Winter Park Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
For motorcycle enthusiasts, the State of Florida offers the ideal blend of warm weather year-round, beautiful scenery that includes miles and miles of coastline, and one of the country’s biggest annual motorcycle events. It should come as no surprise then that Florida routinely ranks as one of the top two states in the country for the number of registered motorcycles (California being the other). Unfortunately, Florida also consistently ranks at the top for the number of motorcycle fatalities each year. If you were injured, or a loved one was killed in a Winter Park motorcycle accident, the at-fault party could be obligated to compensate you for your injuries or loss.
For a victim or surviving family member, the impact of a motorcycle crash can be felt in numerous ways and may be felt for months or even years. Victims may suffer physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial hardship while surviving loved ones struggle with grief and the sudden loss of support when a motorcycle accident causes fatal injuries. The Winter Park motorcycle accident attorneys at Bailey Fisher understand the immediate and long-term impact a collision can have on victims and family members. We also know how daunting the prospect of trying to navigate the legal system can be, which is why we are committed to assisting you pursue justice for your injuries and losses. An experienced Winter Park motorcycle accident attorney at Bailey Fisher can help ensure the responsible party (or parties) is held accountable, and you receive the maximum compensation available for all your injuries or for the loss you have suffered.
What Causes Winter Park Motorcycle Accidents?
There is nothing like the feeling of freedom with the wind in your face that you experience on a motorcycle; however, decreased safety is the price that riders pay for that freedom. A motorcyclist is almost 30 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries in a crash than their counterpart in a passenger vehicle. Motorcycles are also grossly overrepresented when it comes to fatalities, accounting for 17 percent of all motor vehicle crash fatalities despite only accounting for about three percent of all registered vehicles in Florida. In 2023, there were over 500 motorcycle crashes in Orange County, Florida resulting in 20 deaths and 465 non-fatal injuries. Common factors contributing to a Winter Park motorcycle accident include:
- Speed: Speed routinely makes the top of the list for contributing factors in motor vehicle collisions, playing a role in one out of every three crashes.
- Failing to recognize a motorcyclist: Although efforts are ongoing to alert drivers to the presence of motorcycles on the roadways, motorists involved in collisions frequently admit to not recognizing that a motorcycle was near them before the crash.
- Hazardous road conditions: By nature, motorcycles are more difficult to control even when road conditions are ideal. When road conditions are less than ideal, such as when the pavement is wet, asphalt is cracked, or construction occurs on the road, a collision is more likely.
- Driver inexperience: Florida law requires the completion of an approved safety course before you may legally operate a motorcycle on the state’s roadways. The rationale for the law is simple – inexperienced riders are more likely to be involved in a crash, as evidenced by the fact that 30 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes in Florida involve an unlicensed rider.
- Impaired drivers: Motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes are the most likely of all vehicle types to be impaired by alcohol with over 40 percent of motorcyclists killed in single-vehicle crashes being impaired at the time of the accident, according to figures published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Does Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Law Apply to Motorcycles?
Florida has a “no-fault” insurance law that requires drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. PIP insurance pays 80 percent of medical bills and 60 percent of lost wages (up to $10,000) if an insured is injured in an accident without regard to who was at fault in the collision. Only motorists operating a four-wheeled vehicle, however, are subject to the no-fault insurance law. If you were operating a motorcycle at the time you were injured in an accident, Florida’s no-fault insurance law does not apply to you nor to your right to pursue compensation from the responsible party or parties.
Am I Entitled to Compensation for a Winter Park Motorcycle Accident?
Compensation for injuries sustained in a Winter Park motorcycle accident must be pursued through a traditional personal injury lawsuit which requires you to prove that another party’s negligence caused or contributed to the accident. To prove negligence, you must prove that the defendant breached a legal duty of care owed to you, resulting in your injuries. While an endless array of conduct can equate to negligence, common examples include speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, and driving while under the influence. The local, state, or federal government can even be found liable for an impurely designed or inadequately maintained roadway if the roadway itself contributed to the accident.
What Type of Compensation Is Available in a Winter Park Motorcycle Accident?
You could be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages for the injuries you sustained in a Winter Park motorcycle accident. Economic damages are intended to compensate an injured victim for the objective, easily quantifiable expenses related to the accident, while non-economic damages represent compensation for the difficult-to-value, subject in nature, injuries. Economic and non-economic damages combined may compensate you for:
- Medical, hospital, and specialist expenses.
- Past and future lost income or wages.
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses.
- Physical injuries and pain and suffering related to them.
- Disfigurement and scarring.
- Emotional trauma.
Get Help from Experienced Winter Park Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
If you suffered injuries in a Winter Park motorcycle accident, or a family member was killed in one, a Winter Park motorcycle accident attorney at Bailey Fisher can help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled for all your injuries. We will work tirelessly to ensure that the responsible party (or parties) is held accountable and that you receive a just and fair settlement or award.
Call us at 407-628-2929 or submit our online form today. An experienced Winter Park motorcycle accident attorney will evaluate your case for free. For viable personal injury cases, we will follow up with the necessary legal action to hold the responsible party accountable for their negligence and recover the financial compensation you deserve for your pain, suffering, and losses.