West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Fighting to Obtain Maximum Compensation for Injured Motorcycle Riders

If you are an injured motorcyclist, you may be trying to determine the steps you can take to protect yourself and recover compensation for your harm. Motorcyclists often suffer extensive injuries that can take significant time to heal.

Motorcycle accident victims are often left to wonder how they will pay for expensive medical bills, treatments, and lost wages.

Sadly, injured bikers often have the added burden of fighting the insurance company when filing a personal injury claim. In many instances, insurance providers try to blame injured victims for causing motorcycle accidents.

In other cases, the insurance company may even try to blame victims who have died from motorcycle fatalities to avoid paying out claims.

As a result, families of those killed in motorcycle fatalities may be unsure what they can do to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions.

GONZ.LAW GROUP of West Palm Beach is a personal injury law firm dedicated to helping motorcycle accident victims obtain maximum financial compensation that will help them get the justice they deserve.

If you or a family member have been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another person’s negligence, contact our law offices to schedule a free initial consultation to learn how we can help.

Why Do Motorcycle Accidents Occur in West Palm Beach?

Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents occur frequently in the West Palm Beach area. Several commonly cited factors play a role in most motorcycle accidents, which include:

• Speeding or reckless driving
• Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Drivers unexpectedly open car doors in front of unsuspecting motorcycle operators.
• Adverse weather conditions.
• Uneven or poor road conditions.
• Failure to obey traffic laws.

However, two of the most frequent causes of West Palm Beach motorcycle accident cases are distracted driving and left-turn accidents. Many motorists focus more on their cell phones than on the road. As a result, many drivers do not see motorcyclists until it is too late.

Lastly, another contributing factor to motorcycle accidents in our area involves left-turn accidents. Left turn accidents typically occur when motorists turn left and do not see a motorcyclist turning in front of them. Left-turn accidents can be hazardous for bikers as, unlike passenger cars, they have little protection.

If you are a motorcycle accident victim, you must hire an attorney who can evaluate the facts of your case to determine what legal strategies may be suitable for your case. Contact our West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyer today to schedule a meeting to learn more information.

What Should I Do After Being Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?

Just as with car accidents, if you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, there are several specific steps that you must follow to protect your health and ability to file a compensation claim.

These steps include:

• Stay calm and call 911 to report the accident.
• Check on any other parties involved in the incident.
• Exchange information with the driver of the motor vehicle that hit you.
• Document the accident scene by taking plenty of photos and videos. Be sure to include the damage to your motorcycle, lighting, and terrain conditions.
• Be sure to obtain a copy of the police report for your records.
• Seek medical attention immediately. Some insurance companies will not allow injured victims to file a claim unless they have been examined by a healthcare professional.
• Do not make posts discussing the accident on social media.
• Do not speak with the other party’s insurance company.
• Finally, hire an attorney who understands motorcycle laws so that you have skilled legal representation to help you with your injury claim.

Insurance adjusters will ask injured victims to make recorded statements that provide accident details. However, motorcycle accident victims should never speak to the other party’s insurance company without consulting an experienced attorney.

Most personal injury victims are unaware that insurers have the legal right to use a victim’s own words against them to try and deny or reduce their claim. For this reason, anyone injured in a motorcycle crash must obtain legal representation. Motorcycle passengers who have also been injured should always obtain legal help to protect their rights.

GONZ.LAW GROUP has comprehensive experience handling motorcycle accident claims and would be honored to assist you with your case.

What are the Most Common Types of Motorcycle Injuries?

Just as with a car accident, a motorcycle crash can result in riders suffering serious injuries that may take weeks, months, or even longer to heal properly. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you must seek medical treatment immediately. Internal injuries do not always manifest themselves immediately, and if not treated promptly, you could place your own life at risk.

Common Injuries

Common injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents include:

• Head injuries
• Neck injuries
• Chest injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash
• Internal injuries
• Leg injuries
• Burns

Catastrophic Injuries

Sadly, motorcycle crashes often result in the rider suffering catastrophic injuries. Some of the most common catastrophic injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Amputation
• Burns
• Organ damage
• Facial disfigurement

Typically, these devastating injuries negatively impact motorcycle accident victims for the rest of their lives and require skilled medical care. However, long-term medical care is quite costly and can quickly create a financial crisis for victims and their family members who may be tasked with caring for them.

Suppose you have suffered severe injuries sustained in a motorcycle wreck. In that case, you must hire a West Palm Beach accident lawyer who can assist you with filing a compensation claim to recover damages.

Contact GONZ. LAW GROUP to learn more about motorcycle injuries and how we may be able to assist you.

How Can I Recover Out of Pocket Expenses I Have Paid After Being Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?

Florida law allows individuals who have suffered motorcycle accident injuries to pursue economic and non-economic damages to try and recover compensation for out-of-pocket expenses. Some of the most common concerns for accident victims revolve around recovering compensation for medical expenses and lost wages.

However, accident victims should be aware that every case is different and, therefore, every potential settlement will also vary.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are meant to help injured victims recover compensation that will reimburse them for out-of-pocket expenses they incurred. The injured party may be able to recover damages that will pay for:

• Past and future medical bills.
• Past and future lost wages.
• Loss of earning capacity.
• Property damage

Additionally, injured victims may be able to recover compensation that will pay medical expenses for physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Non Economic Damages

In a motorcycle accident case, an injured party may be able to recover compensation for intangible losses they have suffered. If awarded, non-economic damages are based on the case’s unique facts.

Commonly awarded non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Emotional trauma
• Permanent disfigurement and scarring.

If you or a loved one have suffered personal injuries, GONZ.LAW GROUP will work tirelessly to help you obtain fair compensation. Our experienced West Palm Beach motorcycle accident attorneys have comprehensive experience in determining what types of damages our clients may be able to recover. Our personal injury law firm will fight to help you get the justice you deserve.

Does Motorcycle Insurance Pay for Lost Wages and Medical Expenses?

Florida law does not require motorcycle riders to purchase personal injury protection insurance (PIP). However, even though many motorcycle riders elect not to carry PIP, this insurance coverage will pay up to $10,000 combined in medical bills and lost income.

Unlike other forms of insurance, PIP will pay as motorcycle accident claims are submitted for a total of 80% of medical bills and 60% of lost income.

In most instances, accident victims receive compensation within 30 days of submission of their claims.

If the injured victim’s medical expenses and lost wages exceed their PIP policy limits, they may be able to recover more compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Even so, the accident victim must prove the other driver was negligent to obtain compensation.

However, filing motorcycle accident claims can be overly complex due to Florida’s modified comparative negligence system. The modified comparative negligence system only allows individuals deemed 50% or less responsible for the accident to recover compensation.

As a result, an insurance adjuster representing the other driver’s insurance company may blame the victim or assign a higher liability level to avoid a large payout.

Because of the complexities associated with the legal process of filing a claim, motorcycle accident victims must have an experienced attorney who will fight for their rights.

If you have been injured in a bike crash, contact our West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyer and ask to schedule a free initial consultation so that we may review your case.

What Makes Your Personal Injury Law Firm the Right Choice to Handle My Motorcycle Accident Claim?

GONZ.LAW GROUP of West Palm Beach is a law firm that dedicates itself to helping accident victims injured by the careless or negligent actions of others. Unlike individuals who travel in passenger cars or other enclosed vehicles, motorcyclists involved in accidents run a far greater risk of suffering devastating injuries that can significantly impact their lives.

Our West Palm Beach law firm has a proven record of helping injured motorcyclists obtain fair compensation for their lost income, medical expenses, and pain and suffering damages. If we agree to take your case, we will thoroughly evaluate the evidence to build and strengthen your claim.

We understand that the last thing you may want to do is deal with the insurance company after being injured in an accident. For this reason, our motorcycle accident attorneys will act as your legal advocate with the insurance company so that you can focus on healing.

Most accident victims are initially unaware that most accident claims are settled through negotiations between their attorneys and insurers. However, when insurance providers are unwilling to negotiate, it is often necessary to file personal injury lawsuits to help victims receive the justice they deserve.

Our West Palm Beach legal team has the experience and financial resources to help those injured in motorcycle crashes protect their legal rights and obtain maximum compensation for damages.

Contact GONZ.LAW GROUP at 561-639-7858 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about our legal services and how we can help.