Pensacola Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Fighting For Motorcycle Accident Victims in the Panhandle

If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you should not have to worry about how you will pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. You should be able to focus on getting better. At the Law Office of Chris Crawford, we believe that no one should have to fight their own personal injury case. That is why we offer our personal injury representation on a contingency fee basis. If we take your case, you will not owe us anything unless we win. We also only get paid if we win, so you do not have to worry about paying us if we can't win.

Call us at (850) 220-2098 or contact us online to get started with our motorcycle accident attorney in Pensacola.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Understanding the common causes of these accidents is essential in building strong cases for our clients.

• Driver Negligence: This includes actions like distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When drivers fail to exercise reasonable care on the road, they risk serious harm to motorcyclists.
• Unsafe Road Conditions: Poor road conditions, like potholes, uneven surfaces, or debris, can pose significant hazards to motorcyclists. These conditions may lead to loss of control or accidents, especially at high speeds. Government entities or other parties may sometimes be held liable for failing to maintain safe roadways.
• Lane Splitting: Lane splitting, where motorcyclists ride between lanes of slow or stopped traffic, is a common practice, especially in congested areas. However, it can also increase the risk of accidents, particularly if drivers are unaware of the motorcyclist's presence or fail to give them enough space.
• Vehicle Blind Spots: Motorcycles are smaller and less visible than other vehicles, making them more prone to being overlooked in blind spots. When drivers fail to check their blind spots or signals properly before changing lanes or making turns, they may collide with a motorcyclist, causing serious injuries or fatalities.
• Inexperienced Riders: Inexperienced or improperly trained motorcycle riders are at a higher risk of being involved in accidents. Lack of riding skills, poor judgment, or failure to anticipate possible dangers on the road can contribute to collisions and injuries.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries because of the limited protection afforded to riders compared to occupants of enclosed vehicles.

• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): Head injuries are among the most serious consequences of motorcycle accidents. TBIs can range from concussions to severe brain damage, leading to long-term cognitive impairment, physical disabilities, and even death.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: The effect of a motorcycle accident can cause harm to the spinal cord, resulting in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries usually require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lifelong care, imposing significant financial and emotional burdens on victims and their families.
• Fractures and Orthopedic Injuries: Motorcycle riders are at a higher risk of suffering fractures and orthopedic injuries, such as broken bones, dislocations, and soft tissue damage. These injuries could require surgery, physical therapy, and prolonged recovery periods, impacting the victim's ability to work and enjoy daily activities.
• Road Rash and Abrasions: When a rider is thrown from their motorcycle during an accident, they may slide across the pavement, causing friction burns known as road rash. These injuries can range from small scrapes to deep lacerations requiring skin grafts and extensive wound care to prevent infection and scarring.
• Internal Organ Damage: The force of impact in a motorcycle accident can cause internal injuries, like internal bleeding, organ perforation, or damage to vital organs.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

After a motorcycle accident, it is important to follow the instructions of the emergency personnel who arrive on the scene. This will help ensure that you do not suffer any further injuries and that the injuries you do have are correctly documented.

In addition, you should immediately contact your motorcycle accident lawyer. You have only a limited amount of time to file a claim with the at-fault party's insurance company. A lawyer can help you submit the claim in the most effective way possible.

If you are hit by a truck or a car, you should also contact the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The IIHS will likely want to do a crash test to determine if the motorcycle's safety features were effective. The DMV will want to inspect the motorcycle to determine if it was legally registered and to check for any modifications that may have contributed to the accident.

Damages That Could Be Recovered in a Motorcycle Accident Claim

In a motorcycle accident lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In many cases, motorcycle accident lawsuits are brought against a manufacturer of a motorcycle's defective parts or design. If the motorcycle's design or parts caused or contributed to the accident, you may be able to sue the manufacturer for these damages.

To successfully sue a motorcycle manufacturer, you will need to prove that the motorcycle's design or parts:

• Were defective
• Were a substantial factor in causing or contributing to the crash
• Did not conform to applicable safety standards
• Did not reasonably conform to applicable safety standards

Manufacturers can include safety features on their motorcycles to help riders avoid accidents. These features can include:

• Anti-lock brakes
• Daytime headlights
• Helmet locks
• Helmet mirrors
• Loud exhaust pipes
• Safety training
• Side mirrors
• Turn signals

Helmet Lawsuits

Many states have enacted helmet laws that require motorcyclists to wear helmets when riding. If you were not wearing a helmet and were injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be able to sue the state or the government agency that manages the roads where the accident occurred. In some states, you can sue the manufacturer of the helmet if you were wearing one but were still injured. A helmet lawsuit can help you recover compensation for your injuries if you were wearing a helmet but were still hurt because of a helmet's design or manufacturing defects.

To successfully sue the manufacturer of your helmet, you will need to prove that the helmet's:

• Design was defective
• Design was a substantial factor in causing or contributing to the crash
• Design did not conform to applicable safety standards

In a helmet lawsuit against the manufacturer, you will need to prove that the helmet's design was defective and that it did not reasonably conform to applicable safety standards. You will also need to prove that the helmet's design was a substantial factor in causing or contributing to the accident.

Contact Our Pensacola Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, you should not have to worry about how you will pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. You should be able to focus on getting better. At the Law Office of Chris Crawford, we believe that no one should have to fight their own personal injury case. That is why we offer our personal injury representation on a contingency fee basis. If we take your case, you will not owe us anything unless we win. We also only get paid if we win, so you do not have to worry about paying us if we can't win.

Let us fight for you. Call the Law Office of Chris Crawford now!

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