At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident attorneys understand just how devastating a motorcycle crash can be. Motorcycle accidents are often deadly and almost always result in serious injuries for motorcyclists and passengers, in large part because the bike provides little protection from the force and impact when a vehicle strikes it. This means that you may be left grieving the loss of a loved one or coping with life-changing injuries after a motorcycle crash. While nothing can bring back an amputated extremity or bring a dead loved one back to life, the laws in Florida do provide you with the right to be fully and fairly compensated for a motorcycle crash if the accident was the fault of another driver. Our Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident lawyers want you to get the maximum compensation that you deserve. Give us a call today or contact us online to have your case evaluated and to learn how we can help you to fight for your legal rights after a motorcycle crash.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Port St. Lucie
A motorcyclist is more likely to be seriously hurt in a collision than the driver in a passenger car. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that motorcycle riders are 30 times more likely to die and five times as likely to be hurt as other motorists.
Motorcycle accidents in Port St. Lucie County often result from a variety of factors, with distracted and reckless driving leading the list.
- Distracted Driving: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines distracted driving as any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as texting, eating, or adjusting in-car devices. In Port St. Lucie, where traffic can be busy around recreational areas, distracted drivers pose a significant risk to riders.
- Drunk Driving: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs judgment and slows reaction times, leading to devastating crashes. Drunk driving accidents on highways around Port St. Lucie can be especially dangerous, often involving multiple vehicles and resulting in serious injury or death.
- Speeding and Reckless Driving: Whether it’s running late or simply disregarding speed limits, reckless driving remains a common cause of severe motorcycle accidents. High speeds typically result in more significant injuries and damage, making these accidents particularly hazardous.
- Failure to Yield and Left-Turn Accidents: Failing to yield or disregarding traffic signs is another frequent cause of motorcycle accidents. Left-turn collisions are especially dangerous for motorcyclists, as drivers of larger vehicles, such as trucks, may not see them in their blind spots. In Port St. Lucie, it’s crucial for both motorbike riders and drivers to remain cautious, particularly at intersections.
Staying vigilant and allowing extra space for larger vehicles can significantly reduce the risk of motorcycle accidents.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents We Handle
Here are the most frequent types of motorcycle accidents we handle:
- Rear-End Collisions: Distracted drivers who fail to stop in time can cause severe injuries to motorcyclists. Under Florida law, drivers are required to maintain a safe following distance, and failure to do so can result in liability for damages.
- Left-Turn Accidents: These occur when vehicles misjudge a motorcyclist’s speed or fail to see them. Florida law requires drivers to yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn, and not doing so can make them liable for the accident.
- Lane-Splitting Accidents: Lane-splitting is illegal in Florida, meaning motorbike riders cannot pass between lanes of slower or stopped traffic. However, drivers still have a duty to remain aware of their surroundings.
- Head-On Collisions: These collisions are particularly dangerous due to the direct impact. Florida law allows motorcyclists to seek compensation for severe injuries or wrongful death in head-on collisions, especially if the other driver was speeding or driving recklessly.
- Doored Accidents: When a driver opens their car door into a motorcyclist’s path, it can cause serious injuries. Florida’s dooring laws make drivers responsible for checking for approaching traffic, including riders, before opening a door.
- Failure to Yield at Intersections: Motorcyclists are often overlooked at intersections. Florida law requires drivers to yield to traffic in intersections, and failure to do so can result in liability for damages in a collision.
If you’ve been involved in any of these types of motorcycle accident cases, Florida law allows you to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. An attorney can guide you through the legal process, ensuring that all responsible parties are held accountable.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
- Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries due to the lack of protection for riders.
- Head Injuries: Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can lead to long-term cognitive and physical impairments.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, drastically changing your way of life.
- Broken Bones: Fractures in the arms, legs, and ribs are frequent, especially when the rider is thrown from the motorcycle.
- Road Rash: Severe skin abrasions from sliding on the pavement, which can cause infection and require extensive medical treatment.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding may not be immediately obvious but can be life-threatening.
These injuries can have a significant impact on your health and finances. A driver who causes injury or death must be held accountable for the consequences of a motorcycle accident in Port St. Lucie. A skilled attorney will help you seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and future care, ensuring that you are financially protected as you recover.
Florida Motorcycle Accident Laws
Florida’s motorcycle accident laws differ from standard car accident regulations in several key ways. Unlike most vehicles, motorcycles are not covered by Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, meaning injured riders must seek compensation directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance or through a personal injury claim. Florida also follows a modified comparative negligence rule—if you’re less than 50% at fault, you can still recover compensation, but your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. Helmets are required for riders under 21, but if you’re over 21 and carry at least $10,000 in medical coverage, you can legally ride without one. However, riding without a helmet may reduce the compensation you can receive if head injuries occur.
Your Right to Compensation after a Motorcycle Accident
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, to recover the compensation, you must establish that the other driver was at fault by demonstrating negligence or reckless behavior, such as speeding, distracted driving, or failing to yield. This often involves gathering crucial evidence like police reports, witness statements, and, in some cases, traffic camera footage.
Proving other party negligence allows you to seek damages for:
- Medical bills and costs: This includes emergency care, hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, and any future medical expenses related to the accident. Florida law allows you to recover both current and future medical costs, as long as you can prove they are tied to the crash.
- Lost income/wages or financial support: If your injuries prevent you from working, you can claim compensation for lost wages. This also extends to diminished earning capacity if the injuries result in long-term or permanent disability. In wrongful death cases, families may seek lost financial support if the victim was a breadwinner.
- Pain and suffering: Florida law allows compensation for the physical pain and suffering endured as a result of the accident. This is considered non-economic damage, and its value is determined based on the severity of the injuries and their long-term impact on your quality of life.
- Emotional distress: Emotional trauma, such as anxiety, depression, or PTSD, can be compensated under Florida’s laws. Psychological impacts are often long-lasting, and this compensation helps cover therapy or counseling costs.
- Lost companionship: In the case of a wrongful death claim, surviving family members may seek compensation for the loss of companionship or the emotional support the deceased would have provided. This is sometimes referred to as loss of consortium.
- Funeral expenses: In the tragic event of a fatal motorcycle accident, the family can also recover reasonable funeral and burial expenses. This includes any costs associated with memorial services, cremation, or burial.
However, in order to obtain this compensation, you must both prove that the driver was to blame and demonstrate the extent of your losses. A Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident attorney will help you meet your burden of proof so you can get the money you deserve.
How a Port St. Lucie Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help
Motorcycle accident victims can pursue compensation in court or by negotiating an out-of-court settlement with the insurance company that issued the policy to the driver who caused the crash. Both methods can allow you to get full and fair compensation, provided that you understand what you are entitled to and provided that you build a strong case.
A fair settlement is not what you can expect to receive from the insurance company. Their goal is to reduce payouts on claims so they can remain highly profitable. Our proven and committed legal team understands the tactics these companies regularly use to pay claimants as little as possible. We routinely battle their schemes in and out of court, and have developed effective methods for doing so.
An experienced Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident attorney can explain your legal rights, help you gather evidence, negotiate with the insurer on your behalf and put together a compelling case for court. You don’t have to worry about navigating the complex system of motorcycle accident claims as long as you have an experienced Port St. Lucie motorcycle accident lawyer from Steinger, Greene & Feiner on your side.Visit our Port St Lucie injury lawyer and let us help you get started with a free consultation. Don’t take the first check from the insurance company. Give us a call at (772) 200-4696 or visit our location at 507 NW Lake Whitney Pl, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986.
Contact Us
At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, our attorneys have decades of collective experience representing motorcycle accident victims, and our personal injury lawyers have been recognized by clients and peers as capable legal advocates. We take our responsibility to our clients seriously and we will treat your case with the immediacy it deserves. Our Port St. Lucie motorbike crash attorneys offer free consultations and case evaluations to injured motorcycle accident victims, so call us today to take advantage of this no-cost meeting and learn more about how we can help you.
With a legal team of more than 30 lawyers and more than 140 staff, including investigators and other assistants, we have the resources needed to get the job done efficiently. You can bring your personal injury case to us with confidence, knowing you will pay nothing until we recover the compensation you deserve. Throughout the entire case, we will be by your side, providing the guidance you need.
Proven Personal Injury Lawyers
A fair settlement is not what you can expect to receive from the insurance company. Their goal is to reduce payouts on claims so they can remain highly profitable. Our proven and committed legal team understands the tactics these companies regularly use to pay claimants as little as possible. We routinely battle their schemes in and out of court, and have developed effective methods for doing so.
With a legal team of more than 30 lawyers and more than 140 staff, including investigators and other assistants, we have the resources needed to get the job done efficiently. You can bring your personal injury case to us with confidence, knowing you will pay nothing until we recover the compensation you deserve. Throughout the entire case, we will be by your side, providing the guidance you need.
FAQs on Motorcycle Accidents
Client Testimonials
507 Northwest Lake Whitney Place, Port St. Lucie
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I recently had the misfortune of being involved in an automobile accident that resulted in multiple injuries. While I have been in accidents before, I have never received the exceptional level of care and respect that I experienced from … More David and his team.They consistently ensured that I was well-informed about the scheduling and locations of my specialist appointments. Their unwavering support and presence at these appointments provided me with a sense of security and the assurance that my best interests were being prioritized.Communication was never lacking, as we engaged in numerous conversations, both over the phone and in person, to ensure that I was fully updated on the progress of my case. Any questions or concerns I had were promptly addressed and thoroughly answered by the team.I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the outstanding work performed by David and the entire Steinger, Greene, and Feiner team. Their dedication and expertise not only resulted in the largest settlement I have ever received, but also provided me with peace of mind during a challenging time.Without reservation, I highly recommend their services to anyone in need of legal representation. Their professionalism, compassion, and unwavering commitment to their clients are truly exceptional. Thank you to the entire team for your exceptional service. -
David Mitchell and John treated me like family. I appreciated everything they helped me get through. I would definitely recommend them if you want to be treated like family and have them fight for your settlement you deserve.I want to thank … More you from the bottom of my heart for caring so deeply.KP
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After being hit while riding my bicycle by an uninsured motorist Steinger, Greene and Feiner wererecommended by a friend who had previously used their services. Throughout the process David Mitchell and his team provided prompt and useful … More communication that kept me abreast of the status of the case. They handled everything which relieved me of having to chase this uninsured motorist. Glad I chose their services on my behalf.
