Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Deland

Even minor motorcycle collisions have the potential to cause significant damage. Every motorcycle accident injury is unique, but some circumstances are more common than others. 

According to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the most severe motorcycle injuries happen when the front of the motorcycle collides with another object or vehicle. Regardless of the type of crash, motorcyclists and their passengers can sustain catastrophic and life-changing injuries.

Some of the most common examples include:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

According to information from the NHTSA, around 15 percent of helmeted motorcyclists sustained TBI following a crash. Those who did not wear helmets were at higher risk, with 21% suffering brain damage. 

Even a minor TBI can result in serious and devastating health consequences. Some of the common symptoms of TBI include:

• Dizziness
• Persistent headache
• Lack of focus
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures or convulsions
• Dilation of the pupils
• Difficulty sleeping
• Inability to wake from sleep
• Confusion

If you have suffered a head injury from an accident, you should seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not feel injured, symptoms of TBI can appear days or weeks after the incident. 

A medical professional will provide you with a reliable diagnosis and treatment regimen. A medical assessment will also help you to recover the financial compensation that you are owed in case of any resulting legal claim.

Spinal Cord and Back Injuries

In a motor vehicle collision, the bodies of those involved are often exposed to massive amounts of force. This can result in significant damage to the sensitive bones and soft tissue in victims’ backs. 

Severe spinal cord injuries can result in partial or total paralysis. This can lead to a lifelong disability for the accident victim.

Injuries of Lower Extremities

This type of bodily damage is incredibly common in motorcycle accidents. In fact, NHTSA data suggests that lower-extremity damage is the most common type of injury that motorcyclists sustain.  

The most common lower-extremity injury is damage to the legs. Leg damage can include: 

• Scrapes
• Lacerations
• Bone breaks and fractures

When an accident occurs, motorcyclists’ legs can become trapped under the body of the bike. This can result in significant damage to the leg that is between the motorcycle and the pavement.

Road Rash

Motorcyclists may be thrown from the vehicle following a collision. This is especially true if the crash involves high speeds. 

When this happens, the victim may land on the paved surface of the road. “Road rash” is a name for the extreme skin abrasions that result from a person skidding across the hard surface of a roadway.  

Road rash injuries can range from mild to extreme. Regardless of the severity of a road rash injury, it is critical to seek medical treatment quickly. 

These abrasions may result in serious infections. In some cases, road rash leaves the accident victim with permanent disfigurement and scarring. 

No matter what type of injury you sustained, it is vital to consult with skilled DeLand motorcycle accident lawyers about your case. Victims of motorcycle collisions have the legal right to pursue financial compensation for the harm that they sustained.

If you believe that you have a valid motorcycle collision claim, reach out to the legal professionals at Morgan & Morgan. 

Filing a successful motorcycle accident claim typically involves proving that the other party behaved in a negligent way. In the state of Florida, motorcycle riders are subject to the same laws and statutes as other motorists. 

However, motorcycles do not offer the same amount of visibility as standard passenger vehicles. This is because motorcycles are much smaller than cars and trucks. 

When a car or truck driver does not properly share the road with motorcyclists, they risk causing an accident. For instance, the driver of a passenger vehicle may change lanes without adequately checking their surroundings.  

This type of maneuver can result in a motorcyclist being side-swiped or running off the road. When you have been injured in a traffic mishap, the accomplished DeLand motorcycle accident lawyers at Morgan and Morgan can help. 

To prove that the at-fault party behaved in a negligent manner, you will need to provide evidence for the following:

Duty of Care

Plaintiffs in motorcycle accident cases must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care. Under normal circumstances, motorists have a duty to drive their vehicles in a reasonably safe and legal manner. 

This is an implied legal duty for all Florida drivers. Motorists owe this duty of care to other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Breach of Duty

The claimant in a tort case also needs to provide evidence that the opposing party breached their duty of care. In a motorcycle accident claim, this may involve showing that the other driver was careless or reckless. 

For instance, suppose the other motorist swerved recklessly and caused you to crash. In this case, their behavior would be a breach of their implied duty.

Causation

A motorist breaching their duty of care is not sufficient to ground a successful personal injury claim. The plaintiff needs to prove that the defendant’s actions were the cause of the resulting harm. 

Consider the following example. Suppose that you were involved in a traffic collision but were unharmed. If you become dangerously ill the following week, you could not seek damages for the medical expenses resulting from your condition. 

In this example, the collision and the illness are not causally related. To recover financial compensation, you will need to prove that the breach of duty was causally related to your injuries.

Actual Damages

Finally, proving negligence involves providing evidence that the at-fault party’s behavior resulted in actual harm. If you were uninjured and sustained no discernable damages, you will not be able to pursue financial recovery. 

Make sure to speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to pursue the compensation to which you are entitled. One of the compassionate legal experts at Morgan and Morgan will gather evidence to help you prove that the opposing party’s negligence resulted in the harm that you sustained.

Following a motor vehicle accident, victims typically face mounting financial expenses and significant personal difficulties. Because of this, the caring attorneys at Morgan & Morgan operate based on contingency fees. 

With this approach to legal costs, DeLand motorcycle accident victims do not pay anything unless they recover compensation. When you hire the firm of Morgan & Morgan, we will agree to a specific portion of the winnings from your case. 

After your attorney recovers the financial compensation that you deserve, the agreed-to percentage will be allocated to cover your costs. Reputable tort attorneys do not require clients to provide payments before concluding the case.

In the state of Florida, motorcycle accident claims function like other tort cases. Because of this, claimants usually have the option of pursuing two primary types of financial compensation. 

These two types of payment are known as “special” and “general” damages. Special damages are payments intended to restore the motorcycle accident victim to their prior financial status.  

Some of the most typical examples of special damages in DeLand motorcycle accidents include payments to cover: 

• Associated medical debt and bills
• Expected costs for future medical treatments
• Related property damage — including motorcycle repair or replacement
• Lost income and wages due to missed work
• Decreased earning potential long term

Many motorcycle accident victims underestimate the value of financial expenses that will arise following injuries. Not all damages take the form of monetary losses. 

Payments to compensate victims for their intangible and personal losses are known as “general” damages. Some of the most common examples include:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish — such as depression and anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Loss of consortium­ — if the injury is fatal
• Disfigurement and disability

It is important for victims to consult with an attorney to determine the value of their cases. You should not settle for less than you are owed.

When you need the most reliable legal representation in DeLand, contact Morgan & Morgan. We will happily provide you with a free case evaluation. Just complete the contact form online to schedule your consultation today.