Coral Gables Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorists and politicians do not look out for motorcycle riders or stand up for them. The Coral Gables motorcycle accident lawyer at Spencer Morgan Law can fill both these roles.
Many bikers who have gone down probably heard the tortfeasor (negligent driver) say something like “I never even saw you” or “You came out of nowhere.” These statements are basically admissions that the tortfeasor was not maintaining a proper lookout. Yes, motorcycles are hard to pick out among a sea of large SUVs and other vehicles. But difficulty does not excuse negligence.
Politicians could easily make the streets safer for motorcyclists by reducing speed limits, lengthening red lights, and taking other traffic calming measures. But quite frankly, very few politicians are willing to take risks for motorcyclists whom they often see as thugs. More on that below.
Coral Gables Motorcycle Accident Lawyers and Motorcycle Wreck Injuries
Seat belts and airbags have saved thousands of lives over the years. But motorcycles do not have seat belts or airbags. Instead, riders are completely exposed to danger. So, these victims often sustain catastrophic (life-threatening) injuries, such as:
- Internal Injuries: When riders fall off their bikes, their internal organs smash against each other. This friction causes small cuts and abrasions which, since these organs don’t have protective skin layers, bleed profusely. This bleeding is hard to detect and even harder to stop.
- Broken Bones: Broken legal may be the most common broken bones in these situations. Usually, the rider’s leg is caught between the bike and the vehicle. This dual impact shatters the bones, which surgeons must painstakingly reconstruct. Because these injuries are so serious, some permanent loss of motion is almost inevitable.
- Head Injuries: Since adrenaline masks pain, these injuries, like internal injuries, are very hard to diagnose and treat. Berry Oakley, the bass player for the Allman Brothers, sustained a head injury in a 1972 motorcycle crash. But since he “felt fine,” he declined medical treatment at the scene and got a ride home with a friend. He was dead a day later.
Oakley’s tragic story reinforces an important point. Only a doctor can tell how badly a victim is hurt, and only a Coral Gables motorcycle accident lawyer can determine how much compensation a victim may be entitled to.
As Oakley’s story also shows, these injuries are life ending. The motorcycle rider fatality rate is thirty times higher than the four-wheel vehicle occupant fatality rate.
Resolving a Case
Most personal injury cases settle out of court. To determine the settlement value, which is like the sticker price of a new car, attorneys consider the evidence in the case and possible defenses, along with a few other factors.
Usually, the evidence in a motorcycle accident claim is the police accident report, witness statements, and medical bills. Attorneys often supplement this evidence with electronic evidence, like surveillance camera footage.
Legal theories in the case include formal ones, like the basic elements of a negligence case, and informal ones, like the motorcycle prejudice defense. Sometimes, insurance company lawyers depict the victim as a reckless thug. This defense, if not handled properly, could significantly reduce the compensation in the case.
This compensation usually includes money for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.
Work With a Savvy Miami-Dade County Lawyer
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Coral Gables motorcycle accident lawyer, contact Spencer G. Morgan, Attorney at Law. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.