Florida is a great place for motorcyclists – great ocean views, lots of trails to explore, no shortage of intriguing sights, and fantastic year-road riding weather. While there is much to attract motorcyclists, riding a motorcycle carries a high degree of risk. Without the added protection of the body of a car, crumple zones, and airbags, an unfortunate number of motorcycle crashes cause life-altering or life-threatening injuries. In 2021 alone, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle (FLHSMV) reported that there were 8,638 motorcycle collisions, and 593 of these accidents were fatal. The need for an experienced motorcycle accident attorney is a necessity for motorcyclists–especially in Florida.
Year after year, Florida is responsible for more motorcycle accidents than any other state in the country, and the number of motorcycle accident fatalities in Florida has steadily risen since 2019. To better protect yourself, it is important for you to know what to do before, during, and after motorcycle accidents in Florida. Below is some information from the personal injury lawyers at Robinson & Casey PLLC to help you prepare in case you are involved in a motorcycle wreck.
Before A Motorcycle Accident: Proof of Financial Responsibility & Insurance Coverage
Unlike every other state in the country, motorcyclists are not required to carry insurance in Florida, and your Florida personal injury protection (PIP) vehicle coverage does not automatically cover your motorcycle. Florida only requires riders to register their bikes with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and does not require proof of insurance as part of that process. The State of Florida only requires proof of financial responsibility after an accident. Since it is impossible to predict when you will be involved in a crash, it is prudent to obtain proof beforehand.
While it’s true that you are not legally required to buy a policy, it still makes sense to be insured. Proof of financial responsibility can be established by purchasing a motorcycle insurance policy. Additionally, you should also consider purchasing additional types of policies. Motorcycle insurance will only pay for your injuries and the damage to your motorcycle up to the policy limits. Purchasing a policy with higher bodily injury coverage is a good idea.
You should also consider purchasing life insurance to protect your loved ones in the event that you are killed in a motorcycle wreck. While many people are able to walk away from motorcycle accidents, others are not as fortunate. Having a life insurance policy in place might give you peace of mind that your loved ones will be financially protected in case the unthinkable happens.
Before A Motorcycle Accident: Preparing for the Worst
Before you ride, you should always take a few steps to reduce your chances of an accident. Make sure your tires have good tread and enough air. Check all of the lights and signals to make sure they are functioning properly. While not all riders in Florida are not required to wear helmets to operate a motorcycle, Fla. Stat. § 316.211(2)(b), you should always wear protective gear whenever you ride, including a DOT-certified helmet with eye protection, motorcycle gloves, motorcycle boots, a jacket, and sturdy pants. Store your insurance cards and a list of your emergency contacts where someone can easily find them if you are injured in a motorcycle wreck. Do not rely on your glove box as it might break apart in a wreck. Instead, consider taping your contact and insurance information to the shoulder pads of your motorcycle jacket and zip-tie copies to a frame rail of your motorcycle.
Make sure to follow all traffic laws when you ride. Pay attention to what the motorists around you are doing at all times, and look forward down the road to see whether anyone on a side street might be preparing to turn left onto the road so that you might have enough time to take defensive action to avoid a collision.
During A Motorcycle Accident: What to Do
Many people who have been involved in motorcycle accidents in Florida say that they knew that they were going to crash before they did. Slow the bike as much as possible with your brakes. If possible, try to pick the spot for the wreck to occur. If you know that you cannot avoid a collision, do not grasp onto the handlebars. Instead, let go of them so that you will not be crushed by your bike as you are going down. Try to remain low to the ground, tuck in your legs and arms, fall on your back, and attempt to roll. Do not reach out with your arms to try to brace yourself. If you do, you are much likelier to suffer fractures. Attempt to relax your body so that you might be able to minimize your injuries. Once you have come to a stop, count to five before you attempt to get up. This can give you a chance to regain your balance.
After A Motorcycle Accident: What to Do
After motorcycle accidents in Florida, there are several things that you should do. If you are alone, try to move to a safe location and call for help. If you are involved in a collision with another motorist, try to take photos of the motorist’s license plate number and the vehicle’s make and model. You should also photograph the damage to both your motorcycle and the other involved vehicle and important details from the accident scene, including tire marks, nearby speed limit signs or mile markers, the weather conditions, and the road conditions.
If anyone else saw your wreck, you should ask them to remain on the scene and tell the police what happened. Ask for their names and contact information so that your motorcycle accident attorney can contact them later. Ask for their full names, phone numbers, and addresses. After the police and first responders arrive, tell the officers what happened. Then, seek medical attention immediately. You might have injuries that may not show symptoms for days, and getting immediate medical help can help you to get a correct diagnosis of your injuries and help your long-term recovery.
After you have sought medical attention, write down as much as you can recall about your motorcycle collision as soon as you can. Write down anything you can remember about what might have contributed to the wreck, including debris in the road, inclement weather, anything the other motorist did, and other details.
The next thing you should do is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Robinson & Casey PLLC. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to represent you from the start might make a big difference in your case’s outcome. Then, call your insurance company to report your accident. Try to keep the information you provide to a minimum. If the company has questions, let them know that you have an attorney, and provide them with your lawyer’s information. Finally, avoid talking about your motorcycle collision on social media. If you post about what happened, the insurance company might use what you post to try to deny your claim.
Motorcycle Accident Attorney: Get Help from Robinson & Casey PLLC
If you or a loved one have been seriously or injured in motorcycle accidents in Florida, getting legal help as soon as possible might make a difference in the outcome of your accident claim. The experienced team of personal injury attorneys at Robinson & Casey PLLC has helped thousands of accident victims and might be able to handle communications with your insurance company so you can concentrate on your recovery. Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation so that you can learn more about your rights.
