Support After a Motorcycle Accident in Plantation
A motorcycle accident can turn a clear afternoon on Broward Boulevard into a frightening scene within seconds. One moment, you are riding through Plantation; the next, you may be lying on the pavement, trying to piece together what happened while a stranger calls 911. If you are reading this after a crash, you may be dealing with more than physical pain, including calls from insurance adjusters, mounting medical bills, missed work, and a motorcycle that may be totaled, all because another person’s carelessness placed you in this position.
That sudden change can leave an injured rider uncertain about medical care, insurance coverage, and what to do next. At Cohen & Juda, P.A., we have represented injured riders in Plantation and throughout Broward County for decades. We know the local roads and courts, and we recognize the tactics insurers may use to minimize a motorcycle accident claim.
Call us today at (954) 424-1440 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We will represent you personally.
Key Takeaways
The following points can help injured riders and their families assess the road ahead:
- Motorcycle crashes can cause severe injuries. A rider has little physical protection from another vehicle, the roadway, or surrounding objects.
- Many Florida negligence lawsuits must begin within two years, although another deadline or notice requirement may apply in certain circumstances.
- Compensation may be reduced based on a rider’s assigned share of responsibility, and a claimant found more than 50 percent at fault generally cannot recover damages under the applicable rule.
- A helmet issue may affect arguments about a particular injury, but it does not necessarily determine who caused the crash.
- A negligent driver, vehicle owner, employer, contractor, government entity, repair provider, or product manufacturer may bear responsibility.
- Prompt investigation can help preserve video, physical evidence, witness accounts, and insurance information.
- Cohen & Juda, P.A. can investigate the crash, gather evidence, identify applicable insurance coverage, communicate with insurers, and pursue the motorcycle accident claim. We will represent you personally.
What Does a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Plantation, Florida Do?
A motorcycle accident lawyer in Plantation, Florida can evaluate medical expenses, lost income, motorcycle damage, pain and suffering, and future treatment costs. The attorney can also investigate the crash, identify responsible parties, and communicate with the insurance company.
Depending on the case, a motorcycle accident lawyer may help with:
- Evaluating damages: Reviewing medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and future care.
- Proving liability: Gathering police reports, photographs, witness statements, and video footage.
- Handling insurance disputes: Responding to adjusters and reviewing settlement offers.
- Preparing a lawsuit: Filing suit and representing the injured rider in court when needed.
- Supporting families: Assisting with wrongful death claims after a fatal crash.
A personal injury attorney at Cohen & Juda, P.A. can manage the legal process, present the evidence, and pursue compensation under Florida law. We will represent you personally.
How Florida Insurance Laws Affect Your Motorcycle Claim
Florida’s PIP system generally helps pay certain medical expenses after a car accident, regardless of fault, but motorcycle riders are treated differently under state law. Because Florida Statute 627.732 defines a covered motor vehicle as a qualifying vehicle with four or more wheels, an injured rider generally cannot rely on standard PIP benefits while occupying a motorcycle. The rider may instead need to look at available liability insurance or other coverage, such as health insurance, medical-payments coverage, or uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
How Comparative Fault May Affect Your Claim
Fault can significantly affect a motorcycle accident claim and the related personal injury claim. Florida follows a modified comparative-fault standard under Florida Statutes Section 768.81. A rider found 50 percent or less responsible may pursue damages reduced by the rider’s share of fault, while a rider found more than 50 percent responsible generally may not pursue damages in a negligence action covered by the statute. Because insurers may point to a rider’s speed, lane position, or conduct as evidence of fault, early documentation can help present what happened accurately.
How Florida’s Helmet Law May Affect Your Claim
Florida’s helmet law adds another consideration. Under Florida Statute 316.211, a person over age 21 may operate or ride on a motorcycle without protective headgear if covered by an insurance policy that provides at least $10,000 in medical benefits for injuries caused by a motorcycle crash. Motorcycle operators must still wear an approved eye-protective device. An insurer may raise helmet use when arguing that a rider’s actions contributed to a particular head injury, but helmet use does not automatically determine who caused the collision.
Motorcycle Crashes Remain a Serious Concern in Florida
Motorcycle crashes continue to cause severe and fatal injuries across Florida. Common motorcycle accident injuries include broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, internal injuries, and severe road rash. These collisions can leave injured riders and their families facing extensive medical treatment, lost income, and difficult insurance disputes. A motorcycle accident attorney can review the available evidence, applicable insurance coverage, and Florida law as part of the claim.
Benefits of Choosing Cohen & Juda for a Motorcycle Accident Claim
Motorcycle accident victims who work with a Plantation-based lawyer can benefit from local knowledge, direct attorney access, and personal support throughout the claim.
- Familiarity with local courts: Our attorneys regularly appear in Broward County courts, including the West Regional Courthouse in Plantation, and know the procedures that can affect local cases.
- Knowledge of Plantation roads: We have handled claims involving crashes on Broward Boulevard and other busy roads throughout the area.
- Direct access to your attorney: You will work personally with Harvey Cohen or Gary Juda.
- No upfront attorney fee: We handle qualifying cases on a contingency-fee basis, so attorney fees are generally paid only if we pursue compensation for you through a settlement or verdict.
- Support during a difficult time: When your injuries make travel difficult, we can discuss meeting at your home, hospital, or another appropriate location.
How the Motorcycle Accident Claim Process Works in Florida
A motorcycle accident claim often moves through several stages, although the exact process depends on the facts, injuries, and insurance issues involved:
- Medical care and documentation: Your health comes first. Seeing a doctor also creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the crash.
- Investigation: Cohen & Juda gathers police reports, scene photographs, witness information, and, when available, footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras.
- Demand and negotiation: After your condition and treatment needs become clearer, our team can prepare a demand letter that outlines your losses and present the motorcycle accident claim to the at-fault driver’s insurer.
- Filing suit, if needed: If the insurer does not make a reasonable offer, Cohen & Juda can file a lawsuit in the appropriate court and continue pursuing the claim.
- Discovery and mediation: Our team handles the exchange of evidence, depositions, and mediation while keeping you informed throughout the process.
- Settlement or trial: Many claims resolve through settlement, but Cohen & Juda prepares each case with trial in mind. We will represent you personally.
Matters Handled Under Motorcycle Accident Claims
A motorcycle collision can involve more than people expect, especially when several drivers, insurance policies, or other responsible parties are involved. Cohen & Juda handles motorcycle accident claims, including:
- Left-turn crashes: Collisions caused by a driver turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle, which can lead to serious injuries.
- Rear-end and lane-change collisions: Crashes involving drivers who follow too closely or fail to check blind spots before moving into a rider’s lane.
- Road hazard cases: Claims involving potholes, uneven pavement, debris, or unsafe road conditions that a government entity or contractor failed to address.
- Defective motorcycle parts: Accidents involving faulty brakes, tires, steering components, or other defective parts.
- Hit-and-run crashes: Claims involving uninsured motorist coverage when the responsible driver leaves the scene.
- Wrongful death claims: Cases brought after a rider is killed in a Plantation motorcycle accident.
- Lane-use disputes: Claims involving Florida Statute 316.209, which gives motorcycles full use of a traffic lane and generally prohibits operating between lanes or between adjacent rows of vehicles.
Why Work With Cohen & Juda, P.A.
Harvey Cohen and Gary Juda have represented injured people in Plantation since 1999, and motorcycle accident claims are part of that work. Riding is part of daily life in South Florida, and our team has seen firsthand how insurers can treat motorcycle claims differently, sometimes assuming a rider was reckless before reviewing the facts.
Our firm is based in Plantation, and we know the local roads, procedures, and issues that can affect a motorcycle accident claim. When you call our office, you will speak directly with an attorney who explains the legal process in plain language. We will represent you personally.
Cohen & Juda, P.A. Will Represent You Personally in Your South Florida Motorcycle Accident Case
You do not have to sort through Florida’s insurance rules, comparative negligence law, or extensive medical paperwork alone. Call us today at (954) 424-1440 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents in Plantation, Florida
How much does it cost to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Plantation?
Cohen & Juda, P.A. handles accepted Plantation motorcycle accident cases under a written contingency-fee agreement. Clients do not pay attorney fees upfront, and the fee is based on the monetary recovery described in that agreement.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Florida?
Under Florida Statute 95.11, a negligence lawsuit arising from a motorcycle accident generally must be filed within two years after the claim accrues. For many traffic crashes, that period begins on the accident date. Different deadlines or notice requirements can apply in certain cases, so speaking with an attorney early can help protect your ability to take legal action.
Can I pursue compensation if I was not wearing a helmet?
Florida law allows a person over age 21 to ride without a helmet if covered by at least $10,000 in qualifying medical-benefits insurance. Not wearing a helmet does not automatically bar a claim, although the insurance company may argue that it contributed to a particular head injury.
What if the driver who hit me does not have insurance?
Uninsured motorist coverage may apply when the responsible driver lacks bodily injury insurance or leaves the scene. Cohen & Juda can review your motorcycle policy, household policies, and other possible coverage sources.
Will my motorcycle accident case go to trial?
Many motorcycle accident claims resolve through negotiation or mediation before trial. However, when the insurance company does not make a reasonable offer, our attorneys can file a lawsuit and prepare the case for court.
Is my information kept private if I speak with your firm?
Our attorneys treat initial consultations as confidential. Attorney-client privilege generally applies once an attorney-client relationship is formed, and we do not share personal case information without authorization except as permitted or required by law.
What happens if my injuries worsen after I settle my claim?
A signed settlement usually closes the claim, which means the injured person generally cannot seek additional payment later if the condition worsens. For that reason, our attorneys review the medical evidence and future treatment needs before recommending that a client consider a settlement.
Do I need a police report to file a motorcycle accident claim?
A police report can provide helpful information, but it is not the only evidence that can support a claim. When no report is available, photographs, witness statements, video footage, medical records, and vehicle damage may help show what happened.
What sets a motorcycle accident claim apart from a car accident claim?
Motorcycles generally fall outside Florida’s standard PIP system, so injured riders may need to rely on the at-fault driver’s insurance or other available coverage. Motorcycle riders also face a greater risk of serious injuries and unfair assumptions about fault.
What should I do immediately after a motorcycle crash in Plantation?
Call 911, seek medical care, and photograph the scene, motorcycle, vehicles, road conditions, and visible injuries when your condition allows. Gather witness information, preserve your riding gear, and use care when discussing fault with the other driver or an insurance company.
Legal Disclaimer
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Cohen & Juda, P.A. Each motorcycle accident case depends on its own facts, and past cases described by any attorney do not predict what will happen in a future case. Please contact our office directly to discuss the specific facts of your situation before relying on any information found here.