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Have you been Involved in a Motorcycle Accident?

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, there are options to ensure you have the best possible chance of winning a personal injury case and recovering any losses you may have suffered. Most importantly, seek medical attention immediately after the accident, or as soon as possible. This will help document your injuries and provide valuable evidence that your injuries were caused by the motorcycle accident. Next, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Motorcyclist accidents can be very complicated and difficult to prove fault to insurance companies. An attorney can help you navigate the process from start to finish and increase your settlement value. Always be prepared for some challenges in this type of claim, as many insurance companies will try to investigate and prove fault in the motorcyclist’s conduct.

Motorcycle accidents can cause serious injuries that may be permanent, or alter the course of the victim’s life.

The main causes of motorcycle accidents are:

Aggressive drivers
impatient drivers often lack spatial awareness and make rash decisions and maneuvers on the road. This is extremely dangerous for motorcyclists, especially when lane splitting through traffic.

Distractions
Unfortunately many drivers use cell phones or text while driving. A distracted driver can mistakenly maneuver in front of a motorcyclist, causing an accident and injuries. This is especially true because motorcycles are more difficult to see in blind spots and tend to drive faster to pass through traffic.

DUIs
Drunk driving is an obvious danger to everyone on the road, especially motorcyclists. When vision and senses are impared, a driver may drift into lanes and cause a serious accident.

Traffic laws
Every driver is required to follow the rules of the road, including lane-changing procedures, yielding rules, speed limit changes, and more. In the event that a driver violates a traffic law, they can easily collide with other vehicles on the road.

Motorcycle Defects
Sometimes, an accident is not the fault of another driver but the company that manufactured the motorcycle or parts of the bike. If a vital part of the motorcycle is defective, then a motorcyclist can quickly lose control of their bike and cause a disastrous accident.

Weather Conditions
In Florida, weather can change dramatically in a matter of minutes, and if a motorcyclist is not aware of potential weather conditions, accidents can occur.

Road hazards
Road hazards such as wet roads, potholes, gravel, loose pavement, cracks and other imperfections on the roadways are dangerous to all motorcyclists and are very difficult to anticipate if a driver is unfamiliar with the roads.

Results of these accidents can include, but are not limited to:
– Neck and/or back injuries.
– Internal bleeding.
– Skull fractures.
– Hands, wrists, and/or arm fractures.
– Broken noses, jaws, and cheekbones.
– Eye injuries.
– Joint dislocation.
– Fractured collarbones, ribs, and/or legs.
– Soft tissue sprains, strains, and tears.
– TBI (Traumatic brain injuries.)

What to do after a Motorcycle Accident?

BE SAFE – If at all possible, move away from the oncoming flow of traffic to a safe spot after the crash has occurred. Your safety is paramount. 

Check for injuries – You must put your safety first. Check to see if you have sustained any injuries, and try to check on anyone else that was also involved in the crash. If there are injuries, you will have to call for an ambulance as soon as possible.

Call the police – Do not mistake that you are required to call the police to the scene of the crash, according to Florida Statute 316.062.

Gather evidence – If you are capable of doing so, gather evidence of the crash by taking pictures and videos of the damaged vehicles, any injuries, and the location of the accident.

Get information – It is essential that you exchange personal information with the other driver(s) involved in the crash. This includes sharing names, phone numbers, addresses, vehicle registration numbers, and driving license numbers.

Eyewitnesses  – If anyone witnessed the accident, speak to them and collect their contact information, such as names and phone numbers. They most likely will be able to make a statement about your accident, which will help you to pursue a personal injury claim.

Consult with a motorcycle accident attorney – It is important that you protect legal rights by consulting a motorcycle accident lawyer who can fight to recover compensation for all of your injuries and other losses.

History and Statistics of Motorcycle Accidents in Florida

Data collected from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the FLHSMV (Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) found that Florida is the most dangerous state for motorcyclists, not only due to the amount of accidents throughout the state, but the amount of resulting fatalities by number of residents per each county respectively.

  • In 2020, non-incapacitating injuries were determined to be the most common result of accidents involving motorcycles, but that doesn’t mean there isnt a personal injury case. Any injury can be compensated for given the appropriate attorney counseling.
  • From 2018 to 2020, the totality of motorcycle accidents decreased, unfortunately the amount of fatal accidents in Florida did increase per year
  • In 2019, fatal motorcycle accidents in Florida accounted for a total of 11% nationwide. Florida also had 9% of total motorcycle accident injuries nationally, making it the state with the most injuries in 2019.
  • Approximately 50% of the state total of motorcyclist fatalities in Florida occurred with a driver NOT wearing a helmet. In addition, a reported 265 motorcyclists in 2020 were killed during an accident while wearing a DOT-compliant helmet. DOT-compliant helmets are designed to absorb up to approximately 250 times the force of gravity when impact occurs, instead of resisting the impact like other helmets.

Historically Florida has been determined to be the number one state with the most motorcycle accidents within the entire nation, particularly during the annual Daytona Beach Motorcycle Rally. Volusia County has a higher than average percentage of fatalities due to this Daytona Beach Rally. However, statistics show that the county with the highest number of fatal crashes is Miami-Dade.

Contact Kemp, Ruge and Green Today

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident within the state of Florida and need guidance on how to proceed with your best interests in mind, contact us right away. We are here for you and your loved ones 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The steps taken immediately following a tragic accident such as a motorcycle crash can result in major impacts on the outcome of a personal injury case that will benefit you and your loved ones the most. Please take quick and appropriate actions following the accident, and consult us right away. We will make sure you are teamed up with an experienced personal injury attorney, specializing in motorcycle cases. Call us today for a free consultation. We will fight to get you your life back.

Meet Our Team

It is very easy to describe what Kemp, Ruge & Green Law Group does. Our mission statement says it all. We strive to "relentlessly pursue protecting our clients and improving our community through respect, communication and service". Put more simply, we help people.

Stacy A. Kemp, Esq

Stacy A. Kemp, Esq

Partner
Brandon J. Kemp, Esq

Brandon J. Kemp, Esq

Partner
Alyssa A. Ruge, Esq

Alyssa A. Ruge, Esq

Partner
Robert A. Green, Esq

Robert A. Green, Esq

Partner
Kelly Cook, Esq

Kelly Cook, Esq

Partner
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