Plantation, FL Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Fighting For Injured Bikers
Our attorneys help injured motorcyclists recover the compensation they deserve
Motorcycles can be seen on streets and highways in Plantation, Broward County, and throughout Florida every day. But for many drivers, motorcycles are a nuisance. One negligent driver can cause an accident that leaves a motorcyclist seriously injured. And recovering financial compensation can be a long and difficult road.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident because of another driver’s negligence, you don’t have to fight insurance companies on your own. The experienced Plantation motorcyclist accident lawyers at Feingold Posner Draizin know how to get results for injured bikers in Florida and are ready to fight for your rights.
Where do motorcycle accidents happen in South Florida?
A motorcycle crash can happen anywhere. But there are several roads in the Plantation and Broward County that see a lot of motorcycle accidents, including:
- U.S. Route 1 in Broward County
- I-595
- I-95
- Davie Boulevard
- University Drive and 595 West
- The Sawgrass Expressway
- Florida’s Turnpike
- Broward Boulevard
- Griffin Road
A motorcycle accident can leave you with painful injuries. Medical expenses can add up quickly, and you may not be able to work because of your injuries, leading to financial stress. If a negligent driver caused the accident that left you hurt, you deserve compensation.
Get an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side
The claims process following a motorcycle accident can be complicated. Negligent drivers often deny doing anything wrong. Insurance companies typically dispute your claim to try to find ways to pay you as little as possible. The entire process can become frustrating and confusing, just as you are trying to heal from your injuries.
Our attorneys can guide you through the legal process every step of the way. We’ll handle all communications with the insurance companies so you can focus on getting better. We know the games that insurance companies play to try to minimize your claim. We build strong cases that they have to take seriously.
“I was in an accident a few months ago, this law firm took care of me, made me feel important and made sure I was very well taken care of, Eric Feingold was the easiest attorney to talk too and answered every doubt I had and anything I needed at that moment, I completely refer him to anyone! Great service, thank you for everything. I will use you guys again and refer his services to my family and friends.” – Jennifer H.
Motorcycle Accident FAQ
Here are some common questions people have after being involved in a motorcycle crash:
- How do drivers cause motorcycle accidents?
- Why are motorcycle crashes more likely to cause serious injury?
- How much is my motorcycle accident claim worth?
- What if my loved one died in a motorcycle accident?
- The insurance company offered me a settlement. What do I do?
- What happens if the insurance company denies my claim?
- When should I hire a motorcycle accident attorney?
- What if I don’t have the money to hire a lawyer?
Types of motorcycle accidents
Driver negligence can lead to several types of motorcycle accidents. All can have serious consequences, depending on the severity and impact. Common types of crashes include:
- Left-turn accidents – These occur when a vehicle makes a left turn at an intersection without yielding to an oncoming motorcyclist who has the right of way.
- Rear-end motorcycle accidents – When drivers follow motorcycles too closely (tailgating) or are distracted, they may not have enough time to react when the motorcycle stops or slows down, leading to a rear-end collision.
- Sideswipe accidents – Unsafe lane changes, often without proper signaling or checking blind spots, can lead to sideswipe accidents where a vehicle collides with the side of a motorcycle. This type of accident can force a motorcyclist off the road or into other lanes of traffic.
- Dooring accidents – These happen when a driver opens their vehicle’s door without checking for approaching traffic, causing a motorcyclist to collide with the door. This often occurs in areas with parallel parking along busy streets.
- Intersection crashes – In addition to left-turn collisions, failure to yield at intersections—whether running stop signs, red lights, or not giving right of way on green—can lead to direct collisions with motorcycles crossing legally through intersections.
- Head-on collisions – These severe accidents can occur when a driver under the influence or driving aggressively crosses into oncoming traffic, hitting an approaching motorcyclist.
Motorcyclists can be left with devastating injuries
Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries due to the lack of protection that motorcyclists have. Common types of injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – TBIs can occur even if the rider is wearing a helmet. The impact of a crash can cause the brain to collide with the inside of the skull, leading to concussions, contusions, or more severe brain damage.
- Facial injuries – Riders who are not wearing full-face helmets may suffer facial fractures, lacerations, or dental injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries – Damage to the spinal cord can result in partial or complete paralysis, depending on the location and severity of the injury.
- Herniated discs – The impact from an accident can cause the discs in the spine to rupture or slip, leading to chronic pain and potential nerve damage.
- Broken bones – The impact of an accident can leave motorcyclists with fractures in the arms, legs, pelvis, neck, or back.
- Road rash – When a motorcyclist is thrown from the motorcycle and slides across the pavement, they can suffer severe abrasions.
Injured motorcyclists may need surgery, hospitalization, medication, physical therapy, and multiple follow-up appointments with doctors. Recovery can take months or even longer. In some cases, motorcyclists are left with a permanent disability.
We can help you fight back against the insurance company
Insurance companies often use different tactics to reduce the amount of compensation they have to pay out after a motorcycle accident. These strategies are designed to protect their bottom line and minimize the financial impact of claims. They may:
- Make a lowball settlement offer – Insurance adjusters may offer a quick settlement soon after the accident, hoping that you’ll just take the lower amount before you realize the full extent of your injuries and damages.
- Dispute liability – Insurers may argue that you were partially or fully at fault for the accident. Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence system, that means any compensation awarded to you would be reduced.
- Minimizing your injuries – Insurance companies may argue that your injuries are not as severe as claimed or that certain medical treatment was excessive or unnecessary. They might question the diagnosis, treatment plan, or the need for certain procedures.
- Argue your injuries were pre-existing – Adjusters may argue that you had a pre-existing condition that is the real cause of your current health issues, not the accident.
- Use recorded statements – Insurance adjusters may ask for a recorded statement soon after the accident. They may ask leading questions or try to get you to admit fault. Any inconsistencies in your account of the accident will be used against you.
Our attorneys know all their tactics and strategies. We all used to represent insurance companies in personal injury claims. We know how they approach claims and how far they are willing to go to pay you less. More importantly, we know what it takes to build a winning case that gives you the compensation you need and deserve.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our motorcycle accident attorneys
If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident in Plantation, Broward County, or anywhere in Florida, let’s talk about what happened. One of our attorneys will listen to your account of the accident. Then, we’ll discuss your legal options for recovering compensation and answer any questions you have about the process.
There’s no cost and no obligation. We just want you to have the information you need to move forward. Sometimes, knowing where you stand can help put your mind at ease. We can guide you through the process from start to finish. If you have questions or concerns along the way, you can contact your attorney directly. When you call us, you get us.
We work on a contingency fee basis. If we represent you, you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
How do drivers cause motorcycle accidents?
Many insurance companies just assume that the motorcyclist was at fault for the accident since they think that motorcyclists often take unnecessary risks. That is far from the truth. In fact, when cars and motorcyclists crash, it is usually the driver’s fault. Here are some of the ways that drivers can cause motorcycle accidents:
- Tailgating bikers and not giving them enough space
- Making an illegal left turn and cutting across the biker’s space
- Crashing into drivers when they are texting or otherwise distracted behind the wheel
- Not paying enough attention to see the motorcyclist in their blind spots
Examples of driver negligence include speeding, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and impaired driving. Injured motorcyclists and their families should always contact an attorney to discuss their case regardless of their impression of what happened.
Why are motorcycle crashes more likely to cause serious injury?
Motorcyclists have very little protection in a crash and have nothing whatsoever to absorb the shock of the collision from the car. They may be wearing safety equipment such as a helmet, but mostly, it is just them and their bike with nothing to protect them. Bikers can also fall from their bikes in the crash, and their body hits the pavement, often at high speed.
How much is my motorcycle accident claim worth?
There is no simple answer to that question. Your accident settlement will be entirely dependent on your own specific injuries and how much you have suffered, as well as other factors. If you get a large check in a motorcycle accident case, it usually means that you or a loved one suffered severe injuries. Motorcycle accidents can cause:
- Fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Road rash
- Internal injuries
- Wrongful death
Other factors that impact the amount of a settlement include the strength of the case and insurance policy limits. A motorcycle accident lawyer can give you a better idea of how much you can expect to recover in your case.
What if my loved one died in a motorcycle accident?
As in every state, Florida law allows family members to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible driver. If there is a surviving spouse, they can file this case. Children would also have the ability to join this lawsuit. The law establishes an order of precedence if the deceased did not have a will in place before the accident. A wrongful death lawsuit seeks to compensate the family for what they lost when their loved one passed away. This could include:
- The lost future earnings of the deceased
- Their own emotional trauma and grief
- Compensation for the loss of the deceased person’s presence and support
If your loved one did not die immediately, you might also be able to receive money for their losses between the time of the accident and their death.
The insurance company offered me a settlement. What do I do?
You should never try to deal with an insurance company on your own. They have better knowledge about claims than you, and this includes knowledge about what your case is worth. If the insurance company is offering you a quick settlement after the accident, you can probably include this under the heading “too good to be true.” They may only be offering a quick settlement because they know that you would get far more if your case went to court, and they want to protect their own exposure.
Always have an attorney review the settlement offer to see if it fairly pays you for your losses. When you accept the check, you literally sign away your legal rights. A settlement agreement would contain a release that does not allow you to recover any more for your injuries if you settled the case for too little. Always have a clear idea of how much you could recover before you agree to anything with the insurance company – talk to an experienced attorney.
What happens if the insurance company denies my claim?
Remember, you have rights, and you can always choose to take legal action. Some injured people have to file a lawsuit and start the litigation process. This does not end your efforts to settle your case. Sometimes, a lawsuit is another step in the settlement process because you expect to keep talking to the defendant during the case. Filing a lawsuit does not mean that your case is guaranteed to go to a jury. Most cases never reach a jury because they settle before the case reaches that stage.
Going to court will add time to your case, and there is a risk that the jury will issue a verdict for the defense. However, it may be an unavoidable step if the other side will not be reasonable during settlement negotiations as you will need to up the legal pressure on them. However, most claims end up being settled.
When should I hire a motorcycle accident attorney?
You or your family should begin speaking to a Plantation motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as you can after your crash. Motorcycle crashes often mean that someone has suffered a serious injury. This means you are in no condition to deal with the legal process, which could include gathering evidence and dealing with the insurance company.
In addition, Florida law gives you two years from the time of the injury to file a lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations and is a hard legal deadline. Ideally, you do not want to wait until close to this deadline to act. Not only could you lose the right to sue, but it will delay the check that you may badly need. The legal process takes time, and hiring an attorney could get it started quickly. You really cannot afford to delay your case.
What if I don’t have the money to hire a lawyer?
Don’t worry. You don’t need to have any money in your bank account to hire a lawyer after a motorcycle crash in Plantation. We will not ask you for a retainer fee or send you bills along the way at a per-hour rate.
As your attorneys, we receive payment only if you receive a settlement check or jury award. When we agree to represent you, we take the risk of not being paid for our time if you don’t receive money. If you get nothing, you owe us nothing. If you do receive money, a percentage of your recovery will go directly to your lawyer as compensation for our services per our contingency fee agreement. Money should never get in the way of hiring the legal help that you need for your case. Contact us today – we’re ready to help.