Many motorcycle riders enjoy riding in Tampa's warm sun and breeze daily. However, motorcycle crashes are more common than ever in Florida. A motorcycle accident can cause catastrophic injuries, from traumatic brain injuries to amputations and shattered bones. Riders who have sustained severe motorcycle accident injuries because of another party’s negligence have legal rights. You can be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, and more.
The best outcome in your motorcycle claim will happen if you have a seasoned motorcycle accident attorney representing you. Speak to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Tampa area today to learn more. You do not pay legal fees upfront; there is no charge for their services unless you receive compensation.
Motorcycle Crash Statistics In Tampa
Florida motorcycle crash rates are some of the highest in the US. The Tampa area and Hillsborough County are popular places for motorcyclists, and it has more than their share of serious and fatal accidents annually.
For example, there were 584 motorcycle crashes and 37 deaths in the Tampa Bay region in one year. There also were 603 motorcycle accidents and 47 deaths in the area.
Some of the most hazardous roads and intersections for motorcyclists in Tampa are:
- Sheldon Road and Hillsborough Avenue
- US 301 and Big Bend Road
- US 301 and Gibsonton Drive
The biggest cause of motorcycle accidents in the Tampa area is driver error. Car drivers often do not see motorcyclists and may fail to yield to them in critical situations. For example, a typical motorcycle accident happens when a driver turns left in front of a motorcyclist with the right of way. Motorcycles are harder to see than larger vehicles, but regardless, the turning driver must yield.
Potential Motorcycle Accident Damages
Motorcycle accidents are usually severe and expensive. You need to maximize your compensation after a serious accident to recover fully. A motorcycle accident attorney can ensure that you receive the following damages if another party caused the crash:
- Lost earnings: A severe injury can put you out of work for weeks, months, or years. How will you keep a roof over your head and food on the table? You should receive compensation for the income you have lost. You can also receive lost future income and loss of earning capacity for an injury causing a disability.
- Medical bills: You will receive compensation for all medical expenses related to your injury. You also can receive compensation for future medical care if needed. A serious motorcycle crash injury may require months or years of medical care, such as hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation. A motorcycle accident attorney will accurately estimate your future medical expenses by communicating with your doctors about the prognosis.
- Pain and suffering: Quantifying this damage is more challenging because it doesn't rely on bills, receipts, and invoices. Serious crash injuries can cause tremendous physical discomfort and emotional trauma. What is the value of someone being overwhelmed mentally by a paralysis injury caused by another driver? Your attorney will negotiate with the insurance company for appropriate compensation for pain and suffering. They may refer to recent settlements and jury awards in cases in your area to persuade the insurance provider to pay more.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: A severe motorcycle crash injury, such as brain trauma, may prevent you from doing things you used to enjoy. Someone who can no longer enjoy hobbies or care for themselves without assistance should receive compensation for these losses.
A motorcycle accident lawyer will ensure you receive the maximum compensation for these damages. You should hire an attorney promptly after a serious accident to ensure you receive fair compensation.
What Can A Tampa Motorcycle Accident Attorney Do?
After a severe motorcycle crash, you may be overwhelmed with injuries, stress, and fear. It’s challenging to know what to do. This is when you should hire a motorcycle crash attorney for assistance. Here’s how an experienced lawyer can support you during this challenging time:
Learn Your Legal Rights
Many accident victims in Tampa do not know their legal rights in a personal injury claim. You have the right to compensation in a personal injury lawsuit if another driver injures you on your motorcycle. Obtaining compensation is likely if you can prove that the driver violated their duty of care to you and caused the accident that injured you.
According to Florida law, a seasoned motorcycle crash attorney can prove negligence in a personal injury claim. They also know how to calculate your damages so that you get the most compensation.
Prove Liability And Negligence
Obtaining compensation in a motorcycle accident claim means proving that another party was negligent. Proving negligence and liability isn’t always easy, even if fault for the crash seems evident.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will use their outstanding legal knowledge and skills to determine who caused the crash. They will review the accident, police report, physical evidence, surveillance video, eyewitness statements, and medical bills to prove fault.
After proving the other driver caused the accident, they will negotiate with the liable insurance company for a fair settlement.
Increase Compensation
Legal statistics reveal something interesting: Motor vehicle accident victims who hire a personal injury attorney usually receive more compensation than those who oversee their claims. For instance, a recent study by the Insurance Research Council showed that accident settlements were 30 percent to 40 percent higher than for crash victims without counsel. Another study from the same group found that plaintiffs with lawyers received three and a half times more money in settlements.
Yes, you say, but a personal injury attorney will charge legal fees! That’s true; attorneys charge approximately 33 percent to 40 percent of whatever money you receive. But the statistics mentioned above consider that. Most personal injury clients still receive more money with legal assistance, even after legal fees!
The higher compensation for your motorcycle accident injuries may make a dramatic difference in your recovery and future. Motorcycle crash victims frequently are saddled with horrific injuries that take years to heal. Many motorcyclists are permanently disabled. More money for medical care, lost income, and pain, and receiving compensation for your suffering, allows you to rebuild your life and recover as much as possible.
Deal With Difficult Insurance Companies
Most motor vehicle accidents mean having to deal with an auto insurance company. Navigating an insurance claim can be challenging in a serious accident if you don’t have personal injury legal experience. The insurance adjuster for the at-fault driver knows you suffered a severe injury and is probably desperate for money and medical care. They will try to pay you less than you deserve.
A motorcycle accident attorney knows every trick up the insurance adjuster’s sleeve. They know how to negotiate deftly with insurance companies and understand Florida’s laws and regulations for insurance claims.
Your attorney can also access subject matter professionals, such as engineers, accident reconstructionists, and doctors, who can strengthen your claim. For example, an accident reconstructionist can show the insurance company how their client caused the crash in Tampa. Or, a medical professional can discuss the severity of your injuries and how they cause you tremendous pain.
A skilled personal injury attorney can also remove you from the insurance negotiation process. This fact alone makes it worth hiring an attorney when you have a motorcycle accident injury. This is a time to focus on healing, not wrangling with stingy insurance adjusters!
Represent You In Court
Most motorcycle accident claims end with a settlement. Plaintiffs and defendants usually agree to settle the case because going to trial is expensive, time-consuming, and uncertain.
That said, the insurance company sometimes does not offer a fair settlement. In that case, your motorcycle accident attorney will take the case to a jury. Skilled motorcycle accident attorneys are excellent litigators and know how to build a case with strong evidence to convince the jury.
With a skilled attorney handling your case in court, you don’t have to worry about dealing with complex legal rules and arguments. You can relax knowing that a skilled attorney handles your motorcycle accident claim.
How Much Is A Motorcycle Crash Injury Worth?
A motorcycle accident settlement is unique from any other. Your case involves its unique case, injuries, damages, and more. So, it’s impossible to say what your case is worth without a detailed analysis by your personal injury attorney. The following factors will influence the amount of your settlement or jury award:
Severity Of Injuries
People with more severe injuries get larger motorcycle accident settlements. Did you suffer a traumatic brain injury? Then, your case value is higher than that of someone who fractured their wrist when they hit the road after the impact.
Also, more severe injuries affect people differently. A younger, fitter person may recover faster from a serious injury than someone older, which will also affect the case value.
Medical Expenses
American medical care is expensive. A day in the hospital with a serious injury may cost $10,000, $20,000, or more. So, you can imagine what your medical expenses might be if you have surgery and are hospitalized for weeks.
The more medical care you need, the higher the settlement. Injuries requiring extensive hospitalization and surgery will always be worth more than a minor injury that requires you to go to the doctor two or three times.
Insurance Coverage
You might have $100,000 in damages. However, you may not recover the full amount if the liable driver only has $25,000 of bodily injury coverage. On the other hand, a driver with a lot of insurance can pay your full damages.
One of your attorney’s roles is determining who is liable and every insurance policy that can pay for your losses. Some drivers may only have basic auto insurance, but others may have other policies that can pay you, too. More coverage may be available if an employer is held partially responsible for the accident. This can happen if the driver is working during a motorcycle accident.
Age And Income
Lost earnings are another factor in the compensation for a motorcycle accident. The lost earnings will rise if you have a serious injury causing a temporary or permanent disability. For example, a paralysis injury may render you permanently disabled, so you should receive more money for lost income and earning capacity.
Your age and income before the injury will also influence the lost income you receive. Someone younger with a higher salary will receive more than an older person on a fixed income.
Motorcycle accident cases and settlements are usually complex because of the injuries and damages involved. Your best option is to quickly retain a skilled personal injury attorney after your accident. If you find yourself in the hospital, make sure you or a loved one calls and hires an attorney immediately. Hiring an attorney sooner is always best for the ideal case result.
How Long To Settle A Motorcycle Accident Case?
The time required to settle a motorcycle accident claim varies. You can usually settle minor accidents and minor injuries where the apparent fault is clear in just a few weeks. A more severe case with multiple liable parties can take months or years.
For example, suppose you stopped your motorcycle in traffic on the interstate. Another driver rear-ends your motorcycle, and you’re seriously hurt. But it turns out that another driver rear-ended them, and that driver also was hit from behind. Now, there is a case where several parties can be at fault for hitting someone else. This type of complex accident can take much longer to settle.
Speak To A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Now
Wherever you ride in Tampa, motorcycling is fun, exhilarating, and dangerous. Other drivers may not see you or can drive aggressively and injure you. If this happens, you should immediately retain a motorcycle accident lawyer. A motorcycle accident attorney will hold the responsible party accountable for your losses. Reach out to a reputable Tampa personal injury law firm today for a free legal consultation.