I’ve Been Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident in Jacksonville, FL – Do I Need a Lawyer?
You should consider talking to an injury lawyer after you get hurt in any type of accident. Most injury lawyers offer free consultations, and talking to a lawyer will help you understand your options for pursuing compensation.
You should always talk to a lawyer after a motorcycle accident in Florida. Why? Motorcycles do not fall under Florida’s no-fault insurance system. This means that you will need to pursue drivers and their insurers to get any injury compensation after a motorcycle accident.
Here are some reasons you might need a lawyer after getting hurt in a Jacksonville, FL motorcycle accident.
Florida’s No-Fault Insurance System
When you register a car in Florida, you must buy auto insurance. Your policy must include $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP). After a car accident in Florida, you will receive compensation from your insurer under your PIP coverage.
But motorcycle owners have different requirements. You do not have to buy PIP or bodily injury liability insurance (BLI). However, you must show proof of financial responsibility should you be involved in an accident.
Most riders either buy an insurance policy with bodily injury liability (BIL) or get a certificate of self-insurance from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to satisfy this requirement. However, BIL coverage only pays someone else for injuries and damages you cause in an accident. BIL coverage does not pay for your injuries.
Getting Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident
Since you cannot get injury benefits from your insurer, you need to look elsewhere for compensation. Without other sources of compensation, you will bear responsibility for your damages, including medical bills and lost wages.
If your motorcycle accident was caused by another driver, you will need to deal with the driver’s insurer to recover any compensation. As a result, you should consider hiring a lawyer.
Injury lawyers deal with insurers daily. They understand insurance policies and how to manage a claim to increase the chances of settling the case.
Injury lawyers can also file a lawsuit against negligent drivers. If you cannot settle your case, you may need to sue the at-fault driver for injury compensation.
Situations When You May Need a Lawyer
You always have the right to represent yourself. But you should consider hiring a lawyer in some specific situations, including:
The Driver Was Uninsured
Over 20% of Florida drivers have no auto insurance. This makes Florida the sixth-worst state for uninsured motorists. If the driver who hit you has no BIL coverage, you must file a lawsuit to recover injury compensation.
Your Claim Was Reduced or Denied
Insurance companies try to make the claim process as complicated as possible. If the insurer can bully you into dropping your claim, the insurer saves tens of thousands of dollars.
Insurance companies rely on complicated rules and procedures when adjusting claims. If an insurer denies or reduces your claim, a lawyer can provide evidence to overcome the insurer’s objections and settle the claim.
The Insurer or Driver Blame You for the Accident
Florida uses pure comparative negligence rules to allocate fault in accidents with multiple blameworthy parties. A claims adjuster can reduce your damages if you bear some of the blame for your accident.
For example, the insurer could allocate 20% of the fault for an accident to you if you were speeding when the car hit you. Having done this, the insurer only needs to pay 80% of your damages.
A lawyer can challenge an allocation of fault. If your lawyer cannot negotiate a fair allocation of fault with the insurer, the lawyer can file a lawsuit. At trial, a judge or jury can allocate fault based on the evidence presented.
The Role of the Lawyer After a Motorcycle Accident
A lawyer begins a motorcycle accident case by analyzing the facts and developing a legal strategy. The lawyer then gathers the evidence to support the theory of the case. Lawyers use private investigators and expert witnesses to get the evidence they need.
They use this evidence to document an insurance claim or lawsuit. The goal is to create a solid case that pushes the other party into a fair settlement based on your motorcycle injuries. Contact a lawyer today for help with your claim after a motorcycle accident.
Contact the Jacksonville Motorcycle Accident Law Firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra motorcycle accident law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Duval County, St, Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256, United States
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W. Forsyth St. #170
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167