Insurance laws and accident compensation in Florida are unique, and particularly when it comes to motorcycle accidents. Talk with a Fort Lauderdale, FL motorcycle accident attorney immediately after an accident so you can find out exactly what your options are and what the requirements are for getting compensation.
Understanding Your Options After a Fort Lauderdale, FL Motorcycle Accident
Florida’s No-Fault Laws
You may be aware that Florida has no-fault insurance rules for car accidents. These laws require car owners to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and, in most car accidents, each party’s own insurance covers them regardless of fault. What many do not understand is that motorcyclists are not part of this system.
No-fault insurance laws only apply to four-wheeled vehicles. If you’re in an accident as a motorcyclist, your own PIP won’t cover your costs, and you should seek damage damages from the other party if the other party was at fault. In fact, motorcyclist do not have to have any insurance at all in order to register their motorcycles.
However, not having insurance does not make you any less liable. If you are at fault in an accident, you will still be responsible for the medical bills and property damage of the other parties involved. All motorcycles are urged to get property damage liability coverage, bodily injury liability coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Fault in Florida
When motorists are involved in an accident where fault does become an issue, such as after a motorcycle accident or where a car accident causes especially enormous damage, Florida follows what’s known as a comparative fault rule.
This rule basically means that you can only recover damages if you are 50% or less at fault for the accident. In addition, your compensation will be reduced by the same percentage as your fault. Thus, if you were to be held 15% at fault for the extent of your injuries because you were not wearing a helmet, for example, you would only be able to collect 85% of your total damages and losses.
Talk to a Florida Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been in an accident, it’s very important that you get help as soon as possible. Both insurance companies and the general public tend to automatically blame motorcyclists whenever there is an accident. There’s a bias against motorcyclists that perceives them as reckless, and overcoming this bias is essential to getting the compensation you deserve.
An experienced lawyer will know how to investigate these accidents, marshal the evidence necessary to show who is really at fault, negotiate hard with insurance companies, and even bring a lawsuit on your behalf if necessary. Your lawyer will also protect you from signing any settlements that are not in your own best interests or doing anything else that could jeopardize your case.
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle wreck, we can help you. Reach out today to G. Reynolds Legal, PLLC in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, FL for a free consultation.
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