Riding your motorcycle through Bonita Springs means taking advantage of smooth roads, gorgeous scenery, and fantastic weather. Motorcycle riders flock to Florida due to its beautiful weather, making it possible to ride in comfort year-round. Unfortunately, even with all those advantages, motorcycle riders in Bonita Springs may face many potential dangers. Everything from distracted drivers to sudden summer storms can pose an unexpected hazard for motorcycle riders out on the road.
If you suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident in Bonita Springs due to the negligence of another party, you may have the right to compensation for those injuries. Contact a Bonita Springs motorcycle accident lawyer at Dolman Law Group to discuss your motorcycle accident claim and your right to compensation.
- Dolman Law Group: Help for Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident Victims
- Compensation Following a Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident
- Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accidents: What You Need to Know
- Dealing With the Insurance Company After a Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident
- After Your Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident: What Comes Next?
- Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident FAQs
- Contact a Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
Dolman Law Group: Help for Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident Victims
At Dolman Law Group, our Bonita Springs injury lawyers understand the devastation following a serious accident involving any injury. You may have assumed that your motorcycle ride would offer fun or even just get you to your destination quickly and effectively. Unfortunately, you may have ended up with severe injuries instead.
We aim to help our clients maximize the compensation they can recover for their motorcycle accident injuries. We strongly focus on top-quality customer service and a history of outstanding results in many of our injury claim cases.
While our past claim results cannot guarantee the results of any future claim, including yours, they show our high level of commitment to our clients.
- $1.4 million awarded after a motorcycle accident resulted in multiple serious injuries
- $1 million awarded after a motorcycle accident caused a TBI
- $750 thousand after a motorcycle accident caused a rotator cuff injury and subdural hematoma
- $415 thousand after a motorcycle accident led to a cervical fusion
We aim to help each of our clients maximize the results they can recover following motorcycle accident injuries.
We keep the focus on your needs.
After a motorcycle accident, it may surprise you to learn that the focus of your claim remains on anything but you. The liable driver does not want to accept liability. The insurance company does not want to pay out more than is absolutely necessary for your injuries. Meanwhile, you may find yourself dealing with a stack of medical bills and a host of ongoing problems related to the accident.
At Dolman Law Group, we focus your claim on your needs, from breaking down the financial and non-financial losses you sustained due to the accident to helping our clients fight for the compensation they deserve.
We make it easy to get in touch with us.
Dolman Law Group has offices on both Florida coasts and scattered across the nation. We aim to make it easy for our clients to get in touch with us to get the legal services and support they need to progress their claims. If you cannot come into the office in person for any reason, we can arrange for a virtual consultation that will help answer your questions and get you started on the road to compensation.
Did you suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident in Bonita Springs? Contact Dolman Law Group today to start your injury claim.
Compensation Following a Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident
Each motorcycle accident claim looks a little different. Many factors can influence the compensation you can recover for your injuries.
At Dolman Law Group, we strive to help our clients take a comprehensive look at all those factors.
For example:
- Who caused your accident, and what insurance policy covers the liable party? By taking a comprehensive look at the insurance policy, we can help identify all areas of compensation you may need to pursue.
- What injuries did you sustain in the accident? Ultimately, your injuries, and the cost of medical treatment for those injuries, will heavily influence the compensation you can recover after the accident.
- What other financial and non-financial losses did you sustain because of the accident?
Most motorcycle accident claims will break down into the same general categories.
Compensation for the Cost of Medical Care
Often, after a serious motorcycle accident, you will find yourself in need of substantial medical care. You may need emergency care immediately after the accident to help identify the injuries you sustained and provide treatment to help decrease your pain and start you down the road to recovery. Motorcycle accident victims often end up in the hospital for a long time, frequently undergoing surgeries, rehabilitation, and other procedures while in the hospital.
You may receive care at Lee Health Coconut Point or visit NCH Bonita Springs Emergency for immediate care. You may also have a long road to recovery ahead of you, including a long rehabilitation period with extensive physical and occupational therapy. All those treatments may help your eventual recovery, but they can also carry a high cost.
Talk to Dolman Law Group about the expenses you have already faced as a direct result of your injuries and any medical treatments you may anticipate in the future so that you can include all medical costs as part of your claim.
Compensation for Wage Losses
Not only can your injuries require significant medical treatment, but you may also find that they keep you out of work for a long period—particularly if you work in an industry that requires a high activity level. Many motorcycle accident victims find that their injuries make it painful, if not impossible, to take care of their usual job duties while recovering.
You may have to miss weeks or even months of work right after the accident, when your injuries may prevent you from doing your job. You may have to go back on a limited schedule since you may not have the physical capability to work your usual schedule as you recover. You may even end up missing more work for follow-up procedures. That hit to your income can cause financial devastation during a period when you may already have plenty of struggles ahead of you.
Talk to your lawyer about time missed at work and any vacation or sick time you may have used to deal with your injuries.
Compensation for Your Pain and Suffering
While a motorcycle accident can mean immense financial losses, it may also mean considerable ongoing suffering in many other areas. You may find, for example, that your accident causes substantial physical pain. Sometimes, you may have pain that lingers even after progressing through the healing process. You may also experience emotional anguish due to your losses: challenges related to losing your independence or your inability to engage in your favorite hobbies and activities, for example.
Talk to your lawyer about all the impact your accident has had on you. You may want to keep a journal that helps lay out exactly what pain and suffering you have faced and how your accident continues to impact you. Not only can that journal help provide a clear timeline that will lay out what you have suffered, but it may also provide better insights into all the challenges you faced throughout your recovery.
Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accidents: What You Need to Know
The Florida statute of limitations allows up to four years after a motorcycle accident to file a claim. However, that does not mean you should wait for the statute of limitations to get close before you get in touch with a lawyer. A lawyer can help you shape your claim from the early days after your accident, including helping you deal with the insurance company or putting together the evidence needed for your claim.
Common Causes of Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents across Bonita Springs can occur because of.
- Distracted driving. Distracted drivers may fail to look for the presence of motorcycles around them before they change lanes or make a turn. That lack of attention can prove devastating or even deadly for many motorcycle riders.
- Dangerous intersections and streets. Highway 41, which runs through Bonita Springs, sees many devastating accidents yearly.
- Lack of helmet use. While Florida law does not require motorcycle riders to wear a helmet as long as they carry adequate insurance, failure to wear a helmet can substantially increase the severity of head, neck, and face injuries during a motorcycle accident.
- Slick roads. Bonita Springs, like much of Florida, may see flash floods and heavy rainfall, especially during the summer and fall. Motorcycle riders may have particular difficulty controlling their vehicles in heavy rain. Dangerous weather conditions may also impact overall visibility, making it harder for drivers to see motorcycle riders around them.
- Blind spot collisions. A driver failing to look in his blind spot before changing lanes can lead to devastating motorcycle accidents.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can lead to.
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Road rash
- Soft tissue injuries
Dealing With the Insurance Company After a Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident
Many people find dealing with the insurance company after a Bonita Springs motorcycle accident difficult. Insurance companies frequently have an intrinsic bias against motorcycle riders. Motorcycle riders are portrayed as reckless drivers who put themselves and others in danger through their actions, even when the motorcyclist behaved safely and legally.
Unfortunately, that portrayal and the intrinsic bias that goes along with it can make it very difficult to deal with the insurance company after a motorcycle accident. Frequently, motorcycle accident victims find themselves going back and forth with the insurance company, fighting to get the company to accept liability for the accident and pay out the compensation they deserve.
At Dolman Law Group, we have extensive experience dealing with the big names in auto insurance. We aim to help our clients deal successfully with those insurance companies and get the compensation they deserve.
After Your Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident: What Comes Next?
Many people ask, “What should I do after my Bonita Springs motorcycle accident?”
You may have many questions about managing your claim and protecting your right to compensation so that you do not miss out.
- Contact Dolman Law Group soon after your accident. We can help fight to get you the compensation you need and deserve.
- Keep track of all your medical bills as they come in. You may want to start a separate file where you document all medical costs, including the cost of co-pays and deductibles you may pay throughout your treatment.
- Journal about your recovery, your limitations, and any feelings you may have about the process.
- Follow any instructions issued by your medical care provider. Your care provider will help you maximize your odds of making a full recovery after the accident. Failure to follow those instructions could make it more difficult for you to get the compensation you deserve.
At Dolman Law Group, we can provide critical guidance about managing each stage of the claim process.
Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident FAQs
Dealing with the aftermath of a Bonita Springs motorcycle accident can leave you with many questions about your claim and your right to compensation. Contact Dolman Law Group to ask those essential questions and get help with your claim.
What happens if the driver that caused my Bonita Springs motorcycle accident does not carry auto insurance?
More than 20 percent of Florida drivers do not carry auto insurance, making your odds of getting into an accident with an uninsured driver about 1 out of 5. If you get into an accident with an uninsured driver, you still deserve compensation for your injuries. You may have several options to pursue.
Identify Another Liable Party
Sometimes, motorcycle accidents can involve factors that have nothing to do with the other vehicle’s driver. For example, you may get into an accident due to the mechanical failure of the other vehicle or your motorcycle.
You may get into an accident with a driver on the clock at the time of the incident. In those cases, your lawyer could help you identify other parties, like the employer, that may bear liability for the accident. Additional at-fault parties could help increase your ability to recover compensation when the driver does not have insurance.
Go After the Driver Directly
If the driver that caused your motorcycle accident does not carry auto insurance, you may have the right to go after compensation from the driver directly. However, remember that many drivers do not carry insurance due to financial difficulties, which may make it more difficult for you to recover reasonable compensation from the individual after your Bonita Springs motorcycle accident.
Use Your Insurance
As a motorcycle rider, you need to carry your own auto insurance to protect you in the event of an accident. Most policies will include uninsured motorist protection, which will offer compensation when you suffer injuries in an accident with a driver who does not carry insurance. That protection can prove essential when you suffer injuries in an accident caused by an uninsured party’s negligence.
Who must pay my medical bills after a Bonita Springs motorcycle accident?
Dealing with medical bills after a devastating motorcycle accident can be complicated. Depending on the extent of your injuries and the types of treatment you need, you may find yourself with a stack of medical bills that grows higher with every day.
Unfortunately, even if someone else caused your motorcycle accident, that party will not have to pay for your medical bills directly. Instead, you will pursue compensation through a motorcycle accident claim. When you receive the funds from your claim, you can use them to cover the cost of medical treatment related to your motorcycle accident.
You may also use your own medical insurance to help cover the cost of treatment for your injuries. Medical insurance can prove essential when you sustain severe injuries in a motorcycle accident since it can compensate for the long-term cost of recovering from your injuries.
Can I use my Florida PIP insurance to cover the cost of medical treatment after a motorcycle accident in Bonita Springs?
Florida requires the drivers of passenger vehicles to carry PIP insurance, also known as personal injury protection insurance, to cover the initial cost of treatment for car accident injuries. Florida does not, however, have the same provision for motorcycle riders, and insurance companies generally do not offer PIP coverage on their motorcycle policies. As a result, even if you carry PIP coverage, you cannot use that coverage for your motorcycle accident.
If I do not wear a helmet when I ride my motorcycle in Bonita Springs, and I have an accident, can I still claim compensation for a traumatic brain injury?
Wearing a motorcycle helmet can go a long way toward preventing many of the most common head, neck, and facial injuries that occur during motorcycle accidents. You should always wear your helmet when riding your motorcycle.
However, Florida law does not require riders over 21 who carry adequate medical insurance to wear helmets when they ride. You can file a claim for compensation any time you suffer injuries in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, even if you did not have your motorcycle helmet on at the time of the accident.
How do I know who caused my motorcycle accident in Bonita Springs?
Most of the time, liability for a motorcycle accident will come down to one of two parties: either the motorcyclist or the passenger vehicle driver involved in the accident. In many cases, you will know immediately what factors likely caused or contributed to the accident.
For example, if the other driver changed lanes on top of you or ignored your presence when making a turn, you may know that the other driver caused the accident. On the other hand, if you know that you behaved negligently at the time of the accident, including taking your attention away from the road or trying to split lanes, you may know that you bear some liability for the accident.
However, other factors may also contribute to a motorcycle accident.
A Damaged Vehicle or Manufacturing Issue
Damage or a manufacturing issue to your motorcycle or the other driver’s vehicle can sometimes cause catastrophic accidents that result in severe injuries.
Several parties may bear liability in these cases.
- The owner of the damaged vehicle, who may have failed to maintain the vehicle properly
- A mechanic who recently worked on the vehicle and failed to take adequate care of needed repairs
- The manufacturer of the vehicle or of the component of the vehicle that failed
Talk to your lawyer if you believe that vehicle damage or manufacturer error may have caused or contributed to your accident so they can fully investigate those parties who may be responsible.
A Driver’s Employer
Sometimes, your motorcycle accident may involve a driver on the clock: a big truck driver, for example, who may already have spent too many hours on the road for the day; or a delivery driver in a hurry to meet a tight deadline. In many instances, the vehicle driver’s employer may share liability when an employee causes an accident on the clock.
You can hold employers liable for failing to properly track their drivers’ actions on the clock or for instituting policies that can increase danger on the road and the odds of an accident.
Your lawyer will investigate the driver’s employer and the employer’s policies as part of your accident claim.
The insurance company that covers the driver liable for my Bonita Springs accident issued a settlement offer. Should I take it?
A settlement offer sounds, on the surface, like a great way to get the compensation you need in your hands quickly. Your lawyer may have warned you that you could expect a long, drawn-out process when dealing with your motorcycle accident claim. Getting a settlement offer may make you feel more confident that you will get the compensation you need. However, in many cases, that settlement offer may not reflect the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
Have a lawyer look over the compensation offered by the insurance company and compare it to the damages you sustained due to your motorcycle accident, including the cost of medical treatment, the wages you may have lost, and even your pain and suffering.
If the offer does not reasonably reflect the damages you suffered, you do not have to accept that offer. Instead, continue to negotiate with the insurance company. Your lawyer can spearhead those negotiations to ensure the insurer understands the full account of your losses.
How long does it take to receive compensation after I file a motorcycle accident claim in Bonita Springs?
You should expect it to take time to settle your motorcycle accident claim in Bonita Springs. The actual time can vary based on the compensation you ask for, the damages you sustained in the accident, and even the insurance company that covers the liable party. In general, however, insurance claims typically take several months to resolve.
What injuries did you sustain? Do you need time to recover?
Sometimes, it may take you considerable time to recover enough from your motorcycle accident injuries that you know what your eventual recovery will look like and how long it will take. You may, for example, suffer multiple broken bones in the accident.
Your doctors may not know how much mobility and function you will regain or how long it will take you to get there. Furthermore, you may not know, in the beginning, what medical procedures you will need to help you recover from the accident. Your lawyer may recommend waiting until you have time to recover from your injuries before you file your claim.
How long does the investigation take?
Some motorcycle accidents can prove relatively simple to investigate. You have relatively clear evidence of liability, and the accident did not involve multiple parties, so your lawyer will have little trouble putting the claim together. On the other hand, other claims may involve a more complex investigation, including a look at multiple elements that may have contributed to the accident. Those claims may require more time as more evidence is necessary.
How much do you have to negotiate to get a reasonable settlement offer?
Some claims progress relatively smoothly toward a fair offer. The insurance company accepts liability and acknowledges the damages you sustained because of the accident. You get a settlement offer that fairly reflects those damages within a relatively short time.
Other times, however, the insurance company may make a very low settlement offer that does not fairly reflect the damages you sustained. In those cases, you may need to continue negotiating over a longer period to reach a reasonable settlement agreement.
Will you have to go to court to resolve your Bonita Springs motorcycle accident claim?
Most of the time, motorcycle accident claims settle out of court. The insurance company knows that going to court will increase its legal costs. Eventually, most claims result in a settlement. However, you may have greater odds of going to court when you and the insurance company cannot reach a reasonable agreement, including cases of disputed liability or cases in which the insurance company denies the extent of your injuries.
When do I need a lawyer to handle a Bonita Springs motorcycle accident claim?
In general, you should expect to need a lawyer to handle your motorcycle accident claim any time your motorcycle accident involves any injury, however minor. Injury claims generally prove much more complicated than simple property damage claims, and you may have to fight much harder to get the insurance company to issue fair compensation.
You may note that you need to bring in a lawyer if:
- The insurance company denies or disputes liability for your claim in any way.
- The insurance company denies the extent of your injuries or the treatment you need for those injuries.
- You have difficulty getting the insurance company to answer or respond to you.
- You get a settlement offer from the insurance company that does not seem to include all the damages you sustained in your motorcycle accident.
You can contact an attorney any time you have questions about your motorcycle accident claim and the compensation you should reasonably expect for your injuries. Contact the Dolman Law Group for your free consultation and let an experienced attorney help you get the relief you need for your motorcycle accident injuries.
Contact a Bonita Springs Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
The aftermath of a devastating motorcycle accident can leave you reeling, unsure of what to do next or how to protect your right to compensation. Do not attempt to handle your claim alone. Instead, contact Dolman Law Group at (239) 307-2634 to discuss the injuries you sustained in the accident and your right to compensation.
Bonita Springs Office
9220 Bonita Beach Rd SE suite 200-12
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 307-2634