Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Naples and Ft. Myers, Florida
Motorcycles accident lawyers know full well how devastating these accidents can be to those injured and their families. Motorcycles are extremely dangerous because riders and passengers are exposed in a crash. Retired Attorney Juan Escobar, formerly of the Law Office of Verderamo & Escobar, had owned motorcycles for decades and has a unique understanding of how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle in Florida. We have also represented individuals involved in serious motorcycle accidents. If you or someone you know was involved in an accident involving a motorcycle, please contact our motorcycle accident lawyers in Naples, Florida at (239) 775-1004.
Motorcycles are very common in Florida. Unfortunately, so are motorcycle accidents.
Florida’s beautiful coastlines and great weather (lack of snow and ice) makes it a wonderful place to ride a motorcycle. Over the last decade, the number of registered motorcycles has climbed steadily. At the same time, the number of residents and visitors to the state has also climbed, resulting in more traffic and congestion on our roads. These trends result in a large number of motorcycle accidents with injuries and fatalities.
Who is at fault in a motorcycle accident?
Florida is a comparative fault state, which means that liability may be assigned to different parties proportionately by the percentage of fault attributable to each party. This also means that if the injured party is partly at fault for the accident, then the amount he can recover will be reduced proportionately by the percentage that he or she was at fault for the accident. The reality is that motorcycles are considerably smaller than other types of vehicles and are, therefore, less visible. Motorists tend to pull out in front of motorcycles or otherwise fail to yield to motorcycles simply because they fail to see them. A motorcycle rider who has been injured by the fault of another can file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver of the other vehicle, the owner of the at-fault vehicle or possibly even the employer of the at-fault driver if they were driving under the scope of their employment at the time of the crash. If you were operating a motorcycle or were a passenger on one at the time of the accident and would like a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Naples, Florida to discuss liability, please contact Verderamo Law at (239) 775-1004.
How does an injured rider recover compensation for injuries sustained in a Florida motorcycle accident?
Normally car accidents are covered under Florida’s no-fault insurance laws and require motorists to maintain Personal Injury Protection (PIP) of no less than $10,000. An injured motorist will utilize their own PIP insurance, which will help cover medical bills and lost wages. When seeking treatment, a motorist will provide their own insurance information to treatment providers. Under certain circumstances, typically involving more serious injuries where one meets the “injury threshold,” a motorist can sue the at-fault party to recover additional compensation.
It is important to note that motorcycles are not covered under Florida’s no-fault laws. This means that individuals injured while riding a motorcycle must sue the at-fault party to recover damages. The one benefit to the motorcycle exclusions from PIP insurance is that there is no need to meet the injury threshold to file suit for compensation.
Sadly, injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident are typically very serious and sometimes fatal. Medical bills can be astronomical and usually require expensive rehabilitation, future surgeries and sometimes even the need for prosthetics. Depending on the injuries, victims of these accidents can become disabled and unable to work or care for themselves. These are all factors that affect how much an accident case is worth.
What can a motorcycle accident lawyer do in a motorcycle accident case?
Motorcycle accident lawyers know the importance of investigating and securing necessary evidence and witnesses for proving a case. In these types of cases, time is of the essence. The vehicles involved in the collision must be examined immediately and photographed by an investigator or an expert as they are sometimes “scrapped.” The same goes for the scene of the accident since it may have useful evidence such as oil drips, tire marks, debris from the vehicles, etc. . . .
A personal injury attorney will also investigate the at-fault parties to determine if there are assets or insurance policies available to provide adequate compensation. Otherwise, the injured cyclist will have to look towards his or her own insurance for compensation.
Contact Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Naples & Ft. Myers, Florida
If you were injured in an accident involving a motorcycle and are looking for a motorcycle accident lawyer in Naples, Florida, please do not hesitate to contact the accident attorneys at Verderamo Law to discuss all aspects of your case.
Verderamo Law is located at 2662 Airport Pulling Rd S Naples, FL 34112 and may be reached by phone at (239) 775-1004.