Boca Raton Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Thousands of people throughout America are injured or killed in motorcycle accidents every year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the State of Florida had over 400 motorcycle fatalities in 2010. Motorcyclists who are 21 and older are no longer required to wear a helmet, if they have $10,000 in medical insurance. Since the helmet law was repealed, there has been an increase in the number of motorcycle accident fatalities.
How Accidents Occur
The most common types of motorcycle accidents occur when:
• Collisions at Intersections—Motor vehicle drivers often fail to see motorcycles and they unknowingly cross their path.
• Bad Weather—Hazardous weather conditions can lead to poor visibility and motor vehicles may change lanes, cutting off the cyclist or causing a collision.
• Overtaking maneuvers—This often happens when cars are crossing traffic to make a right-hand turn and do not see the motorcycle.
• Motorists who fail to slow down when approaching a motorcycle and end up causing a collision.
• Illegal turns—Sometimes drivers make a left turn in cross traffic and end up colliding with the motorcycle because they didn’t see the cyclist or the motor vehicle made an illegal left turn.
• Road conditions—Poor road conditions, such as large potholes, can cause serious injury to a rider. It is the responsibility of the local government to make sure public roads are maintained in good condition.
Why You Need a Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney
Anyone who has been involved in a motorcycle accident should consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. The laws in each state limit the amount of time to file a claim. This is known as the statute of limitations and in Florida the victim has only four years from the date of injury in which to start legal action and only two years in a wrongful death claim. Most personal injury suits are settled long before a civil trial begins. Injured victims stand a much better chance of obtaining a fair settlement from the insurance company when they are represented by a personal injury attorney.