Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Did you suffer an injury in a motorcycle accident in Fort Lauderdale? Are insurance companies giving you the runaround? You deserve compensation after a negligent driver injures you on the road. Our Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyers can help you get the justice you deserve, so you can focus on your recovery and on getting your life back.

Most bikers love the feeling of the open road beneath their wheels, and there’s a reason why motorcycles are such a popular form of transport in and around Fort Lauderdale. Unfortunately, a motorcycle accident can take the fun out of the experience, and leave even the most experienced motorcyclist struggling to recover. Motorcycle accident victims may suffer severe injuries in the accident. A motorcycle cannot protect the rider in an accident the same way an automobile can.

If you suffered serious injuries in a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident, an experienced Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorney can help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers today to learn more about your right to compensation following a serious accident.

How Can The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident?

Did you suffer a motorcycle accident in Fort Lauderdale? The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers can help you seek the compensation you deserve. We have successfully helped numerous Fort Lauderdale clients pursue compensation for their injuries. Many of our clients find that we can increase the compensation they receive after a severe accident, even once they consider their legal expenses. An attorney can offer several important services as you pursue a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim.

An attorney can collect evidence regarding your accident.

“He just came out of nowhere!” “He came around that corner way too fast. I’m sure he was speeding.” Sound familiar? Often, the driver that struck you will try to blame you for the events that led up to your motorcycle accident. An attorney can fully investigate your claim and get a better idea of all of the factors that contributed to your accident.

This may include:

• Reviewing any video footage of the accident. Sometimes, you or the other driver might have a dashcam that will provide footage of the accident. In other cases, an attorney may access traffic camera footage or footage from nearby security cameras that may clearly display exactly what happened to cause your accident.
• Looking over the police report. The police will evaluate the accident when they arrive at the scene. Sometimes, the police report provides an accurate assessment of how the accident occurred. In other cases, the police report may have inaccurate information. An attorney can help review the police report and provide a more accurate assessment of exactly what happened at the scene.
• Talking to witnesses. Witnesses can provide an impartial look at the events that led to the accident. Witness statements can prove particularly beneficial if, for example, you suffered an accident at a traffic light without a camera, where it can prove difficult to assess which vehicle had right of way, or in the case of a drunk or distracted driver behaving erratically. Ideally, an attorney should review witness statements as soon as possible, since memories may fade or grow less accurate as time passes after the accident.
• Bringing in an expert witness, if needed. Sometimes, you may need an expert witness to come in and take a look at your accident. An expert witness can help piece together the events that led to the accident based on the evidence at hand: the scene of the accident, the damage to your motorcycle and the other vehicle, and photos of the scene of the accident, for example.

An attorney can help review your injuries and your medical expenses.

If you do not keep track of all of your medical bills following the accident, it can prove difficult to collect them after the fact. These bills, however, will form the foundation of your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim after a motorcycle accident. An attorney can help give a better assessment of what your medical care has cost throughout your recovery period. In some cases, your attorney may go over your injuries and how they limit your everyday life, including the things you have missed out on as a result of your injuries.

An attorney can give you a better idea of the compensation you deserve after the accident.

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney cannot tell you exactly how much compensation you will ultimately receive for your injuries, since that may depend on a variety of factors, many of which are unique to your case. Even people who have similar accidents with very similar injuries may receive different levels of compensation for their injuries. However, an attorney can provide you with a better idea of how much compensation you can ultimately expect for your injuries.

Not only does knowing how much compensation you can expect allow you to make better plans for your recovery and your spending, it can also help you avoid accepting a too-low compensation offer from an insurance company. In many cases, the insurance company will issue a settlement offer soon after your motorcycle accident. The insurance company may pressure you to accept an offer quickly, even giving you the impression that the offer will disappear if you do not accept on the spot.

You should not accept this offer. Instead, consult with an injury attorney to learn whether the offer reflects the compensation you really deserve for your injuries, rather than the insurance company simply trying to limit its financial liability.

An attorney can take over negotiation and communication with insurance companies on your behalf.

Many motorcycle accident victims find dealing with the insurance company incredibly stressful. Some may suffer from traumatic brain injury, which can make it very difficult to focus or to make effective decisions about the legal process. Others may simply prefer to focus on recovery, rather than having to deal with regular communication with the insurance company. Often, dealing with an insurance company raises stress levels, especially if the insurance company refuses to accept the other driver’s liability or tries to decrease the compensation you ultimately receive. A Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorney can take over many of those communications, ultimately reducing your stress levels and making it easier for you to deal with the vital challenges in front of you.

Determining the Liable Party in a Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Claim

Ultimately, the driver who caused an accident bears liability for any decision that he or she makes behind the wheel. This includes, for example, a driver that chose to drive while distracted, or a drunk driver. In addition, however, other factors can contribute to the motorcycle crash, leaving other parties sharing liability for those injuries.

Did a mechanical failure cause your motorcycle accident?

Mechanical failures, including tire blowouts and brake failures, can lead to severe injuries in a motorcycle accident. In the case of extreme mechanical failure, the driver may have no recourse for stopping the vehicle or steering it away from your motorcycle. As a result, many injured motorcyclists can have more severe injuries.

In the case of mechanical failure, several entities may share liability for the accident.

• The owner of the car, if he failed to take care of basic, routine maintenance tasks. Routine maintenance, including replacing brakes, changing the oil, and taking care of any problems that arise with the vehicle, can keep a car running safely and prevent accidents due to mechanical failures. If the owner does not take care of that maintenance on time, on the other hand, the owner may bear partial liability for accidents suffered as a result of that negligence. The owner of the vehicle may include corporate owners, as in the case of delivery drivers.
• A mechanic who recently performed maintenance on the car. Did a mechanic perform maintenance on the vehicle—either the other car or your motorcycle—and certify it as road safe? Did the mechanic fail to properly repair broken parts of the vehicle? If so, the mechanic may share liability for the accident. A mechanic may also share liability if he misses damage to the vehicle that he should have seen during a routine inspection. In some cases, the mechanic may even cause damage to the vehicle while attempting repairs on another area, leading to increased liability for the accident.
• The manufacturer of the vehicle. Sometimes, manufacturers know that a certain line of vehicles or a certain vehicle part has a problem. Unfortunately, manufacturers do not always recall these damaged or dangerous vehicles immediately. These vehicles can then cause accidents, including motorcycle accidents, that result in serious injury. An attorney can evaluate how much liability the manufacturer of a vehicle, including both your motorcycle and the other vehicle involved in the accident, may bear for the accident.

Was the driver who caused your motorcycle crash on the clock at the time of the accident?

A driver on the clock at the time of the accident may share liability with his or her employer. When an employer sends drivers out on the road to complete daily work responsibilities, the employer bears liability for the driver’s actions out on the road. Many commercial drivers, including Uber and Lyft drivers as well as truck drivers, carry substantial insurance policies designed to provide a high level of protection in the event of an accident.

The driver’s employer may share liability for the accident under several circumstances.

The company continued to employ a driver with a known accident history. Instead of firing or retraining a driver who has accidents, especially drinking and driving accidents or distracted driving accidents, regularly, the company continued to employ that driver and allow him normal responsibilities and tasks on the road.

The company failed to keep up with maintenance on the vehicle. When the company owns the vehicle, the company must also provide maintenance for that vehicle. Most trucking companies, for example, require their drivers to evaluate the truck after each trip and provide an assessment of any challenges the driver faced with the vehicle. The company must then schedule maintenance on the vehicle as needed.

The company required the driver to exceed the federal maximum number of hours he can drive. Truck drivers can only drive for 11 hours out of a fourteen-hour shift, after which they must spend a reasonable time off the clock before returning to work. Some companies, however, may encourage the falsification of records to avoid regulations and meet deadlines.

The company required the driver to drive in unsafe conditions. Unsafe conditions can include:

• Asking the driver to drive while ill
• Insisting that the driver get behind the wheel while inebriated
• Requiring the driver to drive in unsafe weather, including heavy rain or snow
• Asking the driver to break the law, including speeding, to meet tight deadlines

In some cases, including failure on the part of the employer to provide a safe experience for both the company’s drivers and others who share the road with them, you may have the right to compensation from the driver’s employer after a motorcycle accident.

The Compensation You Might Expect From a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Fort Lauderdale

Following a motorcycle accident, talk to an experienced Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorney to learn more about your legal right to compensation, including how much compensation you should expect as a result of your injuries. Typically, Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claims, contain the same basic elements.

Compensation for Your Medical Expenses

Motorcycle accident injuries can cause substantial medical bills beginning immediately after the accident. Ambulance transport alone can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on how much time you spend in the ambulance and what company responds. Typically, your medical expenses will form the foundation of your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim. Track all of your medical expenses, including follow-up visits or therapy appointments, so that you can provide an accurate assessment of the expenses you faced due to your accident.

Medical expenses may include:

• Emergency transport
• Emergency room bills
• Surgeries and procedures
• Durable medical equipment
• Psychological, physical, and occupational therapy to help you regain independence after the accident
• Your hospital stay
• Long-term care, including in-home care

Consult a motorcycle accident attorney to learn more about how to calculate your medical expenses due to your accident. You may also include some home modification expenses, including installing wheelchair ramps and widening doorways, if needed to help you maintain your independence after the accident.

Compensation for Wages Lost Due to Inability to Work

Many types of injuries can prevent you from returning to your normal employment responsibilities immediately after the accident. For example, if you work in a factory, broken bones can prevent you from standing on the line or moving heavy objects. If you suffer from traumatic brain injury, it could prevent you from taking on tasks that require you to work with heavy machinery, or that require a great deal of focus and concentration.

Some employers will work to get you back to work as soon as possible after the accident. Others, however, may lack the resources or the capability to make that possible. If you work in an office job, your employer might bring in a special chair or purchase dictation software to make it easier for you to complete your job. If you work in construction, on the other hand, a special chair and a dictation system will not make it possible for you to climb up on a roof and hammer in shingles. Some employers may also not want to accept liability for bringing you back to work when you still have severe injuries.

In addition, you may have to miss work immediately after the accident, when you cannot focus because of the pain. You may need to miss work when you have to have additional procedures, including surgeries, to help you recover from your accident. You may also go through a great deal of personal and sick leave while attending appointments or going to therapy sessions related to your accident. An injury attorney can help you fully evaluate how much time you missed at work as a result of your motorcycle accident.

Compensation for Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering can vary from one individual to another. Unfortunately, it does not offer a tangible, financial loss that you can calculate and put on a spreadsheet. Typically, pain and suffering gets calculated as a percentage of your medical expenses. However, the individual pain and suffering that you faced as a result of your injuries can change the compensation you ultimately receive.

Consult an attorney to learn more about how to include factors like:

• The amount of social isolation you felt as a result of your injuries. Many people, while recovering from serious injuries after a motorcycle accident, feel an extreme sense of social isolation. They may hear less from friends and loved ones, especially as weeks go by after the accident and recovery drags on. Traumatic brain injury victims, in particular, often suffer from severe isolation, especially if they suffer notable personality changes or disruption as a result of their injuries.
• The physical pain you suffered as a result of your injuries. Some injuries, including burns, can cause more severe physical pain than other types of injuries. Talk to your attorney about how to calculate and include the physical pain you suffered during your recovery.
• Emotional anguish related to your injuries. Often, you may suffer extreme emotional anguish related to your loss of independence or the other losses you faced due to your injuries. Discuss those losses with your attorney to learn more about how to include them. For example, burn victims may suffer extreme emotional anguish at their changed appearance and scarring related to the accident.
• Missed opportunities and activities. Severe injuries can prevent you from engaging in the activities that usually bring you joy. Injuries may keep you in the hospital through family events, birthdays, and parties. You may miss seminars and events that you typically attend every year, or miss out on a much-anticipated upcoming activity due to your injuries. Discuss those losses with your attorney to learn more about how they fit into your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim.

Common Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Many injuries can result from severe motorcycle accidents. Several common types of injuries, however, often occur after a motorcycle accident.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury can prove much more difficult to manage and navigate. While many victims certainly do lose chunks of their long-term memories, a traumatic brain injury may also have a substantial impact on the victim’s short-term memory.

Traumatic brain injury also causes emotional challenges. Many victims with traumatic brain injury suffer from an increased risk of anxiety and depression. They may also suffer from severe mood swings.

In addition, many victims with traumatic brain injury have ongoing physical symptoms related to their injuries.

While wearing a helmet can significantly decrease your risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury in a motorcycle accident, it does not eliminate it.

Spinal Cord Injuries

In a motorcycle accident, the spinal cord has relatively little protection. Unlike a car, you do not have a metal cage protecting you from force and trauma, nor do you have a seat belt to help hold you against a relatively padded seat. As a result, your risk of spinal cord injury increases substantially.

Amputations

Motorcycle accidents typically cause a great deal of trauma and involve a great deal of force. As a result, victims may suffer amputation during the accident itself, with the amputated limb torn from the body. Other times, amputation occurs at the hospital after the accident.

After limb amputation, most amputees must relearn how to perform common activities. Victims with leg amputations, for example, may need to relearn how to walk with the aid of a prosthesis. The victim may also prefer to get around in a wheelchair part or all of the time, or to use crutches for improved mobility.

While these prosthetics offer freedom, they can also pose a substantial expense. Victims often need to replace their prosthetics every three to five years. They can also expect to replace the limb in the first year after the accident, since the shape of the stump may change considerably during that time.

Burns

Not only can motorcycle accidents lead to severe road rash, a severe friction burn that can cause extreme scarring and has a high risk of infection, the victim may suffer burns if the motorcycle or the other vehicle catches on fire before the victim can escape the scene of the accident. Burns cause extreme pain and frequently lead to extreme scarring.

Many burn victims go through several skin grafts to help speed healing, decrease pain, and improve recovery. Others may require plastic surgery. Victims with scarring on the face, in particular, often choose plastic surgery to help restore their appearances. Unfortunately, even the best efforts of doctors cannot always restore normal appearance after the accident.

Broken Bones

Broken bones often have long-term consequences for the victim. Motorcycle accident victims may break their hands and arms, ribs, or legs due to the force of the accident. Some victims even get trapped under the weight of the motorcycle, which can lead to additional damage.

Victims with broken bones may require surgical treatment to set the affected limb. Surgery lengthens recovery time and increases the victim’s pain. In addition, surgery can bring with it complications, including raising the risk of infection.

Breaking bones can cause a victim to lose the ability to work, either short-term or long-term after the accident.

FAQ About Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accidents

You may have considerable questions after your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident. If you have specific questions about your claim or your right to compensation, contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. If you have general questions about Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claims, this guide could provide some of the answers you need.

Seven Steps to Take After Your Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident

A motorcycle accident can leave you confused, disoriented, and unsure of what to do next. The steps you take immediately after your accident, however, can have a substantial bearing on both your future health and your future finances. Follow these steps carefully to help protect yourself after a motorcycle accident.

Step One: Report the Accident Immediately.

Do not leave the scene of a motorcycle accident, even if you believe that you did not suffer a serious injury, without reporting it. You can only leave the scene of an accident if you do not feel safe at the scene of the accident or need to seek immediate medical attention. If you do leave the scene of the accident, report your location to dispatch and speak to the police as soon as possible.

You may need to answer questions about your accident when the police arrive. Do not say anything that could incriminate you in the accident. You should not brush off your injuries or try to “tough it out.” Instead, provide an accurate assessment of what you feel led to the accident and your current physical health.

Step Two: See a Doctor.

Many motorcyclists, after an accident, feel that they do not need a doctor. A “minor” cut, however, can quickly become more severe when foreign matter from the street leads to an infection. Likewise, you may not realize the full extent of your injuries immediately. Adrenaline from the accident can work against you, concealing more serious injuries until later. Victims may end up walking around on broken bones after the accident because they failed to recognize the severity of the injury.

When you call 911 to report an accident, they should dispatch an ambulance along with the police. Follow all instructions given to you by emergency medical personnel. Visit the hospital for a full medical evaluation if needed. Even if you do not have adequate medical insurance, this visit can help protect your physical health. A doctor can identify injuries you might miss on your own, allowing you to receive treatment and increasing your odds of making a full recovery.

Your trip to a hospital or urgent care center also serves another purpose: it provides evidence of exactly when your injuries occurred. Many insurance companies will attempt to prove that your injuries occurred at another time—that is, that the driver who caused your motorcycle accident does not actually bear liability for those injuries. If the driver does not bear liability for your injuries, the insurance company can avoid having to pay for them, which may reduce its overall financial liability for the accident.

Step Three: Work With Your Doctor to Develop a Care Plan.

In the case of severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, you may need an ongoing care plan that spans months or even years. That plan may adapt throughout your care. Developing a plan soon after your injuries, however, can help give you a better idea of what comes next. What can you expect your medical expenses to look like? How much can you expect to recover following your accident?

Keep in mind that a doctor may not provide you with a full assessment of exactly what you can expect every step of the way immediately after your accident. It may take time to fully understand your limitations and your prognosis, especially in the case of severe injuries. A doctor can, however, offer you an assessment of what that process will look like.

Follow your doctor’s recommendations. Listen to the limitations placed on you by your doctor, whether that means you cannot participate in certain activities or that you need to avoid bearing weight on an injured limb. Your commitment to following your doctor’s instructions can help increase your odds of making a full recovery and, just as importantly, help support your motorcycle injury claim. If you do not follow your doctor’s recommendations, the insurance company may try to prove that you worsened your own injuries due to that failure to follow instructions, and it could interfere with your case.

Step Four: Get in Touch With an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Fort Lauderdale.

After your motorcycle accident, contact an experienced motorcycle accident attorney: one who knows how to navigate the court system and will help you maximize the compensation you can receive through a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim. Ideally, you should get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible. After the accident, evidence may disappear quickly. Not only do witness memories fade quickly after an accident, making them less likely to remember the exact events that led to the accident, but your attorney may also have more trouble finding critical evidence related to your claim.

Many attorneys will start with a free consultation to evaluate your claim and get a better idea of your injuries and who caused your accident. After that, the attorney may accept your claim on a contingent fee basis: that is, you will only pay a percentage of any successful settlement or award for attorney fees, rather than needing to pay for your attorney’s services upfront. Consult an experienced Fort Lauderdale attorney to learn more about what you can expect to pay for an attorney to handle your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim.

Step Five: Consider Your Insurance Company.

Who provides your medical insurance? In Florida, many drivers have medical insurance just for use if they suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident. You must also carry at least $10,000 in medical coverage if you choose to ride your motorcycle through Florida’s streets without a helmet. If you plan to use your health insurance to cover your initial medical expenses, you may also want to ask questions about the extent of your coverage.

You may need to know:

Your deductible. How much can you expect to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in? For some people, this can represent a substantial expense, especially if you have a high deductible plan. You may need to plan accordingly for the expenses you will face as a result of the accident.

Your in-network providers. After talking with your doctor, you may have an idea of what different providers you may need as you manage your recovery. Your insurance company can provide you with a list of the providers you can use that have an agreement that puts them in the top tier for your insurance company. Keep in mind that your insurance company may have multiple tiers for providers, and you may have different copays and deductibles for each one.

Your out-of-pocket maximum. If you have severe injuries, you may expect to hit your out-of-pocket maximum for the year. Severe injuries, including spinal cord injury, may leave you expecting to meet those maximums for several years. Talk to your insurance provider about when you will hit your out-of-pocket maximum and what, if any, costs you can expect to have after that point.

Costs for specific items that you may need during your recovery. Your insurance coverage may vary for several types of service or equipment during your recovery. Some things, you may need to have approved before you receive them.

Other things, your insurance may limit how much you can have of that particular service. Consider:

• Durable medical equipment. Make sure you ask about what type of products your insurance company will cover. For example, will your insurance cover a hospital bed at home, if you need one? What about a knee walker, if you have an ankle or foot injury? If you do need those types of equipment, do you need a prescription to use your insurance to cover them?
• A stay in a long-term care facility. Most insurance companies have strict limits on how long you can stay in one of those facilities. If you exceed your stay in the facility, you may need to pay for the rest of the stay out of your own pocket. A Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim can help you recover the funds you need to pay for those expenses.
• Physical therapy. Your insurance company may pose limits on how many visits you can have with a physical therapist each year that the company will cover. Talk to your insurance company about how that will impact your recovery.

How your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim will affect insurance coverage. In some cases, your insurance company may seek reimbursement for your medical expenses out of the amount of your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident claim. Make sure you understand how this will impact your coverage and what you can expect. Better yet, let your Fort Lauderdale attorney handle any communication with your insurer; your lawyer can be an invaluable asset while managing treatment, finances, and your case.

Your motorcycle insurance provider. Depending on the coverage you have on your motorcycle and the extent of the damage to it, you may also need to contact your motorcycle insurance provider to discuss your accident. If you have full-coverage or comprehensive insurance, for example, you may use your insurance to cover the cost of repairing your motorcycle, if you intend to repair it. You may also need to contact your motorcycle insurance provider if your motorcycle suffered so much damage that you cannot repair it, you may need to cancel your insurance policy.

Step Six: Contact Your Employer.

You likely got in touch with your employer shortly after your accident to let them know that you could not come in for a little while. Soon, however, you need to have a more in-depth conversation with your employer about your plans.

You may need to consider:

• How long do you need to stay out of work? Consider your doctor’s recommendations. Your doctor may feel that you can return to work quickly with some modifications, or your doctor may suggest that you stay home until you progress further in your recovery.
• What modifications do you need before you can return to work? You may, for example, need to take more breaks, or to sit down instead of standing all day. You may need special equipment to make it possible for you to continue doing your job. You might want to return to work on a more limited basis in the beginning, rather than going back to work full-time immediately after the accident. Discuss the modifications you need with your employer well before your return.
• What do you expect your recovery to look like? It may take time before you know how much you will recover, but you should still provide your employer with an accurate picture of your future capability so that you can make modifications accordingly.

Step Seven: Focus on Your Recovery.

Once you have handed your claim over to a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorney, you should focus on your recovery. Continue to follow all instructions issued by your doctor, even when they seem inconvenient or difficult. Work to maximize your recovery as much as possible. Meanwhile, your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorney will handle your claim for you, contacting you when you need to provide specific information or answer a question about negotiations concerning your claim.

Talk to your attorney about what you can and cannot do with regards to social media posts and even what you can say to friends about your motorcycle accident. Your attorney may recommend keeping information about your recovery and your activities off of social media during your recovery since, in some cases, those activities or those posts can complicate your case.

Do You Need a Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

If you suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident in Fort Lauderdale, our experienced Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorneys can help. Contact The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers today at (954) 715-3260 to learn more about your legal rights following a motorcycle accident.

The Levin Firm Personal Injury Lawyers | Fort Lauderdale Office
820 NW 7th Terr
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
954-715-3260