You are taking a joy ride on your motorcycle, enjoying the thrill of the quickly passing winds and the sun on your skin. However, as you make a turn around a curb, you see a car approaching you, and the car does not stop. Rather, it collides right into you.
Motorcycle accidents can quickly cause serious injuries because the motorcyclist does not have the same protection surrounding him or her as a car passenger does. Unfortunately, sometimes these types of accidents happen due to the negligence of fellow car drivers in Florida. If you have suffered injuries in a biking accident stemming from another driver’s carelessness, it is within your rights to take legal action.
Immediately after the accident
Following an injury-causing motorcycle accident, contacting the police right away is critical. The police can create a report of the accident, which can be a useful tool for determining your accident’s circumstances and assessing fault. Taking photos of the damage that your motorcycle sustained or of any injuries you suffered may be helpful as well.
In addition, gathering the personal information of the other driver and witnesses to the accident is important before you leave the accident scene. While speaking to police and to others at the crash scene, not admitting guilt or signing anything, such as an insurer’s forms, is important as well. This is necessary to protect your rights.
Later after the accident
As you undergo medical treatment, you may want to keep a record of all the treatments you receive in addition to keeping copies of all of your medical bills and records.
Furthermore, contacting a lawyer as soon as possible will help you determine if you have a valid claim for damages. An attorney can sort through issues that your case involves, such as liability, medical treatment, traffic law compliance and motor vehicle regulations.
If you are found to have been partially at fault in the biking accident, you can still recover damages. The theory of comparative negligence will apportion fault between you and the other motorist involved in the accident based on each of your degree of negligence that contributed to the crash. Whether you are partially at fault in the crash or not at fault at all, an attorney in Florida will strive to help you to achieve the maximum amount of compensation available considering the circumstances surrounding the collision.
