South Florida Motorcycle Accidents

With over 30 years of experience, Cohen & Juda, P.A. will represent you personally and pursue fair and appropriate compensation following a South Florida motorcycle accident.

Have You Been in a Motorcycle Accident in South Florida?

As the South Florida motorcycle community knows all too well, motorcycle accidents remain a sobering reality on our heavily trafficked roads and highways. For riders who have the misfortune of experiencing a motorcycle accident, the devastating consequences can include physical harm, property damage, mounting medical bills and medical expenses, lost wages, hospital stays, haggling with insurance companies, and indescribable pain and suffering.

However, the knowledgeable and experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at Cohen & Juda, P.A. are here to represent motorcycle accident victims personally, drawing upon 30 years of providing legal representation and pursuing financial compensation and non-economic damages for those injured in a motorcycle accident.

During a free case evaluation, we will discuss the details of your particular motorcycle accident case, explore your legal options, and pursue maximum compensation under the law. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t pay us a dime until we win your case. Let our motorcycle accident attorneys deal with the legal process involved in seeking full compensation while you focus on your recovery.

Key Takeaways Regarding Motorcycle Accident Cases in South Florida

  • Motorcycle accidents in South Florida can be caused by various factors, including lack of awareness by other drivers, speeding and reckless driving, impaired driving, poor road conditions, and mechanical failures and defects
  • To reduce your risk of a motorcycle accident in South Florida, wear visible gear, obey traffic laws, avoid risky maneuvers, stay sober and alert, and check your motorcycle regularly and make necessary repairs right away.
  • If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in South Florida, seek medical treatment, contact police, gather information including the insurance company and insurance coverage for the other driver or drivers, take photos of the scene, notify your insurance company, and schedule a free consultation with motorcycle accident lawyers as soon as possible.

Common Injuries Sustained in South Florida Motorcycle Accidents

Many people who have had a Motorcycle accident in South Florida do not realize the severity of their injuries in the immediate aftermath. As an experienced motorcycle accident law firm can attest from its work with clients, it can take days and even months following a motorcycle accident to feel some of the symptoms.

For instance, if a motorcycle rider is struck from behind, they could experience whiplash, an injury that occurs when the neck and spinal cord are shaken abnormally. Forceful impacts to a motorcycle rider can cause bleeding and partial organ failure, yet they may not feel anything at the scene.

Other common motorcycle injuries include:

  • Road Rash: This skin abrasion happens to an injured motorcyclist when they skid across the pavement during a motorcycle accident. The rider could be left with severe injuries like significant skin damage, infections, and scarring.
  • Burn Injury: As the South Florida motorcycle community knows, motorcycle accidents can cause severe burns from the motorcycle’s exhaust pipes or from friction while skidding on the pavement.
  • Internal Injuries: These injuries involve significant harm to organs, internal bleeding, and broken ribs — all life-threatening conditions if left without immediate medical treatment.
  • Brain Injury: A brain injury in a motorcycle accident occurs when the brain suffers trauma, often from sudden impact or violent shaking. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) runs the gamut from a mild concussion to severe brain damage.
  • Spinal Injury: An injury to the spine can occur due to a forceful blow, which can lead to permanent alterations in strength, sensation, and other body functions below the site of the spinal cord injury (SCI).
  • Neck Trauma: As mentioned, whiplash and neck injury due to a motorcycle crash with other vehicles or another obstacle can leave motorcycle riders with significant neck trauma.
  • Facial Trauma: Rider safety from facial trauma relies on the use of a helmet. When a cyclist does not wear a helmet and is involved in a motorcycle accident, they can suffer broken cheekbones and lacerations.
  • Lower-Extremity Injuries: Motorcycle accident victims often sustain these injuries affecting legs and wrists, including fractures, dislocations, and sprains.
  • Amputations: Depending on the severity of the motor vehicle crash with a motorcycle, some riders can lose their limbs.

Fatal Motorcycle Accidents: In the worst type of motorcycle accident, a wrongful death occurs due to catastrophic head, neck, or chest injuries. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer from Cohen & Juda, P.A. can pursue a wrongful death claim in a motor cycle accident case that claims the life of the rider.

What Are My Chances of Being Hurt or Killed in a Motorcycle Accident?

As a South Florida motorcycle accident lawyer can attest, motorcycles remain extremely vulnerable vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash and four times more likely to be injured than those involved in a car accident.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in South Florida

Below are some leading causes of motorcycle accidents in South Florida that contribute to these sobering statistics.

Lack of Awareness by Other Drivers

Motorcycle riders are more vulnerable than drivers of other vehicles like cars because they lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle’s frame, airbags, and seat belts. Unfortunately, many other vehicle drivers do not see or anticipate motorcycles, especially when they change lanes, turn, or enter an intersection.

As personal injury lawyers have seen firsthand, distracted driving, such as texting, talking on the phone, or eating reduces the attention of drivers and increases the probability of an accident.

To reduce your risk of being hit by a car or truck, make yourself visible by wearing bright colors and reflective gear, using your headlights and turn signals, and positioning yourself in the lane where you can be easily seen.

Speeding and Reckless Driving

The motorcycle community can vouch for the speed and thrill of this type of vehicle; however, speeding, lane splitting, and engaging in otherwise reckless behavior can lead to severe and even fatal consequences. Speeding reduces your reaction time and increases the force of impact in case of a crash, making it harder to avoid or survive a collision.

Reckless driving, such as weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, or ignoring traffic signals, endangers you and puts other road users at risk. To stay in control of your motorcycle, ride defensively by obeying traffic laws, adjusting your speed to meet the road conditions, and avoiding risky maneuvers.

Impaired Driving

Operating your motorcycle while intoxicated is a serious offense that can lead to injury, death, and legal consequences. Even if your blood alcohol level is below the 0.08% legal limit for driving in Florida, it can still negatively impact your judgment, vision, coordination, and balance.

Alcohol and drugs can also lead to aggressiveness, overconfidence, and risky behavior that contributes to poor decision-making and reduced situational awareness. A motorcycle accident attorney with experience in these cases can attest to the benefits of planning ahead, designating a sober driver, and using public transportation or ride-sharing services in the prevention of accidents.

Treacherous Road Conditions

South Florida roads present challenges for motorcyclists because they can be jammed with traffic, uneven, wet, slippery, or filled with debris. Potholes, gravel, sand, and oil spills can cause a loss of control, a skid, or a crash, leading to property damage and bodily harm. Furthermore, road construction and maintenance can create detours, narrow lanes, or unexpected obstacles demanding quick reflexes and maneuvers.

To prepare for treacherous road conditions, check your tires and brakes regularly, adjust your speed and position to the surface and weather, and remain alert for warning signs and markings.

Mechanical Failures and Defects

As with any other motor vehicle, motorcycles require regular maintenance and inspection for proper functioning and safety. Malfunctioning brakes, tires, lights, or steering can cause a breakdown, a loss of control, or a collision. Additionally, manufacturing defects or recalls can hinder the performance of a motorcycle, putting riders at risk.

To avoid mechanical failures and defects, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance and repairs, perform a pre-ride check before every trip, and respond promptly to any warning lights or unusual noises.

Steps to Take Following a Motorcycle Accident in South Florida

If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident in Florida, there are several steps you need to take to protect your health and legal rights. Here’s what we advise:

  1. Seek Medical Attention

The first step and priority after a motorcycle accident is to seek medical attention. Even if you feel fine, you need to be checked out by a doctor to ensure you have no underlying injuries.

  1. Contact the Police

Contact the police and report the accident. It’s critical to have an official record of the accident, including a police report, as it will be useful when you file an insurance claim.

  1. Gather Information

Collect as much information as possible at the scene of the accident. This includes the name, contact information, and insurance information of the other driver(s) involved in the accident and any witnesses who may have seen what happened.

  1. Take Pictures

Take pictures of the accident scene, including any damage to your motorcycle, the other vehicle(s) involved, and any injuries you may have sustained.

  1. Contact Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurance company as soon as possible to report the accident. Your insurance company will guide you through the process of filing a claim.

  1. Consult a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in the accident, consult a motorcycle accident attorney who can help you understand your legal rights and guide you as you pursue compensation for your injuries. Our personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and work on a contingency basis — meaning we are only paid if we win your case.

Identifying Hidden Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident — Steps to Protect Your Legal Rights and Best Interest

After a South Florida motorcycle accident, seeking medical treatment immediately is crucial for multiple reasons.

  • To ensure your injuries are properly documented.
  • To prevent any hidden injuries from becoming worse.
  • To provide evidence for your insurance claim.
  • Hidden Injuries: Hidden injuries — including internal bleeding and whiplash — can negatively affect your health and well-being. Seeking medical care from South Florida healthcare professionals ensures that you have access to the necessary tests and examinations to reveal any physical damage that may not be readily apparent.
  • Timely Medical Evaluation and Diagnosis: When you seek a medical diagnosis and treatment program as soon as possible, you significantly improve your recovery outlook. If left untreated, physical damage like internal bleeding or harm to internal organs can lead to severe — and even fatal — complications. Immediately following a motorcycle crash, seek medical attention to identify and resolve known or unknown personal injury consequences.
  • Documentation to Support Your Motorcycle Accident Claim: When seeking to ease the financial burden of a motorcycle accident, medical records provide evidence of your personal injury, offering detailed information concerning the extent and severity, and ensuing treatment. This information contains the medical bills from your treatment, which supports your case and your efforts to pursue maximum compensation.
  • Establishing a Causal Relationship Between the Accident and Personal Injury: As an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer knows, when accident victims seek immediate medical attention, it strengthens a motorcycle accident claim by identifying the connection between the accident and the personal injury consequences. Delaying medical care gives the insurance company, insurance adjuster and others on the opposing side the ability to argue that the accident is not responsible for any personal injury sustained.

A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Explains What Types of Damages a Rider Can Pursue

Per the Florida Statute, a motorcyclist can pursue the following damages against the at-fault driver for the following.

  • Medical Expenses: Motorcyclists in Florida can pursue damages to cover medical bills incurred due to the accident, including hospitalization, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and ongoing medical care.
  • Lost Wages: Riders may seek compensation for lost wages if the injuries sustained in the accident prevent them from working, both temporarily and permanently.
  • Pain and Suffering: Damages can be sought for the physical pain, emotional distress, and mental anguish experienced due to the accident and injuries suffered as a consequence.
  • Property Damage: Riders can claim damages to cover the repair or replacement costs of their motorcycle and any other property damaged in the accident.
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Compensation can be pursued for the loss of ability to participate in activities previously enjoyed due to the injuries sustained in the accident.

In 2023, Florida enacted tort reform, changing the statute of limitations from four years to two years from the date of the accident and injury. It also put the state on a modified comparative negligence system, meaning, if determined to be more than 50 percent responsible for their injury, a motorcyclist is ineligible to recover damages. However, every case is unique and exceptions may apply, so consult a motorcycle accident lawyer at Cohen & Juda, P.A. to schedule a free case evaluation.

Don’t Waste Time With Anyone Else. Call Us First, And We Will Help You Seek Fair And Just Compensation.

Do I Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer to Help Me with My Motorcycle Accident Case?

While it may seem tempting to forego the legal services of a personal injury lawyer to pursue compensation for your motorcycle injuries, seeking legal help from a seasoned professional is a wise choice. Your legal team can apply extensive knowledge and experience to the unique circumstances of your case to pursue a fair settlement offer, negotiate with insurance companies, and uphold your rights in court, if necessary.

During an initial consultation at no cost to you, you can discuss your case in detail with your motorcycle accident lawyer, who will strategize an approach to holding the at-fault party accountable while you focus on healing.

The Personal Injury Lawyers at Cohen & Juda, P.A. Will Represent You Personally in Your Motorcycle Accident Case

With over 30 years of experience, Cohen & Juda, P.A. has successfully represented clients who have sustained injuries or lost loved ones in motorcycle accidents in wrongful death lawsuits. We know you have many choices of personal injury law firms in South Florida; however at Cohen & Juda, P.A., we’re more than just your motorcycle accident lawyers — we’re your advocates in holding the at-fault party or parties responsible during a time of physical, emotional, and financial upheaval.

Let our law firm handle all the legal aspects while you focus on your physical recovery. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer at (954) 424-1440 or by completing our online form.

We will represent you personally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Statute Of Limitations For Personal Injury In Florida

Florida law has different statutes of limitations which affect the amount of time you have to file your claim. The time limits are based on the type of case you have. The law has recently changed. We encourage you to contact an attorney immediately to find out how the Statute of Limitations may affect your negligence, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect or wrongful death claim.

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