Fort Lauderdale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The exhilaration of riding a motorcycle is unmatched, especially on Florida’s open roads, natural beauty, and year-round sunshine. Unfortunately, riders are incredibly vulnerable in an accident, and the injuries can be devastating.

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath could help. We represent riders who have been injured due to negligent, careless drivers or improperly maintained roads.

To learn more about how our Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer can help, call (561) 867-4117 today to schedule your free consultation.

What should I do after being in a motorcycle crash?

Motorcycle accidents aren’t just terrifying — they can leave riders disoriented and confused, unsure of what happened or what they should do. If you remember these steps, you’ll protect your physical health and chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve in a personal injury lawsuit.

1. Get to a safe location—If your bike can still be driven or pushed, get it off the road immediately and to a secure location. Even if you can only move it to the shoulder or the side of the street, that will be safer than leaving it on the road.
2. Keep on your safety gear – Don’t take off your helmet, jacket, or any other protective gear.
3. Call 911 and ask for police and an ambulance. Don’t refuse medical care or treatment from the paramedics because their prompt attention to your injuries could dramatically improve your recovery.
4. Tell the responding police officer what happened – Relay what happened to the police officer as best you can. Don’t try to guess why the accident occurred because you could inadvertently say something that could harm your case by attributing any portion of fault to you.
5. Gather evidence at the scene—Use your phone to take pictures and videos of the accident and the surrounding area. Get the names, contact information, and insurance information for all other involved drivers. Get the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of all witnesses who can later provide a statement to your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer.
6. Notify your insurance company—This is another situation in which you don’t want to give your opinion on what happened or present information you’re unsure of because even your insurer could use that against you if you admit any fault.
7. Meet with a motorcycle accident attorney to understand your legal options – Your lawyer will need to investigate the accident and determine who’s liable. The investigation must start quickly so that crucial evidence doesn’t disappear.

How much does it cost to hire a Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer?

When you choose Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath, you won’t pay us a dime unless and until we win your case. If we’re successful, we’ll receive a portion of your compensation. Other advantages are available to our clients, such as medical liens, which help keep money in your pocket while you recover.

What are common motorcycle accident injuries?

Motorcyclists don’t have the same level of protection as drivers and occupants of passenger cars because they’re not surrounded by reinforced aluminum and other materials designed to reduce crash impacts.

While a helmet, jacket, boots, and other protective gear could help save your life, they can only do so much. Here are a few of the most common injuries that can occur in a motorcycle accident.

• Broken bones
• Road rash and lacerations
• Amputations
• Traumatic brain injury

Make sure you file a claim on time

In Florida, you have two years from your injury to file your claim. This deadline is called a “statute of limitations.”

Although this might sound like a long time, you must act immediately. Your attorney must investigate the accident to determine the liable party(ies), interview witnesses, begin negotiations with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, and perform several other tasks.

All of this will take time, but the earlier you take action, the sooner you’ll be able to obtain compensation.

What kinds of damages can I claim?

When you’re hurt due to someone else’s negligence, you can recover compensation for your financial losses. These are called damages. In Florida, there are two primary categories of damages you might be able to collect: economic and non-economic.

Economic

Economic damages include lost wages or work benefits if you miss work during recovery, medical bills, and property damage. These are often easily proven with receipts, invoices, and pay stubs.

For proving future medical costs and future lost wages if you’re unable to return to work in the same capacity (or at all), your attorney will need to retain experts to prove what you could’ve earned had you not been injured and the medical care you’ll need moving forward.

Non-economic

Non-economic damages are subjective and aren’t as easy to prove as economic damages because they don’t lend themselves to easy calculations. These include things like pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and diminished quality of life, among other things, all of which can be significant.

Because these are much more difficult to calculate and prove, you need a skilled Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident attorney.

Who can be liable for your injury?

The prominent liable party is the driver who caused the accident. However, there could also be other contributing parties.

For example, a drunk driver could have caused another driver to veer into your path, in which case the drunk driver might be liable for your injuries. If the driver’s brakes failed because they were faulty, the manufacturer of the braking system or the car could be. Recognizing the liable party is crucial for determining how much compensation you’re entitled to.

How do our attorneys prove negligence?

Our attorneys have decades of experience and resources to perform a detailed investigation to prove someone’s liability. Personal injury claims for motorcycle accidents are based on negligence. To have a successful claim, your attorney must prove the following four elements:

1. The liable party owed you a duty of care;
2. They breached that duty;
3. Their failure to adhere to that duty caused the accident and
4. You were injured or suffered damages as a result of the accident.

For example, all drivers have the inherent duty to follow all traffic laws for their safety and the safety of other motorists and pedestrians. If a driver violated any of those laws, such as using their cell phone while driving, causing them to crash into you, they breached their duty to you and caused the accident that resulted in your injuries and financial losses.

We fight the insurance company to get you total compensation

Our law firm has a long track record of success in defeating large insurance corporations. We’re not intimidated by their high-priced lawyers or the tricks they might employ to avoid paying you what you deserve.

The insurer will assign an adjuster to your claim. That adjuster has been trained to appear sympathetic to your situation while trying to get you to admit fault or to say something that can allow them to reduce or deny your claim altogether. They might even intentionally confuse you and trick you into saying something untrue.

We recommend that you don’t speak to the adjuster except to provide them with the contact information for your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer and to inform them that you’ll only answer questions in the presence of your attorney.

Motorcycle accidents are more frequent and more dangerous

An average of 550 motorcyclists have died per year on Florida roads between 2016 and 2021, and another 2,000 are seriously injured each year. Even though protective equipment is more advanced than ever before, far too many people are still killed or severely hurt in motorcycle accidents.

One of the biggest causes of these accidents is distracted drivers. Cars are filled with more technology than ever, and motorists continue using their smartphones while driving. It’s a recipe for disaster. If your Fort Lauderdale motorcycle accident lawyer can prove the at-fault driver in your crash was distracted, you’ll receive the compensation you deserve.

Why work with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath?

Be sure to get in touch with a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer with Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath as soon as possible following a motorcycle accident. We’ll provide aggressive, effective representation and won’t rest until we help you obtain total compensation.

Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or calling (561) 867-4117.

Related articles for further reading

• Essential Florida motorcycle laws
• Florida lane-splitting laws
• Do I have a case if I was in a motorcycle crash with no helmet?
• Motorcycle crash bars: What are they and do I really need one?