Clearwater Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Suffering a devastating injury in a motorcycle accident can permanently impact your life. Get help bringing the liable party to justice by reaching out to a motorcycle accident lawyer in Clearwater.
Motorcyclists are often more likely to be injured in an accident than someone traveling in almost any other type of vehicle. With that being said, when your accident wasn’t your fault, the person or persons who are to blame ought to be held accountable. Though the claims process can be daunting, your Clearwater motorcycle accident lawyer should be able to take care of these legal matters on your behalf.
At Anderson & Anderson, we strongly believe that injury victims should never get stuck dealing with the effects of an accident without being repaid by the at-fault party. If we take on your case, we will do our due diligence to uncover who is culpable and how much they should be compelled to compensate you for their negligent actions.
Common Injuries for Clearwater Motorcycle Accident Victims
Motorcyclists are vulnerable to a severe accident in ways that other drivers may not be. Even if you’re wearing a helmet, you don’t have airbags, seat belts, or the metal frame a car has, which means any Clearwater motorcycle accident can turn deadly fast.
Because you’re so exposed to the road, you may have suffered severe injuries, like head trauma, spinal cord damage, or broken bones. If you didn’t have a protective jacket or padding, you may have also suffered friction burns, also called road rash. These burns come from high-speed contact with the pavement.
Even if you feel fine after your motorcycle accident, head to the nearest Clearwater hospital. That’s not just for the sake of your insurance company, though they may try to claim you couldn’t have been injured badly if you didn’t go to the hospital. Some injuries may be delayed, which means you may not feel them until later, when they grow more severe.
Florida Shared Fault Law and Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
One of the most important tort laws you need to know is Florida’s comparative fault law. Also known as shared fault, comparative fault allows injury victims who have contributed to the accident in question to still seek compensation from the other at-fault party.
However, you should be prepared to take responsibility for your part in the accident by having any compensation you are awarded reduced by your portion of fault. For example:
Bob wasn’t wearing a motorcycle helmet when he was struck by an aggressive driver. As a result of his decision not to wear a helmet, the court found that he was 10 percent to blame for the injuries he sustained in Clearwater. For this reason, Bob’s $100,000 was brought down to $90,000 due to Florida’s comparative fault law.
Liability for Clearwater Motorcycle Accidents
When you’re hurt in a motorcycle accident, determining the at-fault party can be complicated. You may have a hard time identifying them, especially if you were in a multi-vehicle accident in Clearwater or if you suffered an injury that makes remembering difficult.
Often, the driver who hit you is the one at fault, but there are exceptions. For example, you may need to sue the driver’s employer if the driver harmed you in the course of their job. The employer is responsible for ensuring their employees are careful, so if the employee injured you, you may be eligible for compensation from the employer.
Road Hazards and Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles are more vulnerable to road hazards, which can be a big problem when the department of transportation fails to repair or maintain the road. If you were harmed by a road hazard, though, you may be entitled to compensation that covers the losses you’ve suffered.
Seeking a lawsuit against a Clearwater government agency can be tough, but if you were injured because of a pothole or other road defect, you may be owed compensation for those losses.
Defective Parts and Motorcycle Accidents
In some cases, you may have simply lost control of your motorcycle because something was wrong with it. Your brakes may have failed, for example, and you couldn’t avoid the accident because of that damage.
In these cases, you may have a lawsuit against the manufacturer. If they failed to make their products safe for use, they can be held at fault when they hurt someone.
Everything You Should Know about the Statute of Limitations for Accidents in FL
In Florida, personal injury claims must be filed before the statute of limitations expires. The statute of limitations will always begin from the date of the accident or from the day you were diagnosed with an injury relating to the accident. It will then continue to run for four years exactly until expiring.
Once it does, you will no longer be able to have your case heard before a judge and will therefore be unable to obtain the compensation you might have otherwise been entitled to. Fortunately, your motorcycle accident lawyer will be well aware of the expiration date for your civil claim and will do everything possible to ensure that your accident case isn’t barred due to missing this important deadline.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Injuries
After your Clearwater motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation that covers the losses you’ve suffered in the accident, also known as damages. Below are some of the damages you may be entitled to:
- Economic Damages– When you’re injured, it can get expensive fast. You may need compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, as a few examples.
- Non-Economic Damages – The intangible losses you’ve suffered can take a toll on your life. While pain and suffering or emotional trauma may not cost you money directly, they can impact your life in severe ways.
- Punitive Damages – While punitive damages aren’t as commonly offered, you may be entitled to compensation if the at-fault party meant to harm you. These damages are awarded to punish them, not to compensate you.
Get Help from a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Clearwater
When you have endured catastrophic injuries due to your involvement in a motorcycle accident caused by someone else, a Clearwater motorcycle accident lawyer at Anderson & Anderson may be able to help.
We proudly offer complimentary consultations to injured motorcyclists across Clearwater and the state of Florida. You can give our office a call at 813-251-0072 or fill out the brief contact form at the bottom of this page to schedule yours.
