Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Motorcycle Accidents

Our motorcycle accident attorneys know that riding a motorcycle is a recreational pursuit for some, a life-long passion for others. But when a motorcyclist is involved in a major accident, the resulting injuries can have lasting results on his/her life. Without the protective structure of a car passenger area and safety features such as seat belts and airbags, motorcycles have little protection. A motorcyclist faces a greater danger of traumatic injury or fatal injuries in a crash. While motorcyclists were involved in only 1 percent of all collisions in Florida in the last few years, they were disproportionately represented in about 11 percent of casualties, according to state traffic information.

 

Daytona Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need to assert your right to just compensation. From the cost to repair or replace your bike to the long-term financial costs of accident-related injuries, you may be entitled to a significant financial recovery, and the driver who hit you deserves to be held fully accountable. At Rue & Ziffra Law Offices, we are committed to fighting for the rights of injured bikers in Volusia, Seminole, and Flagler Counties. We have been serving the local biker community since 1976, and we have a long record of success in helping our clients collect the compensation they deserve.

As a motorcycle rider, you have the same rights as everyone else on the road. This means that you have the right to occupy your lane the same as a car or SUV, and you have the right to sue for just compensation when a negligent driver causes an accident. Distracted driving, aggressive driving, and just plain carelessness are to blame in the vast majority of motorcycle accidents. At Rue & Ziffra Law Offices, we take an aggressive approach to holding negligent drivers accountable for our client’s accident-related losses.

Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Will Investigate Your Case

As a personal injury law firm with decades of experience, we have the resources to devote to your case to see it through to completion. We will investigate your case thoroughly because having a firm command of the facts is the best way to negotiate from a position of strength. We will move quickly to find eyewitnesses and preserve evidence before it is lost. We often seek the cell phone records of the at-fault driver to determine if the driver was distracted by talking on the phone or sending text messages at the time of the crash. We work hard to identify all the potentially liable parties in an accident. That broadens the pool of insurance funds available to provide compensation to the injured motorcyclist.

 

Why You Need A Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Motorcyclists are five times more likely to be injured and 25 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than another person driving or riding in a car or other passenger vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In Florida, 577 motorcyclists were killed in a recent year, by far more than any other state (even Texas and California, which are larger in both size and population).

The majority of multi-vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle and a car or truck are caused by inattentive or negligent drivers of other kinds of vehicles sharing the road. Many automobile drivers are looking for oncoming cars and trucks and simply not focused on checking for motorcycles, which have a narrow profile and are easier to overlook. For example, a motorist who fails to see an oncoming motorist at an intersection may turn in front of the motorcyclist and cause the biker to collide with the larger vehicle.

Being thrown from a motorcycle onto the pavement in a collision is a common way for a motorcyclist to sustain serious injuries including head injuries, neck injuries, fractures, and traumatic brain injuries. Although the motorcyclist struck the car, the automobile driver caused the accident by failing to yield at the intersection. The accident was the other driver’s fault, but the motorcycle rider sustains the brunt of the injuries in most cases.

If your injuries were caused by someone else’s carelessness or disregard for safety, you should not have to worry about the medical bills. An injured motorcyclist needs a strong advocate to stand up for legal rights and seek full compensation for the rider’s injuries and loss of income. Having a knowledgeable Daytona Beach motorcycle accident lawyer who has handled many similar cases can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.

Motorcycle Accident Case Results

Over the past 40 years, our motorcycle accident attorney has helped local bikers recover millions of dollars in compensation for their motorcycle accident injuries. The following is just a small sampling of our recent experience in motorcycle accident settlements and litigation:

  • $4.4 million settlement for a biker who suffered a severe head injury
  • $2.6 million settlement for the family of a biker who was killed in a fatal accident
  • $1.4 million award for a motorcycle rider who suffered leg fractures in a collision
  • $700,000 settlement for a rider severely injured in a head-on collision
  • $150,000 award for a biker who suffered multiple injuries in a T-bone accident

Of course, each case is unique, and the outcome of a motorcycle accident case is never guaranteed. But, what we can guarantee is that we will use our attorneys’ 180+ years of combined legal experience to fight for the best possible outcome in your case.

Common Factors in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can result from a broad range of factors. While most motorcycle crashes are the result of “cage” driver negligence, there are other causes that are sometimes to blame as well. At Rue & Ziffra Law Offices, our motorcycle accident attorney can handle all types of motorcycle accident cases, including those involving:

  • Careless (Negligent) Driving – Common forms of careless (negligent) driving include: failing to look before turning, merging in front of (or into) approaching motorcycles, and running red lights and stop signs.

  • Distracted Driving – Distracted driving includes (but is not limited to): eating and drinking, looking at GPS directions, talking on the phone, texting, sending emails, and using social media behind the wheel.
  • Drowsy Driving – AAA estimates that one in five fatal accidents is the result of drowsy driving. Regardless of the time of day, drowsy drivers can present extreme dangers for bikers.
  • Drunk Driving – The dangers of drunk driving are indisputable. For bikers, an encounter with a drunk driver can be a recipe for disaster.
  • Aggressive Driving – From tailgating to speeding and weaving in and out of traffic, the dangers of car and SUV drivers’ aggressive driving habits are magnified for motorcycle riders.
  • Inexperienced and Reckless Bikers – At Daytona Bike Week and other group rides and events, inexperienced and reckless bikers can, unfortunately, cause accidents with other riders.
  • Negligent Truck Drivers – Semi-trucks and tractor-trailers are involved in a disproportionate number of serious and fatal accidents.
  • Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Defects – Along with driver negligence, car, truck, and motorcycle defects can cause dangerous accidents as well. Common defects include defective accelerators and throttles, defective brakes, and defective tires.

  • Road Hazards and Defects – If you lost control due to puddling water, accumulated debris, a pothole, loose construction materials, or any other issue with the road, the local road or highway authority (or a private contractor) may be to blame for your crash.

Frequently Asked Questions

After a serious injury or accident, victims and their families have many questions in mind. We encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation, so we can personally address all your questions and concerns.

Meanwhile, these are a few of the most common questions we hear from our clients.

How Does Motorcycle Insurance Work in the Event of an Accident?

In Florida, motorcycle insurance works the same way as car insurance in the event of an accident. This means:

  • Your accident claim will most likely involve a claim against your personal injury protection (PIP) policy. PIP covers 80% of your medical bills, 60% of your lost wages, and certain out-of-pocket expenses up to your policy limit (less your deductible). By law, you are required to carry a minimum of $10,000 in PIP coverage.
  • If another driver or biker was at fault and he or she has bodily injury liability (BIL) insurance, then you can file a fault-based claim with his or her insurer. However, in order to file a BIL claim, you must be able to prove that you have suffered a serious and permanent injury.
  • If the driver or biker who hit you was uninsured or underinsured (meaning that his or her BIL coverage is insufficient to cover your losses), you can file a claim under your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM/UM) policy – if you have one. If you have UIM/UM coverage on multiple vehicles, you may be able to “stack” your coverage in order to maximize your financial compensation.
What Should I Do at the Scene After a Motorcycle Collision?

No matter what happened, at the scene of an accident, your safety needs to be your first priority. If you can walk, get yourself safely off of the road. Call 911 to report the accident, and seek emergency medical attention if necessary. If the other driver or rider stopped, collect his or her insurance information, and ask for names and phone numbers from any witnesses as well.

Now is also the time to call an attorney. An attorney with experience representing bikers will be able to walk you through the steps you need to take (and the mistakes you need to avoid), and he or she will be able to initiate an investigation right away. Our firm has four office locations throughout Volusia, Flagler, and Seminole Counties, and we can take action immediately to protect your legal rights.

What Should Bikers Do to Protect Their Rights in the Event of a Collision?

As a motorcycle rider in Florida, the best thing you can do to protect your rights is to protect yourself. In other words, ride safely. Our attorneys who ride recommend:

  • Practice ATGATT (All The Gear, All The Time) – Even though helmets are not mandatory for riders over age 21, if you go down, your helmet may be the only thing protecting you from a traumatic brain injury. Motorcycle boots can help prevent foot and ankle fractures, and motorcycle pants and jackets can prevent (or at least mitigate) road rash in the event of an accident.
  • Ride Within Your Limits – You know your limits better than anyone else. Don’t let other riders push you, and try not to respond to aggressive drivers. The open road is not the place to test new skills. Find an empty parking lot, or better yet, sign up for a Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) class.
  • Inspect Your Bike Before Every Ride – Do all of your lights work? Is your oil level okay? How are your tires? What about your brake pads? Is your chain tensioned and lubed? Performing these simple checks before every ride can help prevent serious accidents and accident-related injuries.
  • Check the Weather – Sudden rainstorms can make the road slick; and if you don’t have the right gear, riding in a downpour can become very dangerous. It’s easier than ever to check the weather – so before you start your engine, make sure you are prepared.
  • Observe the Law – Whether you are riding to work or making your way to Daytona Bike Week, it is your obligation, as a biker and a citizen of our local community, to always observe the law. Don’t speed. Don’t “lane split” or weave through traffic; and most importantly, don’t give anyone an excuse to blame you for your own accident-related injuries.
What do I need to know about getting my car, truck, SUV, or motorcycle repaired after an accident?

Despite what they say, the insurance companies are not on your side. When it comes to fixing your vehicle after an accident, they want to pay as little for parts and service as possible.

As a result, when getting your motorcycle fixed, you need to be very careful about relying on the estimate provided by your insurance company’s recommended repair shop. You are entitled to request an estimate and service from a shop of your choosing, and you are entitled to have your vehicle fixed (or replaced) according to the terms of your auto insurance policy.

Also, if your policy includes coverage for a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop, make sure you get the car to which you are entitled under your policy. Oftentimes, insurance companies will upsell rental car allowances and then offer a minimum daily rate when you file a claim.

Contact the Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Rue & Ziffra Law Offices

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Seminole, Volusia, or Flagler County, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We are available 24/7. To speak with an attorney about your rights, call (386) 788-7700 or tell us about your accident online now.

Office Locations

Port Orange

632 Dunlawton Ave.
Port Orange FL, 32127
Phone: (386) 221-2957

Deland

101 N. Woodland Blvd.- Suite 201
Deland, FL 32720
Phone: (386) 204-0086

Palm Coast

4879 Palm Coast NW - Suite 1
Palm Coast, FL 32137
Phone: (386) 433-2168

Lake Mary

1540 International Pkwy - Suite 2000
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Phone: (407) 259-4485

Winter Park

941 W Morse Blvd.
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: (407) 634-2250

Orlando

7380 W Sand Lake Rd.
Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: (407) 329-3976
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