What To Do After A Motorcycle Accident.

In any accident, medical attention is the first concern. If you or a passenger are seriously injured, go to the ER. And even if you are not seriously injured, you should be examined by a doctor. Insurance companies can deny the medical claims of anyone involved in your accident that is not seen by a doctor within 14 days of the accident. Even if you seem to be ok, being examined by a doctor is important because injuries can take days to become apparent. The accident should also be reported by calling 911 as soon as possible.

When The Other Driver Tries To Blame You.

Motorcycle accident injuries are often very serious and can be life altering. In many cases they result in very large damage claims. As a result insurance companies sometimes try to shift some or all of the blame for the accident to the victim in an effort to reduce their liability. This is when the representation of our Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers is most valuable. We are very familiar with these tactics and Florida’s comparative negligence and no-fault insurance laws. We know how to protect our client’s rights when insurance companies attempt to employ these tactics.

About Florida’s Comparative Negligence Laws

Florida’s comparative negligence Statute 768.81 is a law that means more than one driver can be held responsible for an accident. For example, if you were speeding through an intersection and crashed into a car that turned in front of you across traffic, the defendant driver and their insurance company might try to argue that you were 30% responsible for the accident because you were speeding. And if a court agrees, your compensation could be reduced by 30%. If a court finds that you are more than 50% liable, you are not entitled to any compensation.

About Florida’s No-Fault Laws

The other Florida law that is a part of all motor vehicle accidents is Florida statute 627.7407. This statute covers Florida’s no-fault insurance laws. These laws require that anyone involved in a vehicle accident, (including motorcycles) must first seek compensation for their injuries from their own insurance company. Even if the at-fault driver has accepted full responsibility for the accident. But if your injuries and losses exceed your own insurance coverage limits, (many Floridians only carry the minimum personal injury protection coverage requirement in Florida of $10,000) you are then legally allowed to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, speak with our Jacksonville motorcycle accident attorneys. Our initial case review is free and if you ask us to represent you, there are no out of pocket costs to you. We only get paid if you get paid.

Our Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers are particularly skilled in identifying the true costs and losses resulting from a motorcycle accident. We explore the possibility of claiming all damages that you are allowed to claim under Florida law. the true damages and how they have and will affect your life. Our clients are often unaware of the damages they are allowed to claim. Below are a few of the key areas that we always consider when building accident cases and formulating proper claims for our clients.

• Pain and Suffering: Damages for pain and suffering can include the pain that you suffered as a result of your accident and any resulting medical conditions that will adversely affect you for the rest of your life. Also the emotional suffering, stress and mental anguish associated to your accident.
• Medical Care Costs: Victims of motorcycle accidents often suffer serious injuries that not only require extensive medical care initially, they can result in permanent disabilities and require long-term care and rehabilitation. And medical care costs can include the costs associated to transportation. You are entitled to claim all of these costs.
• Loses of Personal Property: You may claim all costs associated to replacing or repairing your motorcycle including anything that you were transporting with the motorcycle and any accessories or safety equipment you were wearing at the time of the accident.
• Income Loses: After a motorcycle accident, most victims miss work. Recovery times are sometimes just a few days but in many cases it takes weeks and months to fully recover to the point of being able to go back to work. And there is also the possibility that you will not be able to perform the physical tasks you were able to perform before your accident and lose income due to a change in jobs or your career. You are entitled to claim all income losses beginning the day after your accident and throughout the rest of your life.
• Punitive Damages: Punitive damages can be claimed by proving that the other driver was driving in an extremely reckless manner when they caused the accident.

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, contact our Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers. We are experts in identify your true damages. Our initial case review is free and there are no out of pocket costs for our representation. We get paid when you get paid!

How Long Does It Take To Receive Compensation?

The answer to this very common question depends many factors. Our Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers always work very hard to negotiate a fair settlement with the other driver’s insurance company as quickly as possible. We understand the importance of delivering the best possible outcomes as quickly as possible. And agreeing on a properly calculated settlement that includes all damages that our clients are entitled to is always the fastest way to receive proper compensation. When both parties agree to settle, necessary documents can be completed and compensation can be received in as little as 60 to 90 days.

When cases involve very serious injuries or very large claims, insurance companies will often do everything they can to try and complicate claims and delay settling in an effort to reduce their liability. These tactics can sometimes force our Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers to take the case to court.

Taking a case to court involves a number of steps that each party is allowed time to complete. And there are also many legal maneuvers that insurance companies can take in a lawsuit to slow down what is already a lengthy process. Even after a verdict, either party has up to nine weeks to file post-trial motions such as asking the judge to reconsider evidence presented before or during trial. Either party can also ask for a new trial or appeal the courts decision to a higher court. While taking a case to court is sometimes the only way to get our clients the compensation they are entitled to, it is also a drawn out process that can take years for the courts to render a final verdict and for our client to receive compensation for their damages.

Our goal with every case is to advise and represent each client based on the unique aspects of their case and the most effective actions to maximize their claims and recover compensation for all of their damages.

When to Accept a Settlement Check After a Motorcycle Accident.

Accepting or agreeing to a settlement amount of compensation for your damages after a motorcycle accident is a decision that should be taken very seriously. Most people have little if any knowledge of Florida’s laws, all of the types of compensation they are allowed to claim or how to calculate their claims. Before speaking with or agreeing to accept financial compensation or signing any agreements with an insurance company you should understand that the insurance company is acting in their own best interest, not yours.

In order to assure that you are properly compensated for all of your damages and to the fullest extent of the law, it is in your best interest to seek the guidance and representation of an experienced accident attorney who can help you evaluate all of your damages and formulate a claim that properly compensates you for your damages.

Our Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers represent accident victims every day. We are very familiar with Florida’s personal injury, motor vehicle and insurance laws. We will explain what damages you are allowed to claim as compensation for your accident and the widely accepted methods of calculating a claim. Being represented by an attorney also levels the field. We know how to negotiate with insurance companies and they know that we know how to prepare a legitimate claim. Contact McGRATH GIBSON LAW to assure that you are properly compensated for your damages.