North Tampa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Overall, motorcycle riders are about thirty times more likely to die in a vehicle collision than people inside four-wheel vehicles. Even if these victims survive, they must normally deal with serious or permanent injuries, such as head injuries and nerve damage. These injuries don’t just cause physical pain. They also cause emotional and financial pain which, in many cases, could be even worse.
The compassionate North Tampa motorcycle accident lawyers at the Rinaldo Law Group understand what these crash victims are going through. Many people on our professional team are motorcycle accident survivors themselves. So, we work extra hard to obtain fair compensation for serious injuries in these situations. This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
What Causes Motorcycle Wrecks?
Driver inattention causes most motorcycle wrecks. Most drivers simply are not looking out for motorcyclists. The inattention could be caused by driver impairment or a simple failure to look.
Many people know that they are seriously impaired, yet they get behind the wheel anyway and place other people at risk. Some common types of impairment include:
- Drugs/Alcohol: In many jurisdictions, drug/alcohol impairment causes about half the motorcycle wrecks. These substances slow motor skills, thus decreasing reaction time. Furthermore, alcohol and drugs give people an artificial sense of well-being, so they often take additional risks when driving.
- Fatigue: Drowsiness and alcohol have roughly the same effect on the body and brain. As a matter of fact, driving after eighteen consecutive awake hours is like driving with a .05 BAC level.
- Distraction: Hand-held cell phones get much of the attention in this area. These gadgets combine all three forms of distracted driving. Users take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, and their minds off driving. Other forms of distracted driving, which are almost as dangerous, include using a hands-free cell phone while driving.
Other motorists are physically and mentally fit to drive. But they simply don’t watch the road closely enough to spot small motorcycles amidst a sea of pickups, SUVs, and other large vehicles.
Many riders wear bright clothes and take other steps to increase their visibility. But there’s no evidence that these shortcuts are effective.
Your Claim for Damages
If liability is reasonably clear, the insurance company usually has a duty to quickly and fairly settle the claim. However, there is usually some liability dispute. Common insurance company defenses include comparative fault and assumption of the risk. Comparative fault shifts blame for the accident to the victim. Assumption of the risk is basically the failure to wear a motorcycle helmet.
So, attorneys must normally file legal claims. This move pressures the insurance company to settle and also protects the victim’s legal rights.
Eventually, most injury claims settle out of court. A lawyer must not settle a case too quickly. As a general rule, it’s a bad idea to take the first offer. Additionally, an early settlement might not fully account for all future medical costs. As a result, the victim could be financially responsible for these expenses.
Many claims settle during mediation. The judge usually appoints a third party mediator to work with both sides. This method is usually successful, if both parties negotiate in good faith.
Contact a Hard-Hitting Hillsborough County Lawyer
Injury victims deserve fair compensation for their serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced North Tampa motorcycle accident attorney, contact the Rinaldo Law Group. You have a limited amount of time to act.
