If you’ve been injured in a Lealman motorcycle accident in Lealman, FL, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. Contact Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your case with a Lealman motorcycle accident attorney.
Our team has over 300 years of combined experience. We have been fighting for Florida accident victims since 1955. In that time, we’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for victims.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident in Lealman, Florida, we can help. Contact our Lealman motorcycle accident lawyers today at (727) 349-1728 to schedule a free consultation.
Table of Contents
How Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Lealman
Lealman, FL, is a great place to ride motorcycles. The mild climate, easy access to coastal roads, and plentiful sunshine make it a popular spot for riders.
Unfortunately, this also means the area sees plenty of motorcycle accidents. Because motorcycles offer less protection than other vehicles, motorcycle crashes often result in catastrophic injuries.
These accidents can be life-changing, resulting in significant personal, professional, and financial hardships. If another party caused your accident, you could be entitled to compensation for some of your losses.
The Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes team can analyze your case and discuss your rights. We’ll fight hard to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Our Lealman motorcycle accident attorneys will:
- Investigate your case to determine who was at fault
- Gather evidence to show who was responsible
- Calculate your current and future damages
- Work with expert witnesses to gather evidence and support your case
- Negotiate with insurance companies and opposing counsel
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court
- Handle all administrative tasks and correspondence
- Comply with all deadlines
Contact our team to schedule a free consultation with a Lealman personal injury lawyer, and let us start fighting for you.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Florida?
Given the state’s climate and natural beauty, it’s unsurprising that Florida is the second most popular state to use a motorcycle. Because of this, motorcycle accidents are common in Florida.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety, there were 9,540 motorcycle crashes in 2023, resulting in 610 fatalities and 8,200 injuries. In Pinellas County alone, there were 420 crashes, resulting in 369 injuries and 20 fatalities.
What Damages Are Available After a Lealman Motorcycle Crash?
After a Lealman motorcycle crash, accident victims are entitled to recover damages to compensate them for all of their losses. The purpose of damages is to make victims “whole” after an accident.
With that in mind, victims are entitled to both economic damages and non-economic damages after a Florida accident. Economic damages reimburse victims for tangible losses after an accident. Non-economic damages compensate victims for less tangible losses after an accident.
Economic and non-economic damages available after a Florida accident include:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Decreased quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Scarring and disfigurement
In limited cases, accident victims are also entitled to punitive damages. Punitive damages are not meant to compensate victims but instead are used to punish the at-fault party and deter reckless and malicious behavior.
Punitive damages are only available if the responsible party engaged in “intentional misconduct or gross negligence.” Punitive damages are rarely awarded in personal injury cases in Florida.
Calculating and documenting damages can be complicated. An experienced personal injury lawyer can discuss the damages available to you and help gather the evidence necessary to support your case.
How Much Is My Lealman Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Unfortunately, it’s hard to estimate the value of personal injury cases without knowing the facts. The value of cases varies widely based on the facts of each case. As a result, average or median awards aren’t helpful.
To get a range for the value of your case, you need to discuss the specifics of your accident with a personal injury lawyer. However, certain factors can impact how much a case is worth.
For example:
- The severity of the injuries
- The type of the injuries – for example, whether they are long-term and cause permanent disabilities
- Whether you were partly at fault for the accident
- The terms and policies of applicable insurance policies
As a general rule, the more serious the injury, the more the case is worth. Accidents that have a major impact on your life are worth more than cases that don’t significantly impact your day-to-day life.
To get a range for the value of your case, contact a Lealman Motorcycle Accident lawyer.
Can I Recover After a Florida Motorcycle Accident if I’m Partly at Fault?
Florida follows a policy of modified comparative negligence. Under this approach, injured parties can recover damages as long as they’re not more than 50% at fault for the accident. As long as you are less than 51% at fault, you can recover, but your damages will be reduced by the percentage of your fault.
For example, if you are 20% at fault and receive a verdict of $100,000, you would be entitled to recover $80,000. In contrast, if you were 51% at fault, you would not be entitled to any recovery.
Comparative fault is often a central issue in motorcycle crashes. The other party will work hard to shift blame. You need somebody working hard for you, too. A personal injury attorney will investigate your case and gather evidence to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Common Injuries After Florida Motorcycle Crashes
While there are many different types of injuries after a motorcycle accident, there are a few that we frequently see.
Some of the most common injuries from Florida motorcycle crashes are:
- Head and neck injuries
- Brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Road rash
- Collapsed lung
- Wrongful death
If you’ve been injured in a Lealman motorcycle accident, contact our team to discuss your case.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Lealman?
Motorcycle accidents can be the fault of the rider or the fault of other drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians. In some accidents, poor road design or maintenance causes the accident.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Florida are:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving
- Reckless driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Running a red light
- Running a stop sign
- Poor road conditions
- Insufficient rider skill
If you’re not sure what caused your motorcycle accident or who was at fault, contact a local personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will investigate your case to determine who was responsible and gather evidence to support the case.
Contact Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
What Should I Do After a Lealman Motorcycle Accident?
What you do immediately after an accident can have a big impact on your long-term prognosis and the compensation you receive.
Because of this, it’s helpful to be prepared and know what to do – and what not to do – after an accident:
- Get medical treatment. Your priority after a crash is getting medical treatment for you and anyone else injured in the accident. If anyone needs immediate care, call 9-1-1. If your injuries are minor, you can visit an urgent care office when you leave the accident scene. It’s important to get medical care as soon as possible after an accident. This will lead to better medical outcomes and provide important documentation for your case.
- Report the accident to law enforcement. You should always report the accident and wait for the officer to arrive and complete an accident report. Even if there are no injuries, you should report the accident and wait for law enforcement to arrive.
- Exchange contact information with other drivers. Get the name, insurance information, and contact information of everyone involved in the accident.
- Gather evidence. Take pictures and videos of the accident scene. If you’re able to, document the scene as much as possible before it is cleared.
- Obtain witness information. Get the name and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
- Contact your insurance company. Regardless of whether you were at fault, you should contact your insurance company to notify them of the accident.
- Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better your outcome will be. Your lawyer can begin investigating the case immediately and gather key evidence to support your case.
In addition to working through these steps, it’s important to know what not to do after an accident. You should never apologize to other people in the accident, nor should you make statements of blame. Both types of statements can harm your personal injury case.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit After a Florida Motorcycle Accident?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Florida is two years. This means that victims have two years from the date of the accident to bring a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
If you fail to file a lawsuit within this period, the court will dismiss your case and you’ll have no right to recovery. A personal injury lawyer will help keep your case on track and ensure the statute of limitations does not expire.
Contact a Lealman Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Lealman, FL, motorcycle accident, a Lealman motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get compensation for your losses.
Call Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. You can also schedule online or visit our Lealman personal injury office.