Motorcycle Accidents

Riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience, but it is not without risk. Even if you drive as carefully as possible, you may still be involved in a collision. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to damages, and you should consult an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Pensacola motorcycle accident lawyer Ryan M. Cardoso is aware of the devastating impact that a motorcycle accident can have on all aspects of a victim’s life. He works diligently to help injured riders recover compensation from negligent parties. Recognizing that the same approach does not work for every car and motorcycle accident case, he can analyze the unique facts of your situation and devise a strategy for pursuing damages based on the circumstances surrounding your accident.

Thousands of motorcycle accidents occur in Florida each year, including more fatal accidents than in any other state. Distracted drivers who are not paying attention to the roadway in front of them frequently cause motorcycle accidents. Aggressive drivers and intoxicated drivers cause many motorcycle accidents as well. Less often, motorcycle accidents can be caused by negligent property owners, who allow foliage or signs on their property to obstruct the line of sight of drivers on adjacent roadways.

In some cases, a county or municipality may be liable for failing to construct or maintain a road or highway in a way that meets the safety needs of drivers. It may not be clear initially which person or entity was responsible for your accident. As a result, it is in your best interest to consult an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in Pensacola to assess the facts of your case and determine who should be held liable for your injuries and damages.

Most lawsuits arising out of motorcycle accidents are pursued on a theory of negligence. In Florida, a person is negligent if he or she fails to use reasonable care, which is defined as the care that a careful and reasonable person would use in a similar circumstance. To recover on the theory that another person or entity’s negligence caused your motorcycle accident, you must show that the other party failed to use reasonable care and that the failure caused the accident and your damages. Your Pensacola motorcycle accident attorney can conduct discovery to gather evidence to support your claim that another party’s negligence caused your accident. Police reports, eyewitness statements, and photographs or surveillance footage of the scene are useful tools that can help illustrate how a defendant’s breach of the standard of care caused the accident to occur.

Motorcycle accidents are often serious, resulting in property damage and severe and often permanent injuries. Under Florida law, while drivers of cars are required to purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, riders of motorcycles do not need to obtain PIP insurance and thus need to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver rather than their own insurance. As a result, if you were involved in a motorcycle accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover many types of damages.

First, you should be compensated for any property damage that you sustained. You should also be able to recover the cost of any past or anticipated medical treatment and the cost of traveling to and from your treatment appointments. If you were unable to work for a period of time following your accident, or the accident permanently impaired your ability to earn a living, you may be entitled to lost wages and damages for your loss of earning capacity. In addition to economic damages, you often can recover compensation for any pain and suffering caused by your accident.

If you sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident, it is important to retain a skilled personal injury attorney to assist you in seeking compensation from the negligent party. Attorney Ryan M. Cardoso is mindful of the fact that dealing with tort litigation can be overwhelming, and he can guide you through each step of the process. His office is located in Pensacola, and he represents injured riders in Pensacola, West Pensacola, Cantonment, Brent, Bellview, Ferry Pass, Century, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Navarre, Jay, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Niceville, as well as other areas of Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties. Contact him at (850) 466-2073 or via our online form to schedule a consultation.