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Palm Coast Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Many Floridians enjoy riding motorcycles on our highways. For the most part, other drivers share the road with them nicely. But when an accident involves a motorcycle, the results can be devastating. Due to the smaller size and open design of a motorcycle, even accidents at low speeds can cause serious injuries, creating a heavy financial burden on the injured motorcyclist and their family.

If you have been injured in an accident while riding a motorcycle, you need an experienced personal injury attorney who understands that motorcycle accident cases are different from car accidents and require special care and attention.

At Chiumento Dwyer Hertel Grant, our attorneys have been standing up for motorcycle accident victim’s rights in Florida for more than four decades and are ready to represent you.

Why Hire a Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

You may wonder how a lawyer can help you with your motorcycle accident claim. While some very simple claims may not require help from an attorney, most motorcycle accident victims benefit greatly from working with a lawyer.

In fact, studies have repeatedly shown that motorcycle accident victims end up with significantly more money when they work with a lawyer instead of going it alone.

But it’s more than just dollars and cents. When you hire a lawyer, you no longer have to deal with the insurance adjusters and others involved in the case. Your lawyer takes care of that for you.

Your attorney can ensure that all deadlines are met and all filings and forms are properly completed. Your attorney can fully calculate and document the extent of your losses, and then negotiate for an appropriate settlement.

If a settlement is impossible, your attorney will be prepared to pursue your claim in court.

Meanwhile, you can relax and focus on recovering from the crash, knowing that your best interests are in good hands. You don’t even have to worry about paying attorney’s fees upfront. In fact, if you don’t win, we don’t charge for our services.

How Our Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help

  • We can start by investigating the facts of your case to determine who was really at fault for the motorcycle accident.
  • Our lawyers frequently work with investigators and accident reconstruction experts to determine the true cause of serious motorcycle crashes.
  • We also consult with medical and vocational experts to determine the total extent of your injuries and how they will affect the rest of your life.
  • Our attorneys seek out every potential source of insurance in order to maximize the amount of compensation our clients recover.
  • We will keep you updated about your case’s progress each step of the way.
  • Our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys will give you the advice you need to make informed decisions about settlement offers and other important matters.

Compensation Available for Motorcycle Accident Victims in Florida

Although Florida is a no-fault insurance state, where your own personal injury protection (PIP) covers 80% of your medical bills and 60% of your lost wages if you are in a vehicle accident, PIP coverage does not apply to motorcycle accidents.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident due to another’s negligence, you may be able to pursue a claim against that party for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered as a result of the accident.

However, the amount you are able to recover will depend on whether the other party has insurance coverage, and whether the limits of their coverage will cover your bills. With that risk in mind, it is smart to consider carrying uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage in order to provide coverage or make up the difference if you are in an accident.

You may be entitled to compensation for the following:

  • Medical expenses
  • Pain and suffering

  • Mental anguish
  • Lost wages

  • Lost future earning capacity
  • Loss of enjoyment of life

  • Loss of familial relationship
  • Other losses

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Florida

Because of the likelihood of direct contact with another vehicle or object, motorcycle accident injuries tend to be more serious than car accident injuries — and are often fatal. The most serious injuries resulting from a motorcycle accident are head and spinal cord injuries, which could leave you permanently disabled or paralyzed.

Common personal injuries suffered in motorcycle accidents include:

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Facial Injuries
  • Back Injuries

  • Burns
  • Soft-tissue injuries
  • Disfigurement

  • Head Injuries
  • Fractures
  • Neck Injuries

  • Spinal cord injuries (paralysis)
  • Internal injuries

The injuries caused by a crash often go beyond just physical ones. Many motorcycle accident victims also experience severe pain and ongoing emotional trauma. You may be able to recover compensation for these injuries as well.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Palm Coast and Florida

A commonly held misconception is that motorcycles are dangerous because motorcyclists engage in risky driving behaviors, but the truth is that motorcycle accidents are the fault of another vehicle more often than not.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

  • A vehicle making a left turn in front of a motorcycle going straight
  • Failure of another vehicle to yield to the right of way

  • Failure to obey traffic signals

What to Do If You Have Been in a Motorcycle Accident

1
Call 911.Try to stay as calm as possible. Take a deep breath and check yourself and any passengers for injuries. Call 911 from your cellphone immediately. If you believe anyone sustained something worse than minor injuries, do not move them unless it is necessary to get them out of harm’s way.
2
Exchange information.Secure as much information as you can from the other drivers involved in the accident. You should at least get their names, addresses, driver’s license numbers, license plate numbers, and auto insurance information.
3
Talk to witnesses and get photos.Check to see if anyone witnessed the crash, if you are able to do so. Get names and contact information from any witnesses. Using your cell phone camera or any other available camera, take photos of the accident scene, the damage to the vehicles, your injuries, the road conditions and anything else that might be valuable. Take photos from different angles and get as many pictures as you can. Ask a friend or someone on the scene to take pictures for you if you are unable to do it yourself.
4
Get medical help.You may not have a chance to get contact information and take photos at the scene if you are critically injured. Make sure you get the medical treatment you need, including transportation to the hospital by ambulance if necessary. If you are not transported directly from the scene of the accident to a hospital, go to an emergency room, urgent care center or your family doctor for a complete medical examination as soon as you can. Some injuries do not show signs or symptoms immediately but could become serious, even life-threatening. Tell the doctor that you were involved in a motorcycle crash and list all of your symptoms, even the ones that may seem minor to you.
5
Notify your insurer.Report the crash to your insurance company and the companies that cover the other driver or drivers as soon as you are able. Be careful when you talk to the insurance companies, even your own. You should avoid giving any type of recorded or written account of the accident without the advice of a motorcycle accident lawyer.
6
Get help from a lawyer as soon as you can.If you were hurt in the crash, you should contact an experienced Florida motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible after the accident. Beware that the other driver’s insurance company may try to settle your claim quickly and cheaply before you have gotten help from an attorney. Even if the settlement offer looks good, it is almost certainly less than you deserve. Get advice from a qualified personal injury lawyer before signing any settlement agreement, otherwise you could sign away money that you are entitled to.
7
Follow through with all medical treatments.Make sure to follow up with all doctor’s appointments and medical treatments that your healthcare providers order for you. Failing to do so could cause your injuries to become more severe and could hurt your ability to recover fair compensation in a personal injury lawsuit.
8
Keep a record of your recovery.Be sure to write down how the accident has affected your daily life and how your healing progresses, including your pain and emotional struggles, by making notes each day. Not only is this therapeutic, but it can also go a long way toward proving the emotional impact that the accident had on you when it comes time to negotiate or litigate the pain and suffering portion of your settlement or verdict.

Call Our Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today

palmcoast-attyIf another driver caused your accident and injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Call our firm or contact us using our online form to arrange for a consultation with our experienced Florida personal injury lawyer.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our law firm is dedicated to protecting your rights and aggressively pursuing the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive.

We’re Proud to be Involved in the Community

Chiumento Dwyer Hertel Grant has contributed to schools and other organizations that have made a difference in the community and take pride in portraying an active role in our community. Flagler and Volusia Counties hosts an array of events and we are proud to be a part of many of them!

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