Coral Springs Motorcycle Accidents

Knowledgeable Motor Vehicle Collision Attorneys Serving Coral Springs

Coral Springs is a great place for motorcycle enthusiasts. Warm temperatures and beautiful scenery beckon riders for a day exploring the Everglades, the coast, or nearby cities like Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Motorcycles also offer an affordable and environmentally friendly mode of transportation to work or to school, or to run errands around town. No matter the reason why a motorcycle rider sets out on the road, one thing is for sure: it is dangerous out there! Many drivers of larger vehicles do not give motorcycles the respect that they deserve, and serious accidents may result. Consulting a motorcycle accident lawyer may be vital in these situations. At Cohn & Smith, P.A., our Coral Springs motorcycle accident attorneys are here to serve people who have been hurt or lost loved ones in a crash.

When a motorist fails to act in a reasonably prudent manner, and a motorcycle rider is injured as a result, the rider has a legal right to seek compensation in a court of law. This type of lawsuit is known as a “negligence” case. The goal is to provide a victim with the monetary damages that they need to cope with their injuries.

Bringing a Personal Injury Claim

Proving a case of negligence in court is a multi-step process that begins with an inquiry into the duty of care that the defendant owed the plaintiff. For example, Florida statutory law requires motorists to keep a proper lookout for one another and to yield to people who have the right of way. As a practical matter, this might be interpreted in a particular case as requiring the driver of a car to look to their left and right before proceeding out of a supermarket parking lot and, if a motorcycle is nearby, wait for it to pass before pulling out into traffic. In deciding whether the second element of negligence – a breach of duty by the defendant – is present, the jury may take into account the testimony of witnesses who testify that the driver of the car was talking on a cell phone and did not look before pulling out directly into the motorcyclist’s path. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Coral Springs can collect evidence like witness testimony to prove a driver’s fault.

The third and fourth steps of a negligence case are causation and damages. The term “damages” means some type of injury or harm, which may be as obvious as a broken leg or a less visible injury, such as soft tissue damage to the victim’s neck. “Causation” refers to the link between what the defendant did (or did not do) and what happened to the plaintiff. In the example above, the driver’s failure to keep a proper lookout and yield the right of way to the motorcycle rider might be determined to be the proximate cause of the victim’s injuries in the crash. However, it is important to note that Florida follows the doctrine of comparative fault, under which the victim’s negligence may also be considered by the jury. Continuing with this example, if the motorcyclist was traveling well above the posted speed limit, the jury might take this into consideration and reduce their monetary recovery in proportion to the percentage of fault assigned to them.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in the Coral Springs Area

Medical expenses and lost wages often add up after a serious motorcycle accident. An experienced Coral Springs motorcycle accident lawyer can help you seek payment for these costs, as well as compensation for noneconomic losses like pain and suffering. The law firm of Cohn & Smith, P.A., handles motorcycle accident cases in many areas of South Florida. Call us at 954-431-8100 or contact us online to arrange for a free consultation with an injury lawyer regarding your accident. We also represent families who are bringing a wrongful death claim following the loss of a loved one in a tragic motorcycle crash.