Deerfield Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
With gorgeous year-round weather and miles of beaches, it’s no wonder that Florida is one of the favorite states of motorcyclists on the road today. However, when a motorcycle accident happens on the road the results can be shattering for the victim and their family. At the Leifer & Ramirez, our Deerfield Beach motorcycle accident lawyers understand the trauma that comes with a motorcycle accident and are prepared to help clients through the legal process on their road to recovery.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 5,286 motorcyclists killed nationwide in 2016. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (FLHSMV) reported that Florida accounted for 515 of those fatalities that year. In addition, Florida reported 10,331 motorcycle accidents and 8,256 injuries. The number of motorcycle accident deaths was second only to passenger cars in Florida in 2016.
The chances of being injured or killed in an accident are far higher on a motorcycle than in another vehicle due to the lack of protection for a motorcyclist. There is roughly an eighty percent chance of injury or death in a motorcycle accident, as compared to only a twenty percent chance in a passenger vehicle accident. In Florida, motorcycle fatalities account for about twenty percent of all vehicle deaths on the road; however, they account for only seven percent of the registered vehicles in the state.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle accidents occur because the drivers of cars and trucks are not looking for smaller vehicles like motorcycles on the road. Accidents involving the head-on collision of a motorcycle and a car account for over half of all fatal motorcycle accidents. However, the most dangerous situations for motorcyclists is when cars make a left-hand turn in the road. Usually, the turning car strikes the motorcycle while going through the intersection, and the left-hand turn accident accounts for 42% of all motorcycle injuries and fatalities on the roadway.
Lane splitting is also a common cause of accidents because cars do not anticipate that another vehicle will overtake them in slow or stopped traffic. Collisions with fixed objects, road hazards, and inclement weather also cause a number of motorcycle accident injuries and deaths every year.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents have the potential to cause far more devastating injuries than a typical car accident because a motorcyclist lacks the protection of an enclosed vehicle. Some of the most common injuries following a motorcycle accident include:
- Bone fractures
- Burns
- Disfigurement
- Facial fractures
- Limb amputation
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Road rash
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
Many of these injuries are permanent and require a lifetime of care. Others necessitate additional medical procedures, medication, and years of rehabilitation. It’s vital that a person suffering from injuries in a motorcycle accident get a personal injury attorney who will handle the legal case while they focus on recovery.
Compensation for Motorcycle Accidents
In Florida, a person injured in a motorcycle accident is entitled to collect economic and non-economic damages for their injuries. Compensation for motorcycle accident injuries or death typically includes:
- Property damage
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement or disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death
Contact Our Deerfield Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
At Leifer & Ramirez in Deerfield Beach, we understand how devastating a motorcycle accident can be and promise to fight for the compensation that you deserve following an accident. Call the motorcycle accident lawyers at our office or contact us today for a free consultation of your case.
