Coral Springs Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcyclists are out for a good part of the year in Coral Springs, Florida, which means that the area sees more motorcycle accidents than northern areas. A motorcycle accident can cause catastrophic injuries and death because the rider does not have much protection other than a helmet and leather.

Passenger vehicles often do not look for motorcycles, meaning someone could pull out in front of you as that person is pulling out of a driveway or a side road. A motorist could pass another and hit a motorcyclist head-on. Even though bikes have a bright headlight that is always on, people still claim they do not see motorcycles. Thus, a motorcyclist must be on the lookout for dangers.

If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, contact a Coral Springs motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for a free case evaluation.

Why Choose Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers PA in Coral Springs, FL

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Dolman Law Group in Coral Springs, Florida, have experience and success in handling motorcycle accident claims. We understand that with possible severe or catastrophic injuries, you might not be able to come to us. We offer personalized service—you are not just a case number to us—so we will come to you or arrange a telephonic or video conference for your free case evaluation and any other meetings we need to have with you.

When you are dealing with motorcycle injuries or trying to get your loved one's affairs in order after a motorcycle accident death, you do not have the time or inclination to deal with insurance companies. That is added stress you do not need.

We will deal with the insurance companies, including yours—Florida is a no-fault state—to help ensure you recover the compensation you deserve. Our initial case evaluations are free and without obligation. We also work on a contingency basis, so you only pay us if we win your case. Contact our Coral Springs team at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for a free case evaluation today.

Recovering Damages After a Motorcycle Accident

Florida allows accident victims to recover two types of compensation: Compensatory damages and punitive damages. Most people will recover compensatory damages in the form of economic damages. Some will recover compensatory damages in the form of non-economic damages. Yet others could recover punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Sometimes referred to as special damages, economic damages have a monetary value.

Most accident victims, including widows and widowers, collect some form of economic damages, including:

• Medical expenses.
• Surgeries and follow-up appointments.
• Occupational therapy.
• Physical therapy.
• Psychological therapy.
• Cognitive therapy.
• Nursing home / rehabilitative home care.
• Home health aid expenses.
• Prescriptions and prescribed over-the-counter medications.
• Ambulatory aids.
• Hand controls for a car.
• Home upgrades, including wheelchair ramps, grab bars, handrails, and widened doorways.
• Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity.
• Replacement or repair of destroyed or damaged personal property, including your bike.
• Funeral and burial expenses.
• Cremation expenses.
• Certain probate court fees.
• Probate attorney's fees and costs.

Non-Economic Damages

Sometimes referred to as general damages, non-economic damages do not have a monetary value. However, like economic damages, the court orders a defendant to pay them to make you whole again. Not everyone can recover non-economic damages. As a rule, you must have injuries that lead to long-term or permanent disabilities or lost loved ones in a motorcycle accident.

Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress.
• Loss of quality of life if you have to make life-long changes, such as taking prescriptions or using ambulatory aids.
• Loss of companionship if you can no longer enjoy family activities and events.
• Loss of consortium if you can no longer have a physical relationship with your spouse.
• Loss of a body part, such as a hand or leg.
• Loss of a bodily function, such as your eyesight or bladder.
• Amputation of a limb or digit.
• Inconvenience if you have to hire someone to do the chores you usually do, such as grocery shopping, house cleaning, lawn maintenance, and home repair and maintenance.
• Disfigurement and/or excessive scarring.

Punitive Damages

Florida allows you to recover punitive damages if the court finds the defendant's actions or inactions grossly negligent or intentional. Unlike compensatory damages, punitive damages do not make you whole again. Instead, the court orders the defendant to pay punitive damages as a punishment.

While it takes longer to recover punitive damages, in some cases, it is worth the wait. Because you can only recover punitive damages if the court awards compensatory damages, the trial takes place in two parts. You have the same judge and the same jury. The court looks at the defendant's actions to determine whether those actions or inactions were grossly negligent or intentional. If it finds that they were, the court looks at the defendant's finances to determine how much they can pay.

The motorcycle accident lawyers at Dolman Law Group will review your case, including the facts of the accident, to determine whether they believe you have a good chance of recovering punitive damages.

Coral Springs Statute of Limitations

Like other towns and cities that stay warm most months out of the year, Coral Springs sees a lot of motorcyclists—usually through November and starting again in late February or early March. With Bike Week and Spring Break happening in nearby towns and beaches, you see more motorcycles than in other south Florida towns and cities.

If you get into a motorcycle wreck, you have up to four years to take legal action—in most cases. If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash, you have just two years to take legal action. This does not mean you should wait that long before you take action. It is better if you contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group as soon after the accident as possible.

You are more likely to remember pertinent information that could make or break your case. Additionally, the evidence tends to disappear. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to prove your case. Finally, while two or four years seem like a long time, a lot of that time is eaten up with investigations, depositions, and medical treatment.

Contact a Coral Springs motorcycle accident lawyer as soon after an accident as possible for a free case evaluation.

Motorcycle Accidents and Injuries

Motorcycle accidents can happen in a myriad of ways, including:

• Driver inexperience.
• An inexperienced motorcycle passenger.
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Fatigue and tiredness.
• Reckless and/or aggressive driving.
• The weather.
• Poor road maintenance.
• Poor bike maintenance.

However, most motorcycle accidents happen because of other drivers. They are often catastrophic because even the smallest passenger vehicle is at least twice the weight and size of a motorcycle. Most are three to four times the size and weight or more.

Other drivers often cause motorcycle accidents by:

• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Claiming they did not see the biker.
• Driving recklessly or aggressively.
• Driving while distracted.
• Speeding or excessive speeding.
• Poor vehicle maintenance.

The injuries a motorcyclist could suffer are often catastrophic or result in death. Accident injuries might include:

• Bumps, bruises, scratches, and cuts.
• Road rash.
• Strains and sprains.
• Pulled and torn muscles and other soft tissue injuries.
• Chemical and thermal burns.
• Face and eye injuries.
• Simple and compound fractures.
• Crushed bones and crush injuries.
• Head, neck, and shoulder injuries.
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Internal injuries.
• Spinal cord injuries.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, or other psychological issues arise due to the accident's severity.
• Secondary injuries, such as infection of an open wound, whether you received the wound in the accident or it is a surgical wound to repair accident injuries.
• The exacerbation of a pre-existing injury or illness, as you would not have suffered the extra pain, medical expenses, and other damages if not for the defendant's negligence.

Why You Should Retain a Motorcycle Attorney at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA

Dealing with insurance companies after an accident or losing a loved one only adds more stress to your life—stress you do not need. The first stressor is when the insurance company denies your claim or makes an offer that you know will not cover medical expenses or death-related expenses.

Instead of dealing with the insurance companies, an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group can do that for you—and will work to help you recover the compensation you deserve—not the compensation the insurance company wants to pay you.

Insurance companies are in business to make money. Every claim they pay decreases their profits. Even your own insurance company cares less about you than its profits. Thus, any insurance company will look for reasons to deny your claim.

Barring that, they will look for any reason to offer you the least amount possible. The insurance companies even go so far as to try to trick you. That is why it is recommended not to speak to them at all. Once hired, we can file the claim for you. Insurance companies will twist anything you say to make it look like the accident is more your fault, so they can either deny your claim or pay a small amount.

One of the other tricks an insurance company uses is to admit its client is at fault but then tell you it can only pay a small amount. That is most often a lie. If you call the insurance company, only give it your name, policy number, contact information, the date and location of the accident, and your attorney's contact information. Even if the insurance company tries to get you to talk about the wreck, do not do it. Continue referring it to your attorney for accident information.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

After a motorcycle accident, if you cannot move without further injuring yourself, wait for first responders to arrive. If you can call them, do so—even if you think someone else might have called.

Otherwise:

• Call first responders and check on others involved in the accident.
• Take photos of the accident—be sure to get pictures from all angles and pictures of any damage to the road and nearby property.
• Give the police your statement.
• Allow emergency medical technicians to check you over, even if you believe your injuries are minor.
• When police release you, seek medical attention immediately. Tell medical professionals you were in a motorcycle wreck and need a thorough checkup. Some injuries do not manifest for hours or even days after the wreck.
• Contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group.
• Do not post about the accident on social media.
• Do not explain what happened to the insurance company.
• Do not assume any responsibility for the wreck, even if you think you might have partially caused the accident.

Coral Springs Motorcycle Accident FAQs

When people retain us for a motorcycle accident, they often have many of the same questions. We will attempt to answer some of those questions here. However, if you still have questions or need clarification on any of the questions here, feel free to call Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for your free case evaluation to discuss your accident.

What If I Cannot Afford a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

You do not need money to retain an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA Your initial case evaluation is free and without obligation. Additionally, we work on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay unless we win your case. During your initial case evaluation, we will discuss our contingency contract with you and explain how we get paid if you win your case.

Does a Lawyer Have to Have Experience in Motorcycle Accidents?

To recover the compensation you deserve, you should retain an accident injury law firm with attorneys with experience in representing motorcycle riders. Motorcyclists have additional traffic laws they must follow, and our attorneys are very familiar with these laws. Additionally, the injuries you might sustain in a motorcycle wreck are often catastrophic. You need an attorney familiar with the types of injuries you might have, as often, those injuries cause long-term or permanent disabilities.

Does Florida Require Helmets?

Yes and no. You must wear a helmet if you are under 21 years of age. There are no exceptions. However, if you are 21 years of age or older and you have at least $10,000 in medical benefits, you can legally ride without a helmet in Florida.

You must also wear protective eyewear, regardless of whether you wear a helmet or not, and regardless of age. While the law does not require you to wear a helmet, we recommend that you wear a helmet, safety goggles or glasses, pants, long sleeves, and the appropriate footwear. We understand that Coral Springs, Florida, is not exactly cool in the summer months, but wearing the proper gear is all you have between you and a bad case of road rash and other severe injuries.

Should I Accept an Insurance Company's Settlement Offer?

If you received the offer before speaking with an experienced Coral Gables motorcycle accident lawyer, no. The insurance company's offer will most likely not be enough to cover all of your medical expenses. You should always retain an attorney to represent your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. However, if you tried to settle your case yourself, we can help you recover the compensation you deserve with additional settlement negotiations or going to trial.

If you tried to settle before retaining an attorney, you have a higher chance of having to litigate unless we can find the evidence to refute the insurance company's lowball offer. Evidence tends to disappear after some time. Weather and traffic can destroy evidence, as well as police officers cleaning up the scene. Police officers can also inadvertently destroy evidence by leaving vehicles in the weather. Finally, the defendant could inadvertently or purposely destroy evidence.

I Heard I Have to Pay My Health Insurance Company Back. Is that True?

Yes, but only if you receive a settlement or trial award from the at-fault driver's insurance company or the at-fault driver. Since the accident was not your fault, your insurance company should not shoulder the financial loss. Instead, we would figure the money your motorcycle and health insurance spent as part of your medical expenses and collect it as part of your settlement or trial award.

How Do I Pay My Medical Expenses While Waiting for a Settlement or Trial Award?

You have several options to pay for medical expenses while waiting for a settlement or trial award after a Coral Springs, Florida, motorcycle accident:

• Use your motorcycle insurance to cover some medical expenses.
• Claim lost wages on your motorcycle insurance. Your policy may cover lost wages.
• Use your health insurance to cover some medical expenses.
• Ask your attorney for a letter of credit for medical professionals. Most medical professionals will stay collections if they know you will most likely receive a settlement or trial award and will not report late payments to the credit bureaus.

How Long Does it Take to Get My Check After a Settlement or Trial Award?

It could take up to two to three months to receive your check. Once you come to a settlement agreement, the attorney drafts the agreement. You and your attorney review the agreement. If you believe something is incorrect, your motorcycle accident lawyer will request that the insurance company's lawyer make the changes.

Once the agreement is acceptable and you sign it, your motorcycle accident attorney forwards it to the insurance company for processing. The insurance company cuts a check to our office. We deposit the check into an escrow account. We must wait for the check to clear the bank before taking the next step. Depending on the amount, a check could take up to 14 business days to clear.

Once the check clears the bank, we pay all of your outstanding medical expenses. We then reimburse your motorcycle and health insurance if you used them to cover medical expenses and lost wages while waiting for a settlement.

We also deduct our fees and costs as outlined in your signed contingency contract. Finally, we cut you a check for the balance. You can deposit the check and use it for anything you wish.

How Do I Prove a Motorcycle Wreck Was Not My Fault?

Our firm retains expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. The defendant's attorney may wish to depose our experts during settlement negotiations. The experts will testify on your behalf if your case goes to trial.

Depending on the circumstances, we might retain:

• Forensic accident scene reconstruction investigators.
• Accident investigators.
• Various medical professionals to testify about your injuries, especially injuries that usually cause long-term or permanent disabilities.
• Psychological experts to testify regarding your state of mind if the accident caused anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. A slow recovery could also cause depression, in which case, we would retain an expert to testify about your depression.

What if the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?

Florida is a no-fault state. While the best option is for the at-fault driver's insurance to pay, you can sue the driver directly if the other driver does not have insurance or is underinsured. You can also rely on your insurance company to cover your damages.

I Suffered Injuries that Caused Permanent Disabilities. How Do I Continue Paying for Medical Expenses and Putting Food on the Table if I Cannot Work?

During settlement negotiations or a trial, we present evidence that the at-fault driver caused the injuries that caused long-term or permanent disabilities. We also retain medical professionals to testify regarding your injuries and the disabilities the injuries caused.

Your settlement or trial award will include an estimated amount for future medical expenses and future loss of earning capacity. In most cases, you will receive this in a lump sum. Depending on the severity of the injuries, you may lose your health insurance, so you will have to set aside some of your settlement money for future medical expenses. Once you receive a settlement, you cannot go back and ask for more.

How Do I Prove Negligence?

To win a motorcycle accident case, you must prove that the at-fault driver was negligent.

To prove negligence, you must show:

• The defendant owed you a duty of care to take reasonable precautions to protect you from harm while driving.
• The defendant breached that duty of care with their actions or inactions.
• The defendant's actions or inactions directly caused your injuries.
• You suffered losses caused by the defendant's actions or inactions.

As long as these four elements are present in the facts of your case, you most likely have a valid personal injury motorcycle accident case and could recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, and other damages.

What Is the Difference Between Negligence and Gross Negligence?

Ordinary negligence is not the same as gross negligence. Examples of ordinary negligence include running a stop sign or not putting out a wet floor sign when a store owner knows the floor is wet.

Examples of gross negligence include speeding through a street crowded with people, a doctor prescribing a medication that is clearly marked as an allergy in the patient's chart, or driving distracted on a busy highway.

What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

Head, neck, shoulder, and arm injuries are the most common since they are the least protected parts of the body. In the case of your arms, you have them extended in front of you, so they often bear the brunt of a crash.

If you do not wear leathers while riding, you are also likely to suffer severe road rash, which could quickly become infected. You could suffer road rash even with leathers—though it does not cover as much surface area as riding without leathers. Leathers also help prevent road rash from being deep.

You may also suffer traumatic brain injuries, especially in the form of concussions. Those with helmets might “get off easy” with a mild concussion. Those that do not wear helmets could suffer traumatic brain injuries that could cause long-term or permanent disabilities.

 What Do I Do if I Lost a Loved One in a Motorcycle Accident?

We understand the first days and weeks after losing a loved one are stressful and emotional. You will deal with a probate attorney, handling arrangements, and getting your loved one's affairs in order.

In Florida, the executor of the estate files a wrongful death lawsuit. We work with your probate attorneys to file the wrongful death claim. The defendant pays the compensation to your loved one's estate, which then distributes the money to you.

However, we still need to get an early start on the wrongful death case. If it takes too long, it could prolong the probate. Additionally, our investigators will need to investigate the accident scene as soon as possible to recover evidence of the wrongful death.

The motorcycle accident wrongful death attorneys at Dolman Law Group will help you through those first days and weeks of dealing with the two court cases—the wrongful death case and the probate case—to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Does the Defendant Have to Replace My Motorcycle?

If the insurance company totals your bike, the defendant's insurance company must include compensation for the motorcycle as part of your settlement or trial award. The defendant is also responsible for other valuable personal property on your person or bike damaged or destroyed in the accident.

Suppose you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident. In that case, a Coral Springs, Florida motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, can help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Instead of taking a chance of settling for a pittance because the insurance company convinces you that is all it can pay, contact Dolman Law Group for a free and no obligation case evaluation. We can investigate the accident and hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf, which could maximize the amount of compensation you will receive. Furthermore, insurance companies know that when you hire experienced motorcycle accident attorneys, you are more likely to go to court if the insurance company does not offer a fair and reasonable settlement.

Contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, for your free, no-obligation case evaluation today.

Contact a Coral Springs Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Instead of taking the chance that you will get the compensation you deserve when representing yourself, concentrate on recovering from the accident. Allow the experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at Dolman Law Group to handle the insurance companies for you.

Your initial case evaluation is always free and without obligation. We work on a contingency basis, so if you retain us, you do not pay us unless we win your case for you. Our motorcycle accident lawyers are adept at settling and litigating cases where the insurance company refuses to settle for a fair and reasonable amount. This is particularly important if you suffer injuries that doctors believe might turn into long-term or permanent disabilities.

Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA in Coral Springs, Florida, by calling 833-552-7274 (833-55-CRASH) or contact us through our website as soon as possible for your free case evaluation.

Client Testimonial

“AMAZING and understanding attorneys! Did great on my case and I highly recommend Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for anyone that has been injured in an accident!"
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Koralis R.
Jan 2020
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