St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Motorcycle Accidents caused by Negligent Drivers Can Have Devastating Consequences. We Can Help You to Rebuild.
At Jones Law Group, we understand that after a motorcycle accident, it can be overwhelming handling your recovery as well as whatever issues arise due to your inability to work, let alone any legal issues. Our team of attorneys are here to help you every step of the way. Contact an experienced St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Attorney today to set up a free consultation and see how we can help you seek the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing.
How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help You?
After a motorcycle accident, you may need a motorcycle accident attorney for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your injuries are severe, and your associated costs are high, or your insurance company denies your claim, or your damages exceed the limits of your insurance policy, or maybe the other driver was negligent but is claiming you were at fault. An experienced St Petersburg motorcycle accident attorney can help. Schedule a free consultation with our team at Jones Law Group to see how we will gain your rightful compensation for damages.
How is a Motorcycle Accident different from a Car Accident?
Motorcycle and car accidents differ due to the levels of risk involved with operating the respective vehicles. Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to hazards on the road, and sustain more catastrophic and fatal injuries as a result of an accident than car occupants. This discrepancy in safety partially accounts for why in 2017, motorcyclists were 27 times more likely to die in an accident than car occupants.
What should I do after I’m in a motorcycle accident?
If you are in a motorcycle accident, the first thing you should do is check yourself and others for injuries, and then move to safety and call for medical assistance if needed. Take photographs of any injuries or property damage. If possible, have your motorcycle removed from the road. Gather information from everyone involved in the accident, including insurance information, details about the vehicles and drivers involved, and a police report. Then call your insurance company and report the accident. Finally, contact a motorcycle accident attorney to discuss rightful compensation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
There are many ways a motorcycle accident can happen. Drivers can sometimes have limited visibility of motorcyclists, and there is risk involved in being so exposed while navigating the streets. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
Speeding
A leading cause of all types of accidents, speeding greatly reduces a driver’s ability to react safely to prevent an accident. Speed also contributes to the severity of injuries in most types of accidents.
Sudden stops
Abrupt stops can result in rear end accidents which cause severe injuries and can be fatal for motorcyclists.
Unsafe lane changes
Unsafely switching lanes can create risk for collision if the driver of a car fails to use a turn signal or to check their blind spots before switching lanes.
Lane splitting
The practice of riding between two lanes of traffic is not only extremely dangerous, but it is illegal in the state of Florida.
Dangerous road conditions
Dangerous road conditions contribute to motorcycle accidents. Damaged or littered roads, inadequate road signs, and inclement weather all increase a motorcyclists chances of injury.
Motorcycle defects
A motorcycle malfunction due to poor design, or a defective part can render a manufacturer liable for any injury or death resulting from use of the motorcycle or part in question.
Common Damages from a Motorcycle Accident
Medical Bills
After an accident, you may be stressed about your financial situation. Medical debt can often be incredibly high, and while your health insurance may cover some of it, the rest is left up to you. Compensation for your medical debt can be a large help in your recovery process. Not only can you receive compensation for hospital bills, but also surgery costs, doctor’s visits, in-home health care, and any therapy you may need.
Lost Wages
After an accident you may have to spend a lot of time out of work. This includes time you may spend in the hospital receiving treatment as well as time you may spend recovering at home. You may be eligible for compensation to help recover some of the wages that you may have lost while you were out of work. You may also be able to recover future lost wages as well as loss of earning capacity if you’re no longer able to work because of disability.
Property Damage
After your motorcycle accident you may be faced with paying repairs costs to your motorcycle or even replacing it entirely. While your insurance may cover some of these costs, you may still have a high deductible to pay, or you may even have to pay for the cost of your replacement. This compensation can help to repair or replace your motorcycle after the accident.
Pain and Suffering
Pain and suffering damages change based on each individual accident. They’re based on the injuries that one has sustained and are given in order to provide some relief to the plaintiff for what they’ve experienced. We know that this compensation can’t erase what happened to you, but we hope it will help to ease the pain you may have gone through.
Permanent Loss and Disability
Unfortunately, motorcyclists are more likely to have permanent disability in comparison to people who get into car accidents. If your accident was caused because of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation for your disability or even your loss of income.
Wrongful Death
When someone is killed because of another person’s negligence or intentional action, this is referred to as wrongful death. This death can occur on the site of the crime or later on because of injuries sustained from the accident. A wrongful death lawsuit is a civil lawsuit and differs from the criminal lawsuit and charges the defendant may face.
Common Injuries from a Motorcycle Accident
Some common injuries caused by a St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident include:
Spinal Injuries
Spinal injuries can cause loss of reflexes and movement in your extremities depending on where the injury occurred. Injuries that occur higher up put the victim more at risk for paralysis, while injuries that occur lower in the spine tend to be less cause for concern.
Fractures
A motorcyclists legs are usually a point of contact in accidents, and broken legs are a common injury in motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists may also try to absorb shock or prevent themselves from falling by reaching out with their hands, resulting in broken wrists and arms.
Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding often occurs alongside other obvious injuries, and is likely to be seen and stopped upon a first visit to the hospital. Although some internal bleeding may be delayed by a few hours or even a few days. This bleeding may stop on it’s own, but on occasion it may continue. In these cases, surgery is required to stop the bleeding.
Head Injuries
The likelihood of a head injury is high in the case of a motorcycle accident, even if wearing a helmet. Traumatic brain injuries caused by the impact of the accident are an example of such an injury. Immediate symptoms may present as confusion, blurred vision, and variations in consciousness. It is important to seek immediate medical attention to mitigate risk of permanent brain damage.
Emotional Trauma
The experience of being in a motorcycle accident can be harrowing and traumatic. Survivors of motorcycle accidents can develop post traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and a number of other debilitating mental issues as a result of their injury’s effects on their lives.
Contact an Experienced St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please contact one of our talented attorneys here at Jones Law Group. Not only will we take on your case, but we will do everything we can to get you the compensation and justice that you deserve. We can be reached by calling 727-571-1333, by filling out our online contact form, or by using our Chat feature below.
