With average temperatures ranging from 59º at the lowest to 82º at the highest, it is no wonder that motorcycles are such a popular form of transportation in and around Orlando and the rest of Florida. In fact, Florida is the state with the second-most motorcycles registered, coming in at almost 600,000 motorcycles, second to California with over 800,000. An experienced motorcycle driver knows that starting the moment you pull out of your driveway and hit the open road, you need to stay on defense and be vigilant of other drivers. Unfortunately, even the best motorcycle driver is at risk of being hurt in an accident as the result of someone else’s actions. This is where an Orlando personal injury lawyer can step in to help you.
Even at low speeds that would typically result in a “fender bender” between two passenger vehicles, a collision between a motorcycle and another vehicle can be catastrophic, and even fatal. There are a variety of factors for this, starting with the fact that a person on a motorcycle has effectively zero protection in the form of a frame, airbags, seatbelts, or any other structural components built into a car to protect the passengers. In addition to the lack of protection, there is the second fact that once a motorcycle rider is in an accident, they will have a secondary impact with the ground (or anything else that they may hit after being thrown from the machine).
For a free case evaluation after a motorcycle accident in the Orlando area, call (850) 222-3232.
Hire an Attorney to Get the Legal Support You Deserve
The team at Fasig | Brooks is here to help you through this difficult time in your life, starting with giving you the legal support that you need. We have a long history of advocating for victims of motorcycle accidents, fighting to get them the money that they are entitled to for their injuries and suffering. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle crash in Orlando that someone else caused, then we are here to help you the same way.
Read more below to get a better idea of what you can expect when you initiate a claim with an insurance company, how we can help if the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, and more. Contact us as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation, where we will be able to get into the details and specifics of your case and start to develop a strategy for success.
Important Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident
Call 911
As with any accident, your personal safety and health are the absolute most important things to focus on. This starts immediately following the collision when someone must contact 911 as soon as possible so that the Orlando police, fire department, and EMTs can be dispatched to the scene. When they arrive, the police will be able to secure the scene and safely divert traffic while the fire department can address hazards and the EMTs can begin to attend to any injuries.
Get Medical Attention
Whether or not you are able to leave the scene of the accident on your own (as opposed to taking an ambulance to the emergency room), it is very important to see your own doctor as soon as possible. Not only will you be able to get treated for your injuries, but you will also establish a record of your injuries and tie them directly to the accident.
Gather and Submit Statements
You will need to provide your own account of the accident for the police and accident report, as will the other driver, but in many cases, there are also eyewitnesses. Eyewitness accounts can be extremely helpful because they provide additional, unbiased commentary on the accident and can shed light on some unknowns, such as whether or not the driver was acting dangerously or negligently leading up to the crash.
If you believe that the other driver is intoxicated or was driving recklessly or negligently and you are able to inform the police at the scene of the accident, they will be able to investigate and issue any arrests or citations.
Hire an Attorney
You will need to file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company fairly shortly after your accident, and whether or not you are able to give this claim your full attention while recovering, you can be certain that the insurance company will be taking steps to limit the amount that you ultimately receive. The stress of trying to counter their attempts to limit your settlement amount can have significant adverse impacts on your health, and trying to navigate the complexities of Florida tort law on your own is overwhelming.
By hiring an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Orlando, you can be confident that there is a dedicated professional who is fighting for your rights every step of the way, while you are able to give your full attention to your own needs throughout this process.
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Why Hire Fasig | Brooks for Your Motorcycle Accident Claim?
We understand that letting someone else take control of your financial interests, in any capacity, is a significant decision to make, whether the person is handling your retirement funds or your injury settlement negotiations. The award-winning team at Fasig | Brooks is committed to providing each and every one of our clients with top-quality personal service, open communication, and a focus on making you understand how important you truly are to our firm.
When you work with Fasig | Brooks, you will know that you are heard, respected, and most importantly, a valuable and important part of the process. Our history of success and our customer reviews are a great indication of the quality of care that you can expect when you partner with us.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Orlando Motorcycle Accidents
During your initial consultation, we will be able to go over the big questions that we are sure you have about your situation. The following are just a few of the questions that we typically go over during these first meetings, but keep in mind that the only way to get a comprehensive answer is with us spending time and attention going through every relevant detail.
How Much is My Orlando Motorcycle Accident Worth?
The question at the center of your case is about how much money you, the victim, deserve after being injured in a motorcycle accident. There are many different details that we will need to go through in order to reach a clear answer to this question, and the more time we have together, the more clear we will be. This is why it is so important to begin working with an attorney before even filing your insurance claim, so that we can reach our own conclusions that we will use through negotiations.
Generally, personal injury damages are divided into economic and non-economic damages, which both seek compensation for very different types of injuries. Economic damages are intended to pay for measurable financial impacts such as lost wages, medical bills, and more. Non-economic damages pay a victim for things like the actual pain and suffering they endured following the accident. Each of these requires ongoing research and calculations that we will begin working on immediately.
What Happens if I Am in a Motorcycle Accident With an Uninsured Driver?
Being involved in an accident that someone else caused can be extremely frustrating, but it can be even worse when that driver either does not have insurance, or their policy does not cover the cost of your damages. In either case, we will need to explore alternative avenues of compensation in order to get you the money you need.
In many cases, we may work with your insurance company to get some of your compensation, while in other cases we may seek damages directly from the other driver. As you can imagine, there is a range of variables that go into deciding the most appropriate course of action.
Will My Motorcycle Accident Need to Go to Trial?
Personal injury cases are very commonly settled out of court, meaning that statistically, it is unlikely that your claim will require a trial. However, this is not a guarantee that we will be able to reach an agreement before trial, and will need to go through all of the specifics of your case in order to determine the best course of action. In certain instances, it makes sense to seek a trial in order to hopefully receive punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages, but commonly it is in everyone’s best interest to settle.
Contact an Orlando Motorcycle accident lawyer at (850) 222-3232 and get the skilled help you need.
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