Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Hollywood

Florida is home to a large population of motorcyclists. With its warm and sunny weather, Hollywood attracts riders of all ages and styles. Florida is ranked only behind California in its number of registered riders, with over 580,000 registered bikes in the state. But with this large number of motorcycles comes an ever-increasing number of accidents.

In 2019, there were over 5,150 motorcycle-related deaths in Florida, ranking it as the state with the most deaths related to motorcycles. Most of these accidents occurred during the day and under clear weather conditions. Alcohol played a role in more than a quarter of all accidents, and most of these accidents did not occur in intersections. ^[1]

If you were involved in an accident while riding a motorcycle, a Hollywood motorcycle accident injuries lawyer can help. We can help work with insurance companies to ensure that any settlement properly compensates you for your injuries. And a motorcycle attorney can help file a lawsuit on your behalf when they won’t settle. Call Schlacter Law today for a consultation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are several common situations that contribute to motorcycle accidents. Some of the most common motorcycle situations include:

• High traffic areas
• Weather and environmental conditions
• Speeding
• Alcohol
• Motorcycle size
• Inexperience and age
• Lane splitting
• Changing Lanes
• Sudden stops
• Left turns

Traffic conditions play a large role in motorcycle accidents. High traffic areas and congestion create unsafe conditions for riders. When the roads are full of vehicles it becomes much harder to see a motorcycle. And when a bike is difficult to see it makes it far too easy to get hit. More than 60% of motorbike accidents occur in urban neighbors as compared to rural ones.

Weather and the environment also greatly contribute to accidents. Rain, in particular, can make roads slick, allowing a bike’s tire to lose grip and traction. Other conditions include the lack of daylight or the sun shining directly in a rider’s eyes. More than 38% of accidents occur during dusk when the sun is setting, and glare can easily blind a rider.

The speed a rider operates their vehicle can contribute to an accident as well. Because motorcycles have a large power to weight ratio than cars, they are able to reach high speeds much faster and far more easily than other types of vehicles. When high speeds are combined with a lack of built-in safety features, it’s not surprising that speeding plays such a large role in bike accidents.

Sadly, alcohol plays a very large role in accidents. According to the NHTSA, 21% of riders and 21% of car drivers were impaired by alcohol when an accident occurred. ^[2] Alcohol can greatly impair a rider’s ability to operate a bike. From losing balance, to poorly judging speed and distances, any alcohol can create a seriously dangerous condition for a rider. Additionally, when other vehicle operators consume alcohol, they become a danger to anyone else sharing the road. And since bikers are poorly protected in an accident, severe motorcycle crash injuries can occur.

The size of a motorcycle plays a large role in accidents. The NHTSA found that 26% of accidents occurred with engine sizes between 1,001 and 1,500 cubic centimeters, and more than 20% of deaths occurred on bikes larger than 1,501 cubic centimeters. Larger bikes are more difficult to control and stop quickly, and larger displacement bikes can achieve much higher, and more dangerous speeds. Additionally, inexperienced riders who aren’t used to larger bikes can find it far too easy to lose control. ^[3]

When it comes to riders in Hollywood, inexperience and the age of the motorcyclists play a large role in crashes. Inexperienced riders and riders without proper training accounted for almost 30% of accidents. Additionally, riders with prior driving convictions were 1.3 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident. The age of a rider also plays a role in these types of accidents. Riders over the age of 40 accounted for over half of all bike fatalities. ^[4]

Lane splitting is a dangerous situation where a rider operates their vehicle between two different lanes of traffic. This often happens in slow or non-moving traffic jams and makes it far too easy for a car to hit a motorcyclist while changing lanes. Additionally, at higher speeds, lane splitting makes it far too easy for the rider to operate too closely to other vehicles and lose control. Florida has enacted a statute that makes it illegal for a bike operator to operate “between lanes of traffic or between adjacent lines or in rows of vehicles.” ^[5]

Changing lanes can be hazardous to a rider as well. Signaling turns are harder to see since cyclists have smaller lights and are generally less visible than larger vehicles. Just like other vehicles, cyclists are required to indicate a turn, and failing to do so can result in an accident. Florida requires “a signal of intention to turn right or left must be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.” ^[6]

Sudden stops contribute to accidents as well. When a vehicle stops quickly and a rider isn’t given enough time to stop it’s far too easy to ride into a vehicle. Additionally, with fewer safety protections, any quick stop can result in falling over. With much stronger brakes than cars, motorcycles have the ability to stop much quicker than other vehicles, but at the cost of less grip. And in cases where a motorcyclist is forced to stop quickly, other vehicles behind them may not be able to stop as quickly, plowing down any rider in their path.

Left turns are a common location for motorcycle accidents. Often, when a car is turning left, they fail to properly estimate the speed and distance they are from an oncoming motorcycle. Due to their small size and ability to accelerate quickly, other vehicles all too often assume a rider is further away then they anticipate. If the vehicle continues to make a left turn they end up in the path of the bike, causing a serious crash.

Following an accident, compensation might be needed to help pay for any injuries. Talk with a motorbike injury claims attorney today to see if you are able to file a claim or if you need help working with an insurance company. The Hollywood motorcycle accident lawyers at Schlacter Law can help.

Due to the lack of safety features, motorcyclists are prone to several different types of serious injuries. Common motorcycle accident injuries include:

• Broken bones and sprains
• Burns
• Cuts and lacerations
• Road rash
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Amputations
• Scarring

Often the impact of a bike accident results in broken bones and sprains. The weight of the bike falling on a leg or arm can easily break bones or cause serious injury to muscles and tendons. Cuts and lacerations are also common, as well as burns. Hot engines are exposed and can easily come in contact with a rider’s skin after falling over.

Road rash is the most common motorcycle injury. Road rash occurs when a rider falls off their bike and slides across the road before coming to a stop. Road rash happens when the rider’s skin is dragged across the road and results in small cuts from rocks, pebbles, and asphalt. Often riders who fail to wear the proper riding attire suffer the most from road rash. Jeans and t-shirts offer little protection to skin after falling over and it is always recommended that you wear leather or protective synthetic materials to protect your skin in a fall.

Brain injuries are all too common in Hollywood. Florida makes helmets optional in the state for any rider who is over 21 and can prove that they have proper insurance. Failing to wear a helmet can cause serious harm to the head in a fall. Low-speed crashes can also cause serious traumatic brain injuries when a helmet isn’t worn. Even when a rider is wearing a helmet, helmets often do not provide enough protection in a serious accident when the head impacts the ground with too much force.

When the force of a crash is sufficient enough, amputations are common. Legs and arms are more exposed on a motorcycle than in other vehicles, and when a bike collides with another vehicle or the ground, the force can be severe enough to cause irreparable damage. Even in cases where a limb can be saved, serious cuts or lacerations can create scarring that can last years, decades, or even the rest of the rider’s life.

With so many different types of injuries, motorcycles can be more dangerous than other vehicles. From amputations to head trauma, these injuries can often require significant amounts of medical care. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, talk with a Hollywood motorcycle accident lawyer today. We can help you get the compensation you need to pay for the costs associated with an injury.

How We Handle Cases

1. Investigation
   • Your attorney will aggressively investigate your case. Schlacter Law will compile all necessary evidence needed to maximize the value of your case. Which includes but is not limited to photographs, police reports, security camera footage, witness statements, medical bills and medical records.
   • You will remain in constant contact with Schlacter Law about the progression of your case.
2. Negotiation
   • Your attorney will present your case to the insurance company and will attempt to resolve your case before the case goes to court for maximum compensation.
   • Your attorney will make every effort possible to resolve the case as quickly as possible for the most amount of money you may be entitled to. You will be actively involved in the negotiation process with your attorney. Schlacter Law understands that this is your one opportunity to get justice for your loss.
3. Litigation
   • If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, Schlacter Law will be fully prepared to bring your case to court to fight for the justice you deserve.
   • At no cost to you, Schlacter Law will hire any experts and professionals needed to maximize your recovery and present your case in the strongest form possible.