St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Are you or a family member struggling after a motorcycle accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? An experienced St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can help you obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. 

Since we were founded in 1955, we’ve committed our legal practice to fighting for accident victims like you. Our hard work has paid off for our clients–we’ve recovered more than $675 million in settlements and verdicts. Our attorneys are also listed in top legal directories such as Avvo, Justia, Findlaw, and more.

Contact our law office to schedule a free consultation today at (727) 591-3354.

How Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident

Most motorcycle accident victims don’t have the time or energy to deal with a legal battle. Even the insurance claims process can prove overwhelming. Our injury lawyers at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers can handle the legal burdens on your behalf and seek maximum compensation for your crash.

At Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers, our lawyers have over 300 years of combined experience handling insurance claims and lawsuits. We are the oldest personal injury firm in Tampa Bay. So, we know the tricks the insurance company will use to scare you into accepting a low settlement offer–and we’re prepared to help you fight back. 

Hiring our team means you’ll have a top-rated attorney to:

• Investigate to locate evidence to prove the cause of your accident
• Identify all responsible parties in your case
• Hire experts in medicine, accident reconstruction and other specialties
• Defend you when the insurance company blames you for causing the crash
• Negotiate to maximize your financial recovery

The insurance company has teams of defense lawyers on their side. You deserve an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney who will fight for your best interests. Our attorneys have been designated “Super Lawyers,” “Rising Stars,” and Tampa Bay Magazine “Top Lawyers.”

We will take your case seriously. Call today to learn more about how our lawyers can advocate for you and your family.

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in St. Petersburg?

Motorcycles account for only 3% of all registered motor vehicles in the U.S. Despite this, motorcycle riders account for 14% of all traffic fatalities nationwide.

Given our moderate weather, bikers have a year-round incentive to ride in Florida. Unfortunately, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the United States for motorcyclists. 

Over 8,000 motorcycle crashes were reported statewide in 2020. More than 500 motorcycle riders were killed. Four hundred motorcycle wrecks occurred in Pinellas County–and at least 18 people lost their lives. 

What Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?

No two motorcycle crashes are exactly the same. That can make it difficult to know how much your personal injury case is worth. Our lawyers are up to the challenge.

When you hire us, we’ll evaluate every factor that could influence the value of your claim before we agree to any insurance offer. Important factors include:

• The overall severity of your injuries, including your chances of recovery
• The cost of your past and future medical treatment
• Your out-of-pocket expenses, including lost income
• The injury’s impact on your work, family, and quality of life
• Your emotional and physical suffering

Our lawyers are here to help you fight for the maximum compensation available. For more details, give us a quick call today to schedule a free case review.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims?

You won’t automatically get damages after an accident. Your lawyer will have to identify the damages you’ve suffered, as well as their value.

Most motorcycle accident victims are entitled to economic damages and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages reimburse you for the money you’ve spent because of the accident. They also compensate for your anticipated future costs. 

Examples of economic damages include:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost wages and income
• Diminished future earning potential
• Physical therapy
• Rehabilitation 
• Medical equipment and medications
• Property damage

Your losses aren’t limited to financial expenses if you’re seriously hurt. You also deserve compensation for non-economic damages, including:

• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Diminished quality of life
• Physical disfigurement and scarring
• Chronic pain
• Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
• Loss of consortium

You could be entitled to punitive damages in rare cases, such as if a drunk driver caused the crash. Punitive damages don’t compensate for any specific loss. Instead, they punish the victim for intentional wrongdoing or gross negligence.

Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for a Motorcycle Accident?

Injured bikers are often treated unfairly when it comes time to file an insurance claim. Insurance companies are often biased against riders. They might try to pin the blame for the accident on the victim.

If you’re being blamed for a motorcycle accident, take the issue seriously. You could end up walking away with less money than you deserve. 

You should also understand that you can recover damages even if you did share some of the blame for the crash. Under Florida’s modified comparative fault rule, every party to an accident is responsible for their proportionate share of the damages. Even victims can be held partly responsible. Florida also has a 51% rule in place, so you cannot recover compensation if you were mostly to blame.

The insurance company’s accusations aren’t always correct. They often try to use the contributory fault laws to their advantage anyway. If you’re being blamed, call our attorneys for help today. We’ll do everything we can to fight for your right to full compensation.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcyclists are at high risk for injury in a car accident. Of course, wearing a helmet can reduce the chances of serious head injuries and death–but Florida law doesn’t require helmets for most riders over the age of 16.

Our attorneys can help you recover fair compensation for all of your injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Nerve damage
• Head and neck injuries
• Concussions
• Internal organ damage
• Broken bones
• Burns
• Degloving injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Traumatic amputations
• Paralysis
• Catastrophic injuries
• Wrongful death of a loved one

We know that you might be struggling through a painful recovery. Our St. Petersburg motorcycle accident attorneys would be happy to discuss your case in your home or the hospital. Just give us a call today.

What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents?

Distracted driving is probably the most common cause of motorcycle accidents in St. Petersburg. Drivers are often distracted by cell phones, GPS devices, and even vehicle passengers.

Other common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Failure to yield the right-of-way 
• Tailgating 
• Speeding
• Aggressive driving
• Unsafe passing
• Illegal lane changes
• Unsafe turns
• Failure to check blind spots for motorcycles
• Running a red light or stop sign
• Drunk driving
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Hazardous road conditions
• Vehicle defects
• Poor weather conditions

Motorcycle accidents can happen even when you’re careful. If you were hurt because of someone else’s negligent driving, our lawyers can help. 

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida? 

Careless drivers cause most motorcycle accidents. In other words, they happen because another driver was negligent. As the victim, you’ll be required to prove negligence to recover damages. 

Responsible parties can be financially liable for negligent behavior if you can prove:

• A legal duty of care existed
• The at-fault party breached the duty of care
• The breach caused the accident
• You suffered damages (injuries)

At Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers, we know that it can be tough to conduct an investigation into your accident from a hospital bed. We’re prepared to handle the details. Our first step is to preserve all available evidence about your accident. 

We’ll act quickly to locate and analyze:

• Police and accident reports
• Eyewitness statements
• Video surveillance footage
• Photos of the accident scene
• Toxicology reports 
• Phone records
• And more

When tangible evidence isn’t enough to prove what happened, we’ll hire accident reconstruction specialists for help. An expert’s analysis of road conditions, debris, marks on the road, and even the nature of your injuries can play an important role in establishing liability.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?

The Florida statute of limitations for most personal injury cases was recently changed. A two-year deadline will apply if your accident took place on 3/24/2023 or later, and a four-year deadline will instead apply if it took place prior to that date.

The consequences are serious if you wait too long to file a claim. You’ll lose your right to seek compensation after the time limit has passed. However, there are exceptions to these deadlines. Confirming the appropriate deadline for your case with a personal injury lawyer is strongly recommended.

Were you or a loved one injured in a motorcycle accident? You deserve an experienced St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer in your corner. 

Contact Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers at (727) 591-3354 today to learn more about how we’ll put 300 years of experience to work for you. Your initial consultation is free, so there’s no risk in asking for legal help.