Motorcycle Accidents in Florida

In Florida, the warm weather and open, well maintained roads provide a great place to operate motorcycles. Most drivers do not give motorcyclists enough space, and most are not familiar with the specific rules of the road which apply to motorcycles.
Motorcyclists need more braking distance than a car. Indeed, at high speeds it is nearly impossible to take evasive action to avoid a motorcyclist who has lost control, so additional distance gives that rider a chance. In the event of a motorcycle crash, injuries are often serious and many times fatal, as the operator is exposed to trauma from another vehicle or the roadway.

Experienced motorcyclists know how to lay their motorcycle down on a roadway to lessen the severity of injuries suffered in a crash. Less experienced bikers sometimes move through traffic at high rates of speed, and attempt to rely on their reflexes, which most times will not respond quickly enough to allow a rider to stop or take evasive action.

The insurance that applies to motorcycles is different than car insurance. Unlike car crash injuries, a motorcyclist does not have to prove a “permanent injury” to recover for intangible damages like pain and suffering. Most injuries suffered in motorcycle crashes are serious and permanent, however.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, you should interview personal injury attorneys who have actually handled motorcycle crashes. Many attorneys try to distinguish themselves by highlighting that they ride motorcycles themselves. Some of these attorneys have little experience in a courtroom.

Although personal experience on a motorcycle can likely be helpful, more important factors include whether the attorney is an experienced trial lawyer who understands how to present a motorcycle case through accident reconstruction, other liability experts and physicians of complex specialties related to the severe injuries usually sustained in these kinds of cases.