Injured in a motorcycle accident in Ft. Lauderdale? Here’s What You Should Do

According to the University of South Florida, the median hospital cost for a motorcycle injury is nearly $57,000 and less than half of those cases are covered by commercial insurance. In fact the only reason that there were any cases covered by insurance is because the riders had health and hospitalization policies from work or from a private plan.

In Florida there is no requirement for motorcyclists to carry Personal Injury Protection. In fact there is no requirement to carry any kind of insurance on a vehicle with fewer than four wheels. Too many bikers think the PIP on their auto insurance will cover them while they are driving their motorcycle. It doesn't. You are on the hook for the costs and your only recourse is to get payment from the other party (assuming they were at least 51% at fault).

You are about to enter an uphill fight and you are going to need professional help to level the playing field.

What To Do If Injured in a Motorcycle Accident in Fort Lauderdale

The extent of injuries will determine what the motorcyclist can do immediately after the accident. If physically able you should:

• Don't provide details to anyone except the police.
• Get medical attention.
• Select a qualified Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. Engaging an attorney as soon after the accident has two benefits. It takes you out of the process personally as your attorney will speak to the insurance company. It also lets the attorney to jump on the investigation while it is fresh and evidence is easier to collect.
• Call or have someone call 911 and request EMT and police. Do not "walk away" from this accident even if you don't feel hurt. Shock covers a lot of pain. You need an immediate exam.
• Get the name and insurance information from the other party.
• If your cell phone survived get pictures of the scene.
• Get cell phone numbers from witnesses.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle/auto accident and you are struggling with what to do next, give us a call today at Martin, Lister & Alvarez for a free case review.

Injured in an accident in Ft. Lauderdale? Here’s what to do

Injured in an accident in Ft. Lauderdale? Here’s what to do

Based on the years of experience that I and my colleagues at Martin, Lister & Alvarez have dealing with clients who have, or think they have, the makings for a personal injury lawsuit there are a number of things that you can do immediately after the accident that can be very helpful for your attorney.

Like all states, Florida has its own set of laws that address a person's right to seek compensation when they are injured as the result of the negligence of another. However, in recent years those laws have tended to favor the defendant (read insurance company) over the plaintiff making successfully pursuing a case like a slip and fall more difficult.

However, if you know what to do immediately after an accident you can provide your personal injury lawyer the information that she or he can use to put together a solid argument.

What to do if You are Injured in an Accident

Let's start with the exception and that's injuries caused by an auto accident. Florida is one of a handful of states that has no-fault auto insurance. Basically this means that you have to file a claim with your own insurance carrier to recover your medical expenses and lost wages. Negligence doesn't play a role in these cases unless:

• You lose a bodily function
• You or a passenger is killed
• You are permanently disabled
• You suffer extreme scarring or disfigurement

When those conditions exist you can pursue a personal liability suit. Otherwise you have to make a claim with your insurance company and you have to seek medical attention within 14 days of the accident or you could be denied coverage.

The key here is to get checked by a medical provider immediately even if you feel ok. Protect what little benefit that you have under your PIP car insurance coverage.

For all injuries, including automobile accidents, you should try to follow these suggestions:

• If you are in a store, report the accident to a responsible supervisor. Do not admit any fault. Obtain the name and position of the person you reported the incident to.
• Obtain the cell numbers of any witnesses.
• If the accident occurred outside, make sure you record the time and the weather conditions.
• Get an immediate medical evaluation even if you feel fine.
• Use your cell phone to capture pictures of the scene including the cause of the accident (wet floor, loose railing, etc.) any signage present and location of any security camera that may have recorded the accident.

When clients provide us with these basics we can get a head start on evaluating the case and assigning resources in preparation of your claim.