If you were seriously injured in a motorcycle crash, hiring an experienced Boca Raton motorcycle accident lawyer can help protect your rights and build a strong case for financial compensation. Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath provides legal representation to accident victims in South Florida. With more than 100 years of joint practice experience, our accident attorneys provide the deep knowledge and individualized attention you deserve.
Do I need an attorney for my motorcycle accident?
Motorcycle accidents can quickly become complicated. Unlike larger vehicles, motorcycles do not provide as much protection to the rider in an accident. If you only suffered scratches or bruises in a minor crash, it may seem like you don’t need legal representation. However, even minor accidents can lead to more serious injuries. If you were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, you may have suffered head or brain trauma that could have a long-term impact on your health and family life. Consequently, it is in your best interest to work with an experienced attorney after an accident.
Contact our Boca Raton motorcycle accident lawyers today for a free consultation.
When to Get a Boca Raton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
The best time to get in touch with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath is right after you have been injured by a negligent driver. If you wait too long to contact an attorney after your accident, you may lose crucial evidence needed to successfully litigate your case.
The Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath law firm is here to provide you the representation that you need if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident. We are committed to protecting your rights and building an effective case with the help of our experienced team of attorneys. We offer free initial consultations for our clients.
Contact our firm today to discuss your accident with a Boca Raton motorcycle accident lawyer.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
After any accident, it is important to follow certain steps to protect yourself. When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, these steps are even more critical.
If you fail to take the correct actions after an accident, your chances of successfully filing a claim against the at-fault party may be compromised or your ability to receive full compensation for your injuries may be limited. As soon as possible after an accident, you should call 911 to report the accident and wait for assistance to arrive.
If you are seriously injured or cannot move, do not attempt to get up. Remain still until medical personnel arrive and take all necessary precautions to avoid further harm.
Seek medical attention even if you don’t believe you are injured. Injuries that may appear to be minor can cause greater problems later on. After you have ensured your safety, contact a Florida motorcycle accident lawyer for assistance with your insurance claim.
Brain Injuries From a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents are some of the most dangerous kinds of accidents that can occur on the road. According to one estimate, motorcycle rider fatalities are almost 26 times more common than passenger fatalities in car crashes.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to understand how serious of an issue head injuries are for motorcyclists.
Brain injuries from a motorcycle accident can be life-altering. Even mild head injuries have been linked to serious long-term consequences, including memory loss, learning disabilities, and impaired cognitive function.
Get immediate medical treatment for brain injuries. If you are experiencing symptoms of a brain injury, including headaches, slurred speech, or impaired memory, go to the emergency room.
How a Boca Raton Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
Our attorneys are committed to protecting the rights of motorcyclists after accidents. We have extensive experience in successfully litigating on behalf of our clients who have been injured in motorcycle accidents.
By choosing Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath as your legal counsel, you can be confident that you will receive the highest level of service from an experienced team of attorneys. We pride ourselves on our excellence in litigation and customer service. If you have any questions, contact us today for a free consultation with a Boca Raton attorney.
Elements of a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, the at-fault party is typically liable for your injuries. It can be difficult to secure compensation for your damages without the assistance of an experienced attorney.
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident, contact our firm as soon as possible after the incident occurs. Accident claims can take a long time to resolve. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
The elements that are required for you to prevail in your motorcycle accident case may include:
- The at-fault driver was negligent.
- You were injured in the accident.
- Your injuries meet certain criteria, such as the injuries being serious enough to warrant a claim or your medical bills reaching a particular dollar amount set by the state.
What damages can I claim in a motorcycle accident lawsuit?
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for financial losses that resulted from your injuries. They may include the following:
- Medical expenses.
- Lost wages.
- Loss of earning capacity, if it can be proven that your injuries will interfere with your ability to work in the future.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate you for the emotional distress that resulted from your accident. These may include:
- Physical or emotional scarring.
- Loss of consortium, if your injuries caused a strain on your relationship.
- Pain and suffering.
Punitive damages
Punitive damages are awarded by a judge when the defendant’s conduct is especially reckless or heinous.
For instance, if a motorist fled the scene of your accident and later was found to be intoxicated while operating another vehicle, you may be entitled to punitive damages in addition to non-economic and economic damages.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is any injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. TBIs occur when an external force causes damage to your brain. Motorcycle accidents are responsible for thousands of TBIs every year. Symptoms of a TBI include:
- Headaches.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Impaired memory or concentration.
- Slurred speech.
- Loss of consciousness, which can last from several minutes to several months after the accident.
Concussions are categorized as a mild form of TBI. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no such thing as a “concussion-proof” helmet. Even if you were wearing a helmet at the time of your accident, you could still suffer a concussion.
Road Rash
Road rash is a common injury that results from a motorcycle accident. It occurs when the skin on your body is scraped away as a result of sliding across the pavement after being thrown from your bike. Injuries from motorcycle accidents often lead to scarring and permanent disfigurement. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to contact Lytal Reiter Smith Ivey & Fronrath as soon as possible.
We offer free case evaluations with an experienced Boca Raton motorcycle accident lawyer.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are another common injury that results from motorcycle accidents. If you endure a broken bone, your doctor will typically recommend that you wear a cast while the bone heals. During recovery, it is important to seek immediate medical attention if you believe your cast needs adjusting.
Some broken bones require surgery to set the bone correctly. If your doctor believes that your broken bone will need surgery, you may be referred to an orthopedic specialist for further treatment.
Internal Damage
Internal damage results from motorcycle accidents when your insides are damaged as a result of being thrown or run over by another vehicle.
If you have internal injuries, you may experience some of the following symptoms:
- Blood in your urine or stool.
- Chest pain.
- Back pain.
- A feeling that you have to urinate or defecate even though nothing is coming out.
- Sudden weight gain, which may indicate that your spleen has been ruptured.
- In some cases, internal injuries can lead to death because it becomes difficult for you to breathe or maintain the functions of your major organs.
Contusions
A contusion, or bruise, is common following a motorcycle accident. If you were wearing protective gear at the time of your accident, you may only experience minor bruising.
However, if you were not wearing protective gear at the time of your accident or your protective gear did not function properly, your injuries could be more severe.
The impact of the accident can cause your skin to bruise, which can lead to scars if not properly treated.
Soft Tissue Damage
Your muscles, tendons, and ligaments are considered soft tissue.
If your soft tissue has been damaged, you can expect some of the following symptoms:
- A dull, constant ache.
- Difficulties moving the injured area.
- Pain while attempting to stretch or contract your injured muscle or tendon.
- In some cases, you may not realize that you have soft tissue damage because symptoms usually don’t appear until several days after an accident has occurred.
Neck and Back Injuries
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident that caused your bike to flip over, there is a possibility that you could experience neck and back injuries.
If your neck or back was injured in the accident, you may experience some of the following symptoms:
- A stabbing pain when attempting to turn your head.
- Muscle spasms in your neck or back.
- Severe pain in your upper or lower back.
If you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to contact Lytal Reiter Smith Ivey & Fronrath as soon as possible so an experienced Boca Raton motorcycle accident lawyer can help you file a claim for damages.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Rear-End Motorcycle Accident Cause
Rear-end accidents are one of the most common types of motorcycle accidents. Drivers commonly tailgate other vehicles. When they do this to a car and don’t brake in time, they can cause bumper damage. However, when they tailgate motorcycles, it causes most drivers to not brake in time which results in a collision. When this happens, most motorcycle riders are thrown off of their motorcycles or into oncoming traffic. This can lead to severe injuries including broken bones and brain damage due to head trauma.
Poor Road Conditions
Road conditions are an important factor in motorcycle accidents. Bad weather, poor road maintenance, and unmarked cars all contribute. When there is inclement weather such as rain, fog, sleet, ice, or snow on the roads it causes many motorcycles to crash. When wet surfaces are not properly maintained potholes occur which can cause motorcycle accidents.
Potholes pose a serious issue for motorcycles, which can easily be thrown off balance. If a driver rides over a pothole, they can risk flipping their bike and getting a serious injury.
Blind Spots
Another major cause of motorcycle accidents is other drivers’ blind spots. When a driver has large trucks, passenger cars, or SUVs, they tend to have much larger blind spots than other vehicles. When these drivers are in their car, if they attempt to turn around in our parking lot without checking their mirrors or looking over their shoulder they can crash into a passing motorcycle.
These crashes are especially dangerous because motorcycle riders do not have airbags to protect them in case of an accident. When they hit another car, their bodies can suffer severe trauma that could lead to death.
Cutting Off
Another common cause of motorcycle accidents is when other drivers cut off motorcycles. This is dangerous because the motorcyclist has very little room to avoid a collision or to stop if there is one coming up ahead.
When a motorcycle stops short, it is often thrown off balance or into oncoming traffic. This can cause serious injuries to the motorcyclist including head trauma, broken bones, and brain damage.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a common cause of accidents on the road, amongst any type of vehicle. Using a cell phone, texting, and daydreaming all contribute to distracted driving.
When this happens, motorcycle riders often lose control and hit another vehicle or go off the road where there is no room for error.
Drivers who are distracted can cause serious injuries to motorcycle drivers. Lytal Reiter Smith Ivey & Fronrath believes that all drivers should pay 100% attention to the road to reduce the number of motorcycle accidents in South Florida.
Driving Under the Influence
Riding under the influence of drugs or alcohol results in serious, if not fatal, accidents. When a driver is high or drunk it can seriously affect their ability to operate a vehicle on the road. This may result in speeding, losing control, hitting another car, hitting an object like a tree or signpost, and even falling off if they are not holding on properly.
When this happens, the motorcyclist’s body is more at risk for serious injury including head trauma, broken bones, brain damage, and amputation. Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath want to help victims of drunk driving accidents get justice through court proceedings.
If you have been injured due to a driver driving under the influence, you may be entitled to punitive damages.
Contact the Boca Raton Motorcycle Accident Lawyers a Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath Today
If you or someone you love has been the victim of a motorcycle accident, we want to help.
Our attorneys know all of the common causes of motorcycle accidents and we use this knowledge to win our clients’ cases. If you do not win your case, it will cost you nothing out of pocket.
Call today for a free consultation to learn more about your rights after a motorcycle accident. We are here to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will be with you through every step of the process, fighting to get the justice that you deserve under Florida law.
Motorcycle Accident Questions and Answers
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit?
You have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. If you do not, you could waive your right to seek damages in court.
If you miss this time period, you need to speak with an experienced Boca Raton motorcycle accident lawyer to see if you can still file a claim.
How much does a motorcycle accident lawyer cost?
Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath do not charge you any fees unless we win your case.
This is because we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that the only money you will pay Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath is if we win your case.
If we do not win your case, we will not charge you any fee at all.
What if I was partially to blame for my motorcycle accident?
Florida is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that you can recover damages if you are partially to blame for your motorcycle accident.
However, the court will look at your degree of fault and reduce the amount of compensation you receive by that percentage.
If you were 10% at fault, you cannot be awarded 100% of your damages. However, we can potentially get you 90% of your damages in this instance, after the judge or jury finds you 10% responsible for the accident.
What if a loved one died from a motorcycle accident?
If a loved one dies in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation for the following:
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of comfort and protection
- Loss of financial support
- Punitive damages
- Loss of quality of life
A Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath attorney can help your family get the maximum amount of damages possible by filing a wrongful death suit and holding the negligent and reckless parties responsible.
Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath
515 N Flagler Dr, 10th floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
1860 SW Fountainview Blvd STE 100
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986
150 E Palmetto Park Road Suite 840
Boca Raton, FL 33432
110 SE 6th St Ste 1410
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: (561) 655-1990
Fax: (561) 832-2932
Español: (561) 833-1964
