West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Although motorcycles only represent three percent of all vehicles on the nation’s roadways, they represent 14 percent of all traffic fatalities. Not surprisingly, Florida has an unusually high number of registered motorcycles (over 600,000). Unfortunately, Florida also ranks near the top of the list for motorcycle fatality rates across the country. If you were injured or lost a family member in a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries or loss.

A West Palm Beach motorcycle accident can leave victims struggling financially while faced with costly and painful physical injuries and emotional trauma. For survivors who lost a family member in a fatal motorcycle accident, the loss is immeasurable. A West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyer at Demand the Limits can help when the negligence of another party contributed to the accident. Let us use our extensive experience, unwavering commitment, and vast resources to make sure the at-fault party (or parties) is held legally accountable, and you are justly compensated for all your injuries and suffering.

What Causes West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accidents?

West Palm Beach is a motorcycle enthusiast’s paradise. Situated along the Atlantic Ocean coastline, West Palm Beach offers year-round beautiful weather and endless miles of breathtaking views. The prevalence of motorcycles in South Florida, however, increases the already elevated risk of becoming involved in a motorcycle accident. In 2022, there were 402 motorcycle accidents in Palm Beach County, according to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (FHSMV). As a result, 27 people were killed and another 348 suffered injuries.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) tells us that per mile driven, a motorcyclist is almost 30 times more likely to be killed in a crash than the occupant of a passenger vehicle. A motorcycle accident can occur for many reasons; however, some frequent contributing factors include:

• Driver inexperience. Like most states, the State of Florida requires motorcyclists to complete a safety course and obtain a motorcycle endorsement to operate legally on a public roadway. Nevertheless, many riders are not properly licensed and do not have sufficient experience to ride safely. According to the NHTSA, 30 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes do not have a valid motorcycle license.
• Impaired driving. Motorcycles and alcohol are a potentially deadly mix. Figures published by the NHTSA indicate that motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes are the most likely of all vehicle types to be impaired by alcohol, with over 40 percent of motorcyclists killed in single-vehicle crashes being impaired at the time of the crash.
• Speed. Speed as a contributing factor is not unique to motorcycles; however, speed is a factor in one in three fatal motorcycle accidents.
• Hazardous road conditions. Skills are required to safely operate a motorcycle under the best of conditions. When hazardous road conditions exist, such as obstacles in the roadway or wet pavement, the likelihood of a life-threatening motorcycle accident increases dramatically.
• Unaware motorists. Despite a concerted campaign to warn other motorists of the presence of motorcycles on the roadways, failing to notice a motorcycle continues to be a contributing factor in a significant percentage of motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles.

How Does Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Law Affect My West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident?

Florida is a “no-fault” insurance state, meaning that most drivers are legally required to carry a minimum amount of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance coverage. No-fault insurance kicks in immediately when an insured is involved in an accident, without the need to prove negligence, and covers an insured’s medical bills and lost wages up to $10,000. Motorcycles, however, are excluded from the no-fault insurance law. Motorcycles are covered under traditional insurance requirements, meaning a motorcyclist must carry at least the state liability coverage minimum.

If a motorcyclist is injured in a collision, compensation for damages must be pursued through a traditional negligence-based lawsuit. This means that a motorcyclist must prove that the negligence of another party (or parties) caused or contributed to the accident. If the driver of an involved vehicle was distracted, speeding, or failed to yield, for instance, the driver’s negligence might be determined to be a contributing factor in the collision. The city, state, or federal government might even be found to have contributed to a motorcycle accident if the roadway was improperly constructed or maintained and that failure contributed to the accident.

Am I Entitled to Compensation for My West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident?

As the injured victim of a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident, you may be eligible for economic and non-economic damages from anyone found to have contributed to the collision. Economic damages are intended to compensate you for the objective, easily quantifiable injuries suffered because of a motorcycle accident such as:

• Doctor and hospital expenses.
• Rehabilitation, therapy, and other care costs.
• Lost wages and income.
• The cost of repairing your motorcycle.

Non-economic damages compensate you for the subjective, less easily quantifiable injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident, such as:

• Physical and emotional pain and suffering.
• Diminished quality of life.
• Mental anguish.
• Scarring and disfigurement.

If you are a surviving parent or child of someone who was killed in a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident, you may also be entitled to compensation in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit for things such as lost earnings, mental and emotional pain and suffering, and the loss of companionship.

What Is My West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?

If you suffered injuries in a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident, you likely want to know the value of your case. Because of the unique facts and circumstances involved in any personal injury lawsuit, the best way to get an idea of the value of your case is to consult with an experienced West Palm Beach motorcycle accident attorney. Factors that typically affect the value of a motorcycle accident case include:

• How serious your injuries are and how many injuries you suffered.
• Whether you share some of the responsibility for the accident or whether the defendant was entirely at fault.
• The strength of the evidence you have, particularly regarding your non-economic damages.
• The limits of the defendant’s insurance coverage and/or personal resources.

Get Help from an Experienced West Palm Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you suffered injuries or lost a family member in a West Palm Beach motorcycle accident, anyone whose negligence contributed to the accident should be held accountable. Moreover, you are entitled to compensation for the physical injuries, emotional trauma, or loss you experienced because of the crash. Having an experienced West Palm Beach motorcycle accident lawyer on your side is the key to:

• Helping you locate medical providers.
• Gathering evidence that is necessary to prove negligence.
• Conducting an independent investigation of the crash.
• Reaching a favorable settlement without needing to go to court.
• Fighting for you in court if an out-of-court settlement is not possible.

At Demand the Limits, our experienced West Palm Beach personal injury accident lawyers have extensive experience with motorcycle accident cases. We fight hard to defend the legal rights of all West Palm Beach injury victims. Call (561) 600-3555 or contact us online to schedule your free case evaluation. Don’t delay – the sooner you have an attorney fighting for you, the better protected your legal rights will be.