A Florida motorcycle attorney to stand up for your rights:  In a recent Daily News essay written by a Florida journalist accustomed to covering motorcycle accidents, there shine a couple of valuable observations about motorcycle wrecks here in the State of Florida. The first and most important observation is that helmets do indeed help motorcyclists, although they are certainly not a cure for motorcycle accidents. Second, lack of visibility remains a key risk factor for Florida motorcycle crashes. Even sober, law-abiding, and attentive drivers who are already watching out for motorcycles can suffer from the disease of distraction. Florida motorcyclists need more than luck to prevent motorcycle accidents.

Helmets help, and full-protection helmets are best

Helmets are the first step toward improving a motorcyclist’s chances of reducing injuries during a serious Florida motorcycle wreck, and both scientific studies and anecdotal evidence show that helmets do indeed help. Yet, it is also worth considering the following safety loophole: Although helmets are required by law in many jurisdictions, some motorcyclists fail to secure the chin strap to ensure that the protection is retained during a motorcycle accident, and so the helmet’s protection is lost upon first impact.

Worse, although in compliance with law, many popular “bucket”-style half-helmets provide minimal protection in case of a bike wreck. These helmets often cover only part of the neck, leaving a Florida biker’s most vulnerable parts exposed upon impact during a motorcycle crash. Florida motorcycle lawyers have long advocated for better standardization and more uniform enforcement of motorcycle helmet laws, to reduce the potentially-disastrous consequences of motorcycle crashes.

Visibility is the other key to motorcycle safety in Florida

Lack of visibility continues to be a leading cause of motorcycle accidents on Florida roadways, as illustrated by recent local news reports. While reflective materials for riders’ clothing and better illumination may help, some veteran bikers recommend using hand signals and eye contact with nearby drivers to maintain their awareness and encourage them to share the road with motorcycles.

As highlighted by recent “close calls,” even careful motorcyclists can suffer serious accidents, especially when distracted drivers are involved. If you or a family member has been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Palm Beach, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Pensacola, or anywhere in Florida, you should contact our Florida motorcycle lawyers immediately. An experienced Florida motorcycle attorney will stand up for your rights and ensure that your family receives financial compensation and other long-term help, such as therapy and rehabilitation. Call the Florida motorcycle lawyers today at 1-800-4-BIKERS to schedule your no-obligation consultation.

Powered by Qumana

As reported recently in the Suwannee Democrat, a 49-year-old Madison woman died in the hospital following injuries suffered during a motorcycle accident in Branford, Florida, on May 15^th, 2011. The woman’s companion and motorcycle driver, a 53-year-old man from Lee, was released from the same hospital, Shands Gainesville several days earlier.

According to law enforcement reports, the couple’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle was traveling southbound on County Road 49 when it was struck at the intersection of Highway 27 by an Oldsmobile driven by a 61-year-old Punta Gorda woman. Sadly, it was reported that neither of the two injured Florida motorcyclists was wearing a helmet; therefore, both suffered head injuries.

In the Florida Department of Transportation’s motorcycle accident statistics for 2009, the latest year for reliable numbers, there were 8,313 reported motorcycle wrecks with at least 7,435 motorcyclists injured. In other words, nearly 90% of motorcycle accidents in Florida injure at least one biker—and sometimes two or more, as highlighted by this recent Branford motorcycle accident. Sadly, in many cases, a motorcycle crash results in severe head injuries or neck injuries, including life-threatening traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Helmets: A Nuisance… Or Common-Sense Safety?

Although some Florida motorcyclists refuse to wear helmets, citing personal freedom of choice, the consensus among motorcyclists, law enforcement authorities, and healthcare professionals seems clear—helmets reduce the number and severity of injuries from motorcycle crashes, especially head, neck, and spinal cord injuries.

Florida Motorcycle Attorneys and Helmet Safety

The costs of a lifetime of medical care and rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury can be staggering for families who are already strained by the burden of caring for injured bikers. Even in those few states where helmets are not yet mandatory, common sense should prevail, and Florida motorcycle accident lawyers encourage all motorcyclists to wear helmets.

If you or someone you know has been hurt in a motorcycle accident in the State of Florida, you should contact a Florida motorcycle accident attorney for guidance. An experienced Florida motorcycle lawyer can review the circumstances of the motorcycle wreck, protect your rights, and fight to win the financial compensation and other long-term help you may need. Call the Florida motorcycle accident attorneys today at 1-800-4-BIKERS to schedule your free consultation.

Powered by Qumana

Florida Motorcycle Accident Attorneys:  A Record $7 Million Judgment for Injured Motorcyclist… Just A “Drop in the Bucket”?

As reported through Bradenton.com, a record $7 million judgment for Sarasota and Manatee County was recently awarded by a 12^th District Judge to the seriously-injured passenger of a motorcyclist killed in a motorcycle accident on U.S. 41 in Manatee. The Florida motorcycle accident victim suffered traumatic brain injuries and requires long-term care, although few other details were available at press time.

When mentioned in news reports, “big lawsuits” usually catch the reader’s attention, and to most people in Florida, $7 million seems like an enormous amount. Yet in the aftermath of a serious Florida motorcycle accident, $7 million dollars is a small amount of compensation for a lifetime of pain and suffering.

$7 million may be merely a “drop in the bucket” when weighed against the huge expenses of caring long-term for a family member injured in a Florida motorcycle accident.

According to statistics from the Brain Injury Association of America , traumatic brain injuries (TBI) often result from motorcycle crashes, and such injuries are said to cost at least $60 billion annually in the United States, with those same information sources implying that there are at least 200,000 Americans under long-term care for TBI.

Extrapolating individual costs from these figures implies an average lifetime cost of nearly $3 million to provide medical and nursing care following a TBI—not to mention costly special therapy and rehabilitation which may or may not be covered by insurance. We must remember that the above figure is merely an average and Florida motorcycle attorneys warn that individual lifetime needs may be much higher (or lower) than the above overall average.

If you or someone you love has been hurt or lost as a result of a motorcycle accident in Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Pensacola, or anywhere in the State of Florida, you should contact a Florida motorcycle accident lawyer for help, to ensure that the downed biker receives the money he or she needs to fully recover.

An experienced Florida motorcycle accident attorney can protect your rights and ensure that the downed biker and family receive plenty of financial support, as well as the long-term therapy and rehabilitation necessary for the best outcome. Please call the Florida motorcycle lawyers today at 1-800-4-BIKERS to arrange a free consultation.

Powered by Qumana

Powered by Qumana

Florida Motorcycle Injury Attorneys:  In a sober counterpoint to the Bike Week festivities recently underway in Daytona, Florida, and surrounding areas, a story in the Daytona Beach News-Journal highlights the recent Federal push to force states to standardize and enforce helmet laws nationwide. Independent-minded Florida bikers, however, continue to be hard-headed about using helmets, sometimes with regrettable results following motorcycle accidents.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for all fifty states to enact tougher legislation requiring that all motorcyclists wear helmets. Florida is just one of several states that have weakened helmet laws in recent years. Although our state does indeed require helmets for young riders and for uninsured riders, Florida law was changed in 2000 to eliminate the mandatory-for-all requirement.

An Independent Breed Meets Hard Reality

Predictably, when the helmet requirements were lifted, Florida motorcycle-accident deaths increased, rising from 164 statewide in 1998 to over 400 during 2009, and many observers attribute the increase in deaths to the decrease in helmet use. Still, bikers are an independent breed. During countless anecdotal interviews, motorcyclists have insisted on maintaining free choice regarding helmet use. Many riders want to hold drivers more accountable for overall roadway safety, with some motorcycle groups calling for increased fines for motorists who hit motorcyclists and pedestrians, as a way of encouraging all Florida drivers to be more vigilant and more agreeable to sharing the road with motorcyclists.
Notwithstanding the joys of riding a motorcycle with “face in the wind,” after years of careful scientific studies and loud public debate, the reality remains: Helmets save lives. Florida motorcycle injury lawyers have long encouraged fellow motorcyclists to wear helmets, and the evidence is conclusive that helmets do in fact save lives and reduce the seriousness of head, neck and spinal cord injuries in motorcycle accidents.
If you or a family member has been injured in a motorcycle accident, regardless of whether a helmet was worn, you should contact an experienced Florida motorcycle injury lawyer for help. A Florida motorcycle injury  attorney can fight to protect your rights, and work to win the financial relief and other long-term help you need. Call the Florida Motorcycle Injury Attorneys today at 1-800-4-BIKERS to schedule a free consultation.

Powered by Qumana

Florida motorcyclists continue to be at risk from motorists making left turns after failing to see oncoming motorcycles, and the Florida motorcycle accident that occurred on February 24, 2011, was no exception.

The Florida motorcyclist was southbound on S.R. 285 near Walton County Road 280 in Niceville, when a Nissan Xtera driven by a 30-year-old man from Crestview, FL, suddenly turned into the roadway in front of him. The biker swerved to avoid the vehicle, but instead lost control of his motorcycle and was thrown about 150 feet. He was taken to a hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries. The motorist said he did not see the motorcyclist until it was too late.

A Florida Motorcycle Attorney Fighting for Your Rights

Poor visibility of vehicles making left turns is one of the main causes of many Florida motorcycle accidents. Florida motorcycle Attorneys often caution motorcyclists to be especially careful when traveling on roads with numerous blind entry points at which vehicles can enter the roadway, since motorists can’t see oncoming motorcycles as easily as they can spot cars and trucks. As this most-recent story points out: When turning motorists don’t see oncoming motorcyclists, the results can be ugly.

In order to remain safe while riding, Florida motorcyclists should consider wearing a helmet and brightly colored safety gear. Even a brightly colored jacket can help vehicles identify a motorcyclist before it is too late.

Florida motorcycle accidents can cause a lifetime of financial hardship and suffering. If you or a family member has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Palm Beach, Miami, Pensacola, or anywhere in the State of Florida, a Florida motorcycle attorney can fight for your rights. A well-experienced Florida motorcycle lawyer can make sure that you receive the financial support and long-term help you need to fully recover. Contact us for Florida Motorcycle Attorneys at 1-800-4-BIKERS to schedule a free consultation.

Powered by Qumana

Motorcycle Lawyers News:  A Bushnell man is now facing trial for his grim role in the deaths of four motorcyclists killed in Lake County on March 13^th, 2010 near County Road 476 and County Road 629 west of Bushnell. The 45-year-old motorist was charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and a DUI. This time, two motorcycle riding couples were the unfortunate victims of the continuing DUI carnage on Florida roadways.

Powered by Qumana

A Florida motorcyclist lost his leg and another was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident that occurred on February 3rd, 2011 along a stretch of U.S. 27 in western Broward County. According to law enforcement authorities, the motorcyclist’s leg was severed on the scene. Both victims were transported to a local area hospital and are listed in critical condition.

The high cost of prosthetics: Florida Motorcycle Lawyers

Amputations are an unfortunate result of some Florida motorcycle accidents. Lacking the surrounding protection of a car or other vehicle, bikers often lose limbs as a result of such accidents. Following amputation, a prosthetic (artificial) limb is often needed to replace the missing leg or arm, in order to allow the injured biker to return to the most active lifestyle possible.

Unfortunately, prosthetic limbs can be very costly. According to the Tribune Today, artificial limbs can cost between $10,000 and $70,000 each. Of course, when approving expenditures, insurance companies tend to provide the lowest-cost (and often least-quality) prosthetics, which may leave an injured motorcyclist unable to move forward in his or her rehabilitation. A properly-fitted prosthetic limb offers the chance to return to a normal and productive life, yet it may be very costly.

In addition to the high costs associated with prosthetic limbs, many motorcycling accident victims will need years of rehabilitation therapy and long-term care, including pain management. In addition, many amputees are unable to resume their current professions and may have to file for disability benefits.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Florida motorcycle accident, it is important to contact an experienced Florida motorcycle lawyer. Motorcycling accidents in Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa Bay, and throughout the State of Florida can leave victims in crushing financial debt. Don’t face the aftermath of a Florida motorcycling accident alone—call 1-800-4-BIKERS today! We will get you to a top Florida Motorcycle Lawyer who can help you. 

Powered by Qumana

Florida Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys: Jury Award for Widow and Family of Florida Motorcyclist Killed by Elderly Driver

As reported recently in a Naples News story, a jury in Collier County has awarded the sum of $5.34 million to the widow and children of a Florida motorcyclist killed on May 17th, 2009. The fatal motorcycling accident occurred when an elderly driver apparently fell asleep and crossed into the opposing lane, striking and killing the 49-year-old Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer from Miami.

The victim and his wife were riding separate motorcycles in file when the 77-year-old motorist suddenly swerved his Jeep without braking. According to witnesses, the driver collided head-on with the victim and seriously injured the victim’s wife, who was following behind her husband.

Witnesses to the accident described a scene of horror: at autopsy the victim’s internal organs were said to be “pulpified.” During legal proceedings, the elderly driver was fined the maximum $2,000 under Florida law, and his license was suspended for one year.

More elderly drivers are on the road—and with deadly consequences

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2008, the latest year for reliable statistics, the elderly accounted for at least 15% of all traffic deaths and at least 18% of all pedestrian deaths. Worryingly, the number of licensed elderly drivers rose dramatically from 1997 to 2007, gaining 19%, even though the total number of licensed drivers rose by only 13% during that same period. It seems clear that more elderly drivers are sharing the road with motorcycles, sometimes with deadly consequences for motorcyclists.

Fortunately, as the jury’s award in this case demonstrates, families are entitled to relief when the negligence of an elderly motorist causes the death of a loved one. If you or a family member has been hurt in a Florida motorcycle, it is important to contact an experienced Florida motorcycle accident injury attorneys to help your entire family receive the relief you deserve. Call 1-800-4-BIKERS and get a free cosultation from a top motorcycle accident lawyer in Florida today!

Powered by Qumana

Florida Drunk Driver Arrested After Motorcyclist is Killed

According to the St. Petersburg Times, a 27-year-old local man has now finally been charged with DUI manslaughter several months after a fatal collision in Clearwater between the drunken motorist and a motorcyclist. The Florida motorcycling accident occurred at 4:48 a.m. on September 20th, 2010, when the driver struck the motorcyclist while attempting to turn his car into his driveway after returning home from a party.

Police indicated that the delay in arresting the suspect was due to initial confusion about who was actually driving the vehicle at the time of the fatal accident. Tragically, the 50-year-old motorcyclist victim was said to have been returning home after working an overnight second job, due to economic difficulties.

Drunk drivers present a special risk to Florida motorcyclists: Florida Motorcycle Lawyers

Impaired drivers on Florida roadways create a special risk to motorcyclists, since the usual drunk-driving risk factors are compounded by both the decreased visibility of motorcycles and the heavy volume of road traffic in many Florida communities.

Also, night time driving increases the likelihood of overlooking a motorcyclist on the roadway—especially if the driver is also impaired. Considering a motorcycle’s lack of protection against impact, any collision with a larger vehicle is likely to be serious. Serious injuries, including injuries to the head, neck, and spine, are a common result from encounters between motorcyclists and drunk drivers on Florida highways.

If you or a motorcyclist you know has been the victim of a drunk driver while riding a motorcycle in the State of Florida, it is important to contact an experienced Florida motorcycle attorney immediately to review your case. Motorcycle accidents that involve alcohol are often more serious and may also involve criminal charges. As such, you will need an experienced and aggressive Florida motorcycle accident attorney on your side to protect your rights and ensure that you receive the compensation YOU need to pay for all of your injuries and for any damages.

If you or someone you love is involved in a Florida motorcycling accident, it is important to learn how to protect yourself, your belongings, and those you love.   It is incredibly important to have a Florida Motorcycle Lawyer.  Call us at 1-800-4-BIKERS today. From St. Petersburg to Orlando to Jacksonville, we have motorcycle lawyers to help you.

Powered by Qumana