnesses who can testify about what happened
- Photos of the crash scene
- Hard data from the accident scene
- Experts in accident reconstruction and other specialties
The time after a crash is critical for many reasons. While you’re seeking medical attention, our lawyers are prepared to start building your case. To get started, call our Florida personal injury law firm for a free case evaluation.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
Under Florida law, the statute of limitations in most personal injury cases was recently reduced to two years. You have two years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. After two years pass, you lose your right to sue for damages.
Insurance companies won’t take your case seriously once the statute of limitations expires. That makes it important to seek legal advice soon after an accident.
Contact a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
If you were recently injured in a motorcycle wreck, call Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers today. Hiring an experienced Florida motorcycle accident attorney gives you the best shot at recovering full compensation. We offer free consultations, so don’t hesitate to reach out for legal advice today.
