Florida Motorcycle Injury Lawyers
Most motorcyclists have heard a few motorcycle accident horror stories from well-meaning friends and loved ones. While most motorcycle accidents involve unsafe, irresponsible riders and drivers, it's true that the pleasures of riding go hand-in-hand with increased risks of death and serious injuries. Because motorcycles lack the protection of a car's steel frame, they will always leave their users more vulnerable than drivers involved in the same accident. And because half of all motorcycle accidents are caused by a car or truck driver, many motorcycle injuries can be traced directly to someone else's carelessness.
Unfortunately, a common motorcycle accident injury is the most severe injury of all: death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of all motorcycle accidents result in at least one death. If the accident was caused by another person, that death is legally considered a wrongful death -- a death caused by the carelessness or intentional act of another person. Even if drivers who cause wrongful deaths are not criminally prosecuted, they may still be held liable in civil court -- that is, they can be sued for the wrongful death. Drivers who fail to take enough care on the road to avoid accidents can and should be held responsible for their actions. While a motorcycle accident lawsuit cannot replace a loved one, it can help ease the terrible transition to life without him or her by covering funeral expenses, medical bills, lost earnings and other expenses and losses the accident caused.
When motorcyclists live, injuries range from mild to severe, lifelong disability. The most common motorcycle accident injuries are cuts, bruises and scrapes, but these are often just the beginning of the story. Studies from around the world show that the most common serious motorcycle injury is a broken bone, often multiple broken bones. A study by the United States government's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality shows that broken legs are more than twice as likely as broken arms. After these come head injuries, which were sustained by 12 percent of the patients in the study; these patients were more than ten times as likely to die as patients without head injuries. In another study from Tehran, where helmets are not required, spinal injuries took third place, after fractures and head injuries. All three types of injury can be devastating, taking months and tens of thousands of dollars to heal. Some neurological injuries never heal, leaving victims with permanent disabilities that significantly reduce their quality of life.
Motorcycle accident injuries are physically, emotionally and financially crippling. Even a minor injury can keep a rider out of work for weeks and cause a family to lose earnings just as it needs them the most -- for repairs, medical bills and other accident expenses. Major injuries require major medical intervention, with ongoing treatment that can cause bills to skyrocket at a time when you should be thinking only about getting better. And a wrongful death can change a family's lives in an instant. If you or someone you love is facing these issues after a motorcycle accident, the experienced Jacksonville Florida motorcycle accident injury attorneys at Farah and Farah can help. For a free consultation, call our Jacksonville office today.