Motorcycle accidents can produce life-changing injuries. If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident and someone else is responsible, you could pursue legal action against them.
However, when you are still recuperating from your injuries, you could benefit from a legal advocate ready to build your case on your behalf. Our personal injury team can fight for compensation for your motorcycle accident damages, so your losses do not jeopardize your financial future.
Our Orlando motorcycle accident lawyers at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can discuss what’s next for your motorcycle accident claim. We can get you started down the road to financial recovery.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Orlando
After your motorcycle accident in Orlando, you might feel intimidated and overwhelmed. Even if you have been in a motorcycle accident in the past, you may still not be sure how to proceed.
Here are the steps you should take immediately following an Orlando motorcycle accident:
Step 1. Call Emergency Responders
Even if you believe you might have suffered only minor injuries get evaluated by a medical professional. Untreated injuries could be devastating to your health. Failure to obtain medical care immediately after a motorcycle accident could prevent you from recovering compensation in insurance and civil claims.
Step 2. Document the Scene
While you are waiting for health care providers and police to arrive, you should attempt to document the scene of the accident if you can. Of course, if your injuries are too severe, wait for a medical professional to evaluate you.
However, if you can take photos of your injuries, the scene, obtain witness contact information, and other time-sensitive, valuable evidence, it could prove to be essential to your case.
Step 3. Understand Your Legal Options
Once your health care provider clears you, consider working with our Orlando motorcycle accident attorneys. The sooner you get started on your case, the sooner we can start fighting for the compensation that you need to rebuild your life. We can tell you more about pursuing your losses with an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Find a Orlando Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer
Near Me (407) 420-9838
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Orlando
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, nearly 500 motorcycle accidents occured in Orange County in 2021. These collisions resulted in 28 fatalities. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a crash on Interstate 4, Beachline Expressway, or anywhere else in the Orlando area, our lawyers could help you seek compensation for your injuries and losses.
For our attorneys to successfully recover damages in your case, we will need to show that another party’s negligence or misconduct caused your motorcycle accident injuries. Motorcycle accidents in Orlando can occur in many ways, including:
Reckless or Negligent Driving
One cause of motorcycle accidents in Orlando is unsafe or negligent driving. Negligent driving can take many forms, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Failure to yield
- Failure to stop
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Drowsy driving
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving
- Making illegal turns
- Road rage
If another driver’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful behavior behind the wheel caused your crash, we could help you hold them financially accountable.
Dram Shops
Dram shops refer to establishments that sell or serve alcohol. This might include restaurants, bars, nightclubs, grocery stores, gas stations, and other places that have a license to serve alcohol.
Florida Statutes § 768.125 prohibits these establishments from serving or selling alcohol to underage individuals or those known to have an alcohol addiction.
With that said, these places commonly break the law and sell or serve alcohol anyway. When this happens, the drain shop may also share fault for your injuries if you suffer serious injuries due to a consumer’s drunk driving.
Third-Party Negligence
Reckless drivers and dram shops are not the only parties who could share fault for your motorcycle accident injuries. There are many other parties who could share blame depending on the specific details of your case.
For example, if your motorcycle or the vehicle that struck you malfunctioned in some way, many parties could share blame. These could include:
- Parts distributors
- Parts designers
- Auto technicians
- Dealerships
There is also the question of who is responsible for injuries] caused by unsafe or dangerous roads. The government agency responsible for maintaining the safety of the road could be a negligent party in your motorcycle accident claim.
Chalik & Chalik Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer Near Me (407) 420-9838
Our Team Will Focus on Proving Fault in Your Orlando Motorcycle Accident Case
Our lawyers will need to carefully examine the details of your case to determine who should be responsible for your motorcycle accident claim. We will collect and review a variety of case evidence, which may include:
- Medical records and testimony from your doctor (with your permission) about your injuries and their effect on your ability to work and quality of life
- Police reports
- Eyewitness accounts of your crash
- Data from the scene of your accident
- Photographs of your injuries
- Photographs of your motorcycle damages
- Available cell phone or video footage
- The findings of crash reconstruction experts
Click to contact Chalik & Chalik's Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer today
Florida Motorcycle Accident Laws That Could Pertain To Your Case
There are several motorcycle accident laws that could have an impact on your ability to recover compensation in your case. These include:
The Statute of Limitations on Personal Injury Lawsuits
Under Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), in general, motorcycle accident victims have four years before the statute of limitations for personal injury expires.
This means, for most cases, you will have up to four years after the accident to get your claim filed. If your lawsuit is not filed before the statute of limitations runs out, you likely will no longer be able to seek compensation in the Florida civil court system.
Florida’s Pure Comparative Negligence Statute
Under Florida Statutes § 768.81, sharing fault does not prohibit you from collecting compensation. However, if you share fault for your motorcycle accident injuries, you could expect the court to reduce your injury settlement by your portion of fault.
For example, if you are five percent liable for your injuries, expect your motorcycle settlement to be reduced by five percent, as well.
No-Fault Insurance
Florida follows a no-fault insurance model that requires drivers to have personal injury protection insurance (PIP) to pay for medical bills stemming from an accident, regardless of who caused the collision.
However, the no-fault laws only apply to four-wheeled vehicles, meaning PIP is optional for motorcycle riders. This means you may have no choice but to seek compensation through a liability insurance claim or legal action against the at-fault driver.
These are only a couple of the laws that could dramatically impact your opportunity to get the most out of your claim. Be sure to speak with our motorcycle accident lawyers in Orlando for help if you have concerns that your actions could affect your injury settlement.
For a free legal consultation with a Chalik & Chalik lawyer serving Orlando, call (407) 420-9838
Compensating Motorcycle Accident Victims in Orlando
After your Orlando motorcycle accident, you have the right to be made whole. You should receive compensation for every way your accident and injuries have turned your life upside-down. Economic and non-economic damages you may recover include:
- Monetary compensation for physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, scarring, inconvenience, and lost quality of life
- Medical bills, including surgical procedures, follow-up care, doctor and hospital fees, emergency department treatment, physical therapy, and long-term nursing services
- Property damage, including the value of fixing or replacing your motorcycle
- Lost income and diminished earning potential
- Loss of household services and other miscellaneous expenses, such as medical travel expenses and home and vehicle modifications
- Wrongful death compensation, including loss of consortium, loss of parental guidance, and mental pain and suffering
Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers Will Fight for You After a Motorcycle Accident
Founding partners Jason and Debi Chalik handle each case that comes to Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers personally because we believe that a robust case starts with a strong attorney/client relationship. You are more than a case number to our firm. We treat our clients like family. We know the most important thing to your family is getting you back on your feet.
You focus on healing while we focus on:
- Collecting evidence and constructing a strong argument proving negligence
- Manage paperwork, deadlines, and communications with the insurance companies and opposing parties
- Evaluate your losses and fight for every penny owed to you
- Negotiating on your behalf
- Pursue legal action if necessary
Meet With Our Orlando Motorcycle Accident Legal Team
Your motorcycle accident may have been traumatic, but with legal help and support, your future may look brighter. Let our Orlando attorneys help you recover compensation for your damages.
Reach out to our Orlando motorcycle accident team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers to find out what your case could be worth. We can represent you on contingency, meaning our fees come from your settlement or verdict—not out of pocket. Call for your free, no-obligation consultation when you call our law firm today.
Call or text Chalik & Chalik (407) 420-9838
Florida Personal Injury Videos:
Florida Motorcycle Accidents Blog Posts:
College student suffers severe injuries in motorcycle accidentA junior at the University of Central Florida (UCF) suffered severe injuries in a Florida motorcycle accident on the State road 408 in Orlando. As reported in the Orlando Sentinel, Radley Gillis, age 21, was riding home from work on his bike. His friend, Jake Adler, age 20, was driving behind him in his truck...
Motorcycle and Alcohol Impairment FactsAccording to motorcycle accident statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2012, there were 2,030 people killed in single-vehicle motorcycle accidents. Forty-three percent of these motorcyclists were under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher at the time of the wreck. Twenty-seven percent of motorcyclists...
Is Spinal Surgery Necessary After a Motorcycle Crash?South Florida seems to have just the right weather for motorcyclists to ride all year long. Although riding motorcycles can be exhilarating and adventurous, it can also be quite dangerous, even with the great weather that Florida provides to riders. Because there are many motorists rushing about on Florida streets and highways, it makes for...
Florida Repealed Helmet Laws in 2000The Sun Sentinel recently released an article focusing on the fact that more motorcyclists are wearing helmets, but the numbers are not even close to the numbers of riders wearing helmets prior to the helmet law repeal over a decade ago. Due to crash statistics and the injuries that occur to unhelmeted riders, South Florida...
Florida Motorcycle Accidents FAQ:
Is it Illegal to Drive a Motorcycle Without a Helmet in Florida?The answer to this question is both yes and no. Florida law generally requires protective headgear for motorcycle riders, but the statutes include exceptions to the rule. Florida’s General Rule for Motorcycle Helmet Use Florida Statute § 316.211 prohibits people from driving or riding on a motorcycle without a motorcycle helmet. The headgear must meet...
Can You Receive Compensation For A Motorcycle Accident If You Weren’t Wearing A Helmet In Florida?In most cases, you can receive compensation for a motorcycle accident if you weren’t wearing a helmet in Florida. However, this may reduce your payout. Call us as soon as possible after your accident. We can fight for your best interests and pursue the maximum compensation available to you based on the facts of your...