A motorcycle crash can leave you dealing with injuries, time away from work, damage to your bike, and insurance questions you were not expecting. If another person caused the collision, you may also be unsure where to turn next.
A Parkland personal injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and the options available.
If you need a motorcycle accident lawyer in Parkland, Viles & Beckman can investigate what happened, deal with the insurance companies, and help you pursue compensation. Known as The Five Star Law Firm®, we handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, so there is no upfront legal fee.
How a Parkland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
Motorcycle accident claims can involve disputes over how the crash happened and who was responsible. We look at the circumstances, available evidence, your injuries, and any arguments being made about fault.
A Parkland motorcycle accident lawyer can also help investigate the collision and identify the parties who may be responsible.
Evidence may include:
- Crash reports: To document the initial details of the collision
- Photos and video: To help show how the crash happened
- Witness statements: To clarify disputed details about turns, lane changes, or right of way
- Vehicle damage: To provide information about the point and direction of impact
- Medical records: To document your injuries and treatment
We can also handle communications with the insurers while you focus on your medical care and recovery.
Expect More, Receive More: Legal Support That Feels Like Family
How Florida Motorcycle Insurance Rules Affect Your Claim
Motorcycle insurance works differently from coverage for many passenger vehicles in Florida. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles states that motorcycle and moped operators are not required to carry Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, insurance.
Because PIP does not apply to motorcycles in the same way, the coverage available for medical expenses and other losses depends on the policies involved and how the accident happened.
A Parkland motorcycle injury lawyer can review the available insurance and determine which sources of compensation may apply.
Comparative Fault Can Affect What You Recover
Florida follows a modified comparative-fault system. Under Florida Statutes § 768.81, compensation in a negligence case can be reduced according to the injured person’s percentage of fault.
If you are found more than 50% at fault, you generally cannot recover damages. If you are 50% or less at fault, any award may be reduced according to your share of responsibility.
That makes evidence especially important when the people involved disagree about how the collision happened.
What Can Cause a Motorcycle Accident?
Motorcycle crashes can happen when another road user fails to see a rider, misjudges the motorcycle’s speed, or makes an unsafe maneuver.
We investigate causes such as:
- Left turns across traffic that place a vehicle in the motorcycle’s path
- Unsafe lane changes without checking mirrors or blind spots
- Distracted driving, including phone use behind the wheel
- Following too closely and leaving too little stopping distance
- Speeding or other traffic violations
- Failure to yield when entering or crossing a roadway
The cause of the crash can help establish who may be legally responsible. In some cases, fault may be shared by more than one person or entity. A Parkland motorcycle crash attorney can compare the accounts given by the drivers with the physical evidence and other available records.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Motorcycle Crash?
The costs of a motorcycle crash can keep building long after you leave the hospital. You may still be paying for treatment while missing work or dealing with damage to your bike.
Your claim may include compensation for:
- Medical expenses: Hospital care, follow-up treatment, rehabilitation, medication, and future care
- Lost income: Wages you miss while you are unable to work
- Reduced earning capacity: If your injuries affect what you can earn in the future
- Property damage: The cost of repairing or replacing your motorcycle and other damaged belongings
- Pain and suffering: The physical and emotional impact of your injuries
- Scarring or disfigurement: When your injuries leave lasting visible changes
What you may be able to recover depends on the injuries you suffered, the losses you can show, the insurance available, and how the crash happened. We look at the full picture rather than relying on a standard figure.
How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit?
Florida law limits how long you have to bring many negligence claims. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11, an action founded on negligence generally must be filed within two years.
The deadline does not always mean two years from the exact date of the crash. When the limitation period begins and whether an exception applies can depend on the circumstances.
Waiting can also make evidence harder to obtain. Video may be overwritten, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and physical evidence may change or disappear.
What Should You Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
Your health comes first. Seek appropriate medical attention, particularly if you are injured or develop symptoms after leaving the scene.
When you are able, it may help to:
- Document the scene with photographs or video
- Exchange information with the other drivers involved
- Identify witnesses and keep their contact details
- Preserve your motorcycle and riding gear if they may contain relevant evidence
- Keep medical and expense records connected with your recovery
- Obtain the crash report once it becomes available
Read settlement documents and releases carefully before signing them. Once an injury claim is settled and released, you generally cannot seek additional compensation later from the parties covered by that release.
Speak With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Serving Parkland
You should not have to manage an injury claim, medical recovery, and insurance communications on your own.
Viles & Beckman can review the accident, investigate who may be responsible, and explain your options based on what happened.
We offer free case evaluations and handle personal injury matters on a contingency-fee basis. If you were injured in a motorcycle collision, contact us to discuss your case with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Parkland.