Orlando Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident in Orlando, contact attorney Michael T. Gibson today at (407) 422-4529 or fill out one of our short contact forms. Our firm and our family are here for you.
The experienced Orlando motorcycle accident lawyers at Michael T. Gibson, P.A., Auto Justice Attorney understand how these accidents can impact your life, we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (407) 422-4529 to speak with one of our attorneys during your 100% free consultation.
Were you hurt in a motorcycle accident in Orlando, Florida? Many motorcycle crash victims suffer debilitating injuries that change their lives in an instant, sometimes permanently. To make matters worse, treatment for crash injuries is expensive, and many victims are too hurt to work after a crash. If you find yourself in this position, you should know that a motorcycle accident claim against the at-fault party could compensate you for the harm you suffered.
At Michael T. Gibson, P.A., representing injured Floridians is all we do. Our Orlando Motorcycle Accident Lawyer team has recovered substantial sums for motorcycle crash victims in Florida, and we’re here to help you pursue the accountability and financial stability you deserve. Give us a call now or fill out our online contact form to learn more about your legal options in a free initial case review.
Why Hire Our Orlando Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Michael T. Gibson, P.A.?
Here are just a few of the factors that set our firm apart:
- Real-world experience and results. Michael T. Gibson, P.A., and his auto accident litigation team have recovered millions of dollars in compensation for deserving clients like you. In fact, we secured $275,000 for a local college student who sustained critical injuries in a motorcycle accident and $100,000 for a motorcycle accident victim who needed back surgery.
- Commitment to personalized service. From the moment you come to us for help, you’ll realize we don’t take a cookie-cutter approach to our work. We will get to know you personally to provide the support you need and effective legal strategies that align with your goals.
- Consistent communication and availability. Our experienced team is available 24/7/365 to listen to your concerns and answer your questions in English or Spanish. We also provide regular updates so you always know the status of your case.
- Convenient Orlando office and flexible meeting options. When you’re ready to meet with us, you can come to our office in northeast Orlando, right near Baldwin Park, for an in-person consultation. From Baldwin Park to Downtown Orlando and areas near you, we know the local roads, laws, and courts, giving us a strategic edge. We can also meet virtually or speak with you by phone at your leisure.
No matter how difficult or complex your Orlando motorcycle accident case is, the legal team at Michael T. Gibson, P.A., wants to help. Contact our firm now to discuss the details of your situation with us in a free case review.
Compensation for Orlando Motorcycle Accident Cases
You can recover three key types of damages (compensation) in an Orlando motorcycle accident case: economic, non-economic, and punitive.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate you for the financial hm you suffered as a result of the crash, such as:
- The costs of ambulance rides or other emergency services
- Bills from hospital stays and doctor’s office visits
- Diagnostic, prescription, and medical equipment expenses
- The costs of traveling to and from medical appointments
- The costs of home modifications or in-home healthcare
- The value of lost wages from missed time at work
- Projected losses in your lifetime earning capacity
- The costs of repairing or replacing your motorcycle
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages cover the real but subjective harm you suffered—the things that are harder to put a dollar value on.
They can include:
- The physical pain and suffering you endure because of your injuries
- Emotional distress and mental anguish you experience due to the crash
- Losses in your overall quality or enjoyment of life since the accident
- Loss of companionship or consortium for affected spouses
Collectively, economic and non-economic damages account for your compensatory damages—the damages that compensate you for the harm you have suffered.
Punitive Damages
The third type of possible compensation, punitive damages, only rarely comes into play. Courts order at-fault parties to pay punitive damages to victims as a form of financial punishment, mainly to discourage similar behavior in the future. This type of compensation is only available in lawsuits when a court determines the at-fault party behaved with extreme recklessness or intentional malice. Also, Florida law imposes a punitive damages cap of $500,000 or three times the value of your compensatory damages.
Remember that in a motorcycle accident claim, you must provide substantial evidence of your losses to claim compensation for them. An Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer can help you identify and gather compelling evidence to support an injury claim that adequately covers your losses.
What Are The Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Orlando?
Every motorcycle crash is different, but many occur due to driver negligence. When drivers are inattentive, impaired, or careless behind the wheel, they cause these motorcycle accidents:
- Head-on collisions – Often fatal, these occur when oncoming vehicles strike motorcyclists.
- Sideswipe crashes – Caused by drivers not checking blind spots.
- T-bone accidents – Occur at intersections when drivers fail to yield.
- Read-end collisions – Common in high-traffic areas like I-4.
- Angle-impact crashes – happen when a motorcycle is hit at an angle, often due to drivers failing to yield at intersections.
- Rollover accidents – occur when a motorcycle flips or overturns, often resulting in severe injuries.
- Multi-car pile-ups – Chain reactions on busy highways often involve motorcyclists.
- Dooring accidents – Usually happen in Orlando downtown areas when drivers open car doors without looking.
- Ejection accidents – Happen when a rider is thrown from their motorcycle during a crash, often resulting in severe injuries.
The Most Common Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are vulnerable to serious injury in traffic collisions, especially when they lack helmets and other protective gear.
Common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Facial and dental injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Abdominal and internal injuries
- Arm, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries
- Dislocated or broken bones
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Amputation and loss of limb
- Bruises, lacerations, and puncture wounds
- Soft tissue strains, sprains, and tears
- Leg, knee, ankle, and foot injuries
- Road rash and other burn injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Orlando Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Floridians love their motorcycles. In one recent year, there were more than 645,000 registered motorcycles throughout the Sunshine State, significantly more than any other state besides California. Florida is also home to the annual Daytona Bike Week, one of the world’s largest motorcycle rallies and going strong for over 80 years.
Unfortunately, Florida also has the dubious distinction of having the most motorcycle accident fatalities in the nation, even more than California, which has nearly twice its population.
Here are some more shocking motorcycle accident statistics in Florida:
- An average of 8,694 motorcycle accidents happened every year in Florida in a recent three-year span. In Orlando, we see a significant number of motorcycle accidents annually, particularly in high-traffic areas like Colonial Drive and I-4.
- During that same period, an average of 544 people died as a result of Florida motorcycle accidents per year, 515 of whom were motorcyclists.
- Roughly 30 Florida motorcycle passengers died each year during that time.
- During a recent three-year period, Florida motorcycle accidents resulted in an average of 2,027 incapacitating injuries and 5,469 other injuries per year.
- In one recent year, 244 motorcyclists without DOT-compliant helmets died in Florida traffic accidents, accounting for more than 47 percent of all motorcycle accident fatalities that year.
Motorcycle accidents are clearly a problem in the Sunshine State, and Florida legislators have enacted certain laws to reduce the number of these preventable tragedies.
Motorcycle Accident Laws in Florida Explained
Here are some important laws you should know that apply to motorcyclists and motorcycle accidents in Orlando:
- Motorcycle helmet requirements. Florida law requires motorcyclists to wear protective helmets while riding or carry $10,000 in medical insurance.
- Requirements for motorcyclists under 21. Florida motorcyclists under 21 must wear helmets, regardless of insurance coverage, and display easily-identifiable license plates indicating that they are under 21.
- Motorcycle insurance rules and restrictions. Florida’s no-fault insurance laws do not apply to motorcycles, so motorcyclists who get hurt in crashes cannot rely on personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as other drivers can. To obtain compensation for motorcycle accident injuries, motorcyclists must typically file liability insurance claims against at-fault drivers or their own medical payments (MedPay) or other relevant insurance policies.
- Florida’s statute of limitations law. Florida’s statutory time limit for personal injury claims is four years, meaning you have four years from the date of a motorcycle accident to file a claim against another party.
At Michael T. Gibson, P.A., we are proud to stand up for the rights of motorcycle accident victims in Florida. Our team can review your case, determine its potential value, and explain which laws might apply when you contact the firm for a free initial consultation.
What to Do When You Get Hurt in a Motorcycle Wreck in Orlando
If you got hurt in an Orlando motorcycle accident, attending to your injuries should be your primary concern.
Once your condition is stable, you can take the following steps to get started on your motorcycle accident claim:
- Follow your doctor’s care plan and attend all follow-up appointments
- Record your recovery journey in a “pain journal” for future reference
- Gather evidence from the crash, such as photos and witness names or statements
- Hang on to important documents, like medical bills and proof of lost income
- Watch what you say to others or post online before you speak to a lawyer
- Contact a local motorcycle accident attorney for guidance and answers