Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Gainesville
Many motorcycle riders take precautions while they operate their vehicle. However, even the safest of riders are at risk of an accident. Another driver, bad weather, or a road hazard could cause an accident. And the impact on your life can be more than you imagine.
Often, the victims of these accidents experience serious injuries. Whether or not the other party was insured, you may need help seeking compensation for your accident. A motorcycle accident attorney in Gainesville can help. Here at Abercrombie, P.A, we can tell you more about resolving your accident in court.
How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Gainesville Help?
The median household income in Alachua County is $45,478. If you’re in an accident and have a similar income to the median, you probably can’t afford your medical bills. A serious accident could cause more than $100,000 in medical bills.
Many motorcycle riders are uninsured and unable to pay for their medical expenses without going into debt. Fortunately, an attorney can help you. An attorney can advise you on other ways in which you can receive compensation.
For instance, another party may have been liable for your accident. If someone’s negligence caused your accident, you could file a personal injury claim against them. The other party could be another driver or a government entity that failed to keep the roads safe.
Your attorney may also be able to negotiate with an involved insurance agency. Often, insurance companies fight claims. They may be reluctant to give you a fair payout. But your attorney can negotiate for you. They can fight for you to receive the money you deserve.
Wrongful Death
At times, motorcycle accidents result in fatalities. When they do, the victim’s family is left to pick up the pieces. They need to deal with all of the expenses of the accident, including funeral costs.
If negligence caused a death, the victim’s family can file a wrongful death lawsuit. You may be able to receive money for the lost income of your loved one, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
Personal Injury Claims for Motorcycle Accidents
It’s not uncommon for another party to be responsible for a motorcycle accident. For you to file a personal injury claim against them, they must have acted in negligence. Common examples of driver negligence are:
- Drinking and driving
- Failure to yield
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
Negligence can also come in other forms. If a construction crew failed to clear debris from the road, they could be responsible for your accident. Or, a government entity could fail to provide proper signage for a sharp turn.
It could also come in the form of product liability. In some cases, a faulty part causes motorcycle accidents. For instance, failing brakes could cause another driver to rear-end you. Your own motorcycle could have a faulty part. In either case, you could file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
For your personal injury claim to be successful, you need evidence. Your attorney can research the accident and look into possible causes. Then, they can look for evidence that supports claims of negligence. It could come in the form of witnesses, photographs, and expert testimony.
Getting Compensation for Your Accident
If you file a personal injury claim against someone else, you can recover several types of damages. The amount you receive depends on many factors. Typically, you can receive compensation for the following:
Medical Bills
You can receive money for all of your past, present, and future medical bills. This includes any surgery, hospital visits, and medications.
Missed Wages
Once you use up all of your sick time, you need to take unpaid days off from work. You might be unable to work because of your injuries, or unable to work because you have too many doctor appointments. Either way, you can be compensated for your missed wages.
Pain and Suffering
It’s likely that your accident caused pain. As a result of your claim, you could recover money for your pain and suffering. Certain types of injuries, like broken bones, are considered quite painful. Injuries requiring surgery are also worth more.
Pain isn’t only on a physical level. If your accident affected your mental health, you can seek compensation for your anguish. You might develop depression, anxiety, or feelings of grief after your accident.
Loss of Consortium
The spouse of an injured motorcycle rider could suffer greatly. Whether their partner was seriously injured or killed, they can experience many challenges. They could lose companionship, assistance, and other services of their loved one. This can impact the amount of compensation you receive.
Facts About Motorcycle Accidents
There are many causes of motorcycle accidents. In Alachua County, about 29% of driving deaths are caused by drunk driving. There is a major problem with drinking and driving, and it affects motorcyclists as well as other vehicles.
Other common causes of accidents include drivers swerving into another lane, failing to check for motorcyclists, and cutting off motorcyclists. Accidents are common at intersections, where drivers don’t always look before turning.
The Injuries
Because motorcyclists have almost no protection from other vehicles, accidents involving them are usually serious. They need to cope with the force of the collision as well as the force of being thrown from the motorcycle into another object.
Common injuries include head trauma, spinal cord injuries, neck injuries, brain damage, disfigurement, amputation, and paralysis. Often, the injuries require months or years of rehabilitation. In some cases, the victims require a lifetime of medical assistance.
The severity of the injuries depends on several factors. If the victim wears a helmet, they may have fewer or less serious injuries. However, even a helmet does not completely protect you. The size of the vehicle, speed of the accident, and location of the incident can all influence your injuries.
Working with Us
If you’re a victim of a motorcycle accident, contact us at Abercrombie, P.A. Our firm can lead you in your fight for compensation and justice. With our assistance, you can seek the financial resources you need for your recovery. Call us today to learn more.
