Motorcycle Accidents
Attorney in Jupiter, FL
The Law Offices of Todd Cash Alofs, P.A. helps people throughout the state of Florida, including, but not limited to Palm Beach County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Broward County, Miami-Dade County and Monroe county, as well as out-of-state.
As with most states that have nice weather, Florida provides the perfect atmosphere and opportunity for motorcycle riding all year round. Unfortunately, even though motorcyclists are sharing our roadways throughout the state, crashes involving motorcycles are very common. This is usually caused by either a driver that does not understand how to operate his vehicle safely around motorcycles, or more often because the car or truck driver is either unaware or not paying enough attention to what is going on around them to see the rider. Either way, the motorcyclist is sure to come out on the losing end if involved in an accident with or caused by a motor vehicle driver.
Given the inherent risks involved in riding a motorcycle and the very real possibility of catastrophic injuries in the event of a motorcycle crash, it is important that an injured motorcyclists obtain the right legal representation immediately. That means retaining not only a seasoned Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, but also one that is an experienced motorcyclist as well.
Attorney Todd Cash Alofs has been an avid motorcyclist for most of his life. Mr. Alofs started riding through the hills of upstate New York as a teenager and throughout college, then on the Pacific Coast Highway in South California while in law school right up to the present day where he can often be found riding his Harley Davidson Fatboy on the streets and highways of South Florida.
To learn more about our services and how we can protect your rights,
contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Mr. Alofs.
UNDERSTANDING FLORIDA MOTORCYLCLE LAWS
In Florida, motorcyclist who bring a personal injury claim and whose negligent acts contributed to their own injuries may have their damages reduced proportionally. However, if they are found to be more negligent than the defendant, they cannot recover damages.
For instance, if a motorcyclist is speeding at the time of an accident, then they may still be entitled to recover damages for their injuries (even if they were negligently speeding). However, the amount of damages that are potentially available to them is likely to be reduced due to their own contribution of fault, and if they are found to be more negligent than the defendant, they cannot recover damages.
More simply put, if the court finds, for example, that due to the motorcyclist speeding he is 20 percent at-fault for their own injuries, then a $500,000 damage total could be reduced by 20% leaving the injured party with $400,000.00 instead of $500,000.00.
Motorcycle accidents that can give rise to a cause of action by the injured motorcyclist can happen in a variety of ways:
- IMPAIRED DRIVING ACCIDENTS
- HEAD-ON MOTORCYCLE COLLISIONS
- REAR-END ACCIDENTS
- HIT AND RUN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
- INTERSECTION ACCIDENTS (T-BONE, BROADSIDE)
- LEFT TURN COLLISIONS
- LIMITED VISIBILITY MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS
- RIGHT-OF-WAY VIOLATIONS
- UNSAFE LANE CHANGING ACCIDENTS
These motorcycle accidents expose riders to a risk of severe and sometimes even catastrophic injuries due to the way they are built. Motorcycles are light and lack full rider protection in the same way that a driver using a car is protected. For example, if a vehicle collides with you from the side, the impact force will be directly imposed on your body.
Though motorcyclists over the age of twenty-one with the required insurance are not required to wear helmets by law (it is recommended that motorcyclists also wear other protective gear), the direct exposure of one’s body can lead to injuries that include, but are not necessarily limited, to the following: brain injuries, spinal injuries, broken bones, road rash and more.
If you have sustained significant injuries in a motorcycle accident, your damages are likely to be quite high. Those who suffer harm that causes them to experience a range of career-impacting impairments, for example, may be entitled to damages that include pain and suffering, emotional distress, inconvenience, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, we at The Law Offices of Todd Cash Alofs, P.A. are here to help. Please call us at 561-743-7650 or email Mr. Alofs directly at Todd.Alofs@Alofslaw.com. Se habla Español