Were you recently injured in a motorcycle accident in St. Petersburg, FL? If the accident was someone else’s fault, our team at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can help.
An experienced St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and personal suffering.
Our attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury law. Since we opened our doors in 2005, we’ve helped injury victims recover over $250 million in settlements and verdicts.
To learn how we can put our record of success to work in your case, call our law offices in St. Petersburg, Florida to schedule a free consultation today with a St. Petersburg motorcycle accident attorney at (772) 569-8155.
How Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in St. Petersburg
You may already be on the road to recovery. You may also be adjusting to permanent or long-term injuries. You may even be grieving the tragic loss of a loved one. Regardless, you’re probably struggling with sky-high medical bills and lost income.
An experienced St. Petersburg personal injury attorney at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group can help you fight to hold the at-fault party accountable in St. Petersburg, FL.
Hiring our law firm means you’ll have an advocate to:
- Determine the cause of your accident
- Identify the parties who are legally responsible for your damages
- Handle all paperwork and communications with the insurance company
- Calculate your case value
- Reject lowball settlements and negotiate for a full settlement
- Take your case to trial if the insurer refuses to play fair
You only have one chance to fight for the full compensation you deserve. Contact our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers today to learn more about our skills and how we can help.
Statistics on Motorcycle Accidents in Florida
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) reported 9,540 motorcycle wrecks in 2023. 620 motorcyclists were killed in those wrecks. 24 riders were killed in Pinellas County.
Another 6,221 motorcycle wrecks were reported in the first eight months of 2024. 375 motorcyclists lost their lives in those crashes. 15 of those fatal accidents occurred in Pinellas County.
The FLHSMV also publishes annual reports on motorcyclists’ injuries. The most recent report is from 2022. In 2022, 7,295 motorcyclists were injured in traffic accidents across the state of Florida. 1,845 of those injuries were serious enough to be classified as “incapacitating”.
What Is My St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
Unfortunately, motorcyclists often suffer the most serious injuries in a crash. That means higher settlements and verdicts. It also means you’re in for a tough insurance fight.
The following factors tend to be most important when our lawyers are assessing your case value:
- How severe are your injuries?
- Will you recover fully or suffer a long-term or permanent disability?
- What are your medical treatment costs to date?
- Will you require ongoing medical care and rehabilitation, and how much will it cost?
- How has your life changed due to the accident and injury?
- How much income have you lost during recovery?
- Will a long-term disability impact your future earnings?
- How have you suffered because of the crash, including physical pain and mental trauma?
- Do you share any fault for the accident?
Insurance companies have all kinds of tricks up their sleeves. When negotiating, they’ll search for loopholes that can diminish your case value. Our accident attorneys in St. Petersburg know these tricks all too well.
When you hire us, you’ll have an experienced team in your corner to assess your damages, determine their value, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
What Kinds of Compensatory Damages Are Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims in St. Petersburg?
Under Florida personal injury laws, damages are divided into two primary categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are awarded to cover your financial losses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Lost wages during recovery
- Lost earning potential
- In-home assistance
- Vehicle repairs
- Property damage
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Out-of-pocket expenses
Non-economic damages are the types of losses that will impact your quality of life.
While these damages are highly personal, examples include:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and trauma
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of the ability to enjoy life
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium and other damages for wrongful death
Punitive damages are rare. Under Florida law, punitive damages are only available when the defendant’s conduct is so shocking that they deserve punishment. For example, if a drunk driver caused your crash, our lawyers in St. Petersburg will pursue punitive damages as punishment.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle My Motorcycle Accident Claim?
The cost of treating a serious injury can be shocking. Because we don’t think you should have to worry about legal bills on top of everything else, we work on a contingency fee basis.
That means our fees are entirely contingent on the amount of money we recover for you. Once your case is finalized, we take a percentage of your settlement or verdict.
What Happens to My Right to Recover Damages if I’m Blamed for a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
Insurance companies love to blame motorcyclists for causing car accidents. While it’s unfair, motorcyclists are often considered reckless. You don’t have to accept these allegations lying down. Our lawyers know how to fight back.
Here’s what can happen if the insurance company manages to pin the blame on you. Under Florida law, you lose your right to damages once your share of fault exceeds 50%. Share less blame, and your compensation is reduced by that percentage.
Our Legal Team in St. Petersburg Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Wearing a helmet can help, but it can’t protect you from all types of injuries in a crash. When other drivers are careless, motorcycle riders are extremely vulnerable to serious injuries.
Our lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group handle all types of motorcycle injury claims, including those involving:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Road rash
- Amputations and loss of limbs
- Crushing injuries
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Head and neck injuries
- Whiplash injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident, contact our St. Petersburg motorcycle accident attorneys today. We’ll put the full weight of our experience to work as we fight for the money you deserve.
What Are the Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in St. Petersburg, FL?
Motorcycle riders in Florida may be required to obtain a special endorsement on their license. Still, even when you’re experienced and careful, you can’t control the actions of other drivers. As the victim, you deserve to understand why you were injured.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right-of-way to motorcyclists
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Failure to leave enough space when passing a motorcycle
- Weaving between lanes
- Dangerous left-hand turns and illegal U-turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Hazardous road conditions
If someone else caused your crash, we’ll help you determine the cause and identify all sources of compensation.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
Most personal injury cases involve negligence theories.
Legally speaking, you’ll have to prove four elements to win a case based on negligence:
- The defendant had a legal duty of care
- They breached their duty through some act or omission
- That breach was the direct and proximate cause of your accident
- You suffered specific damages as a result
Many different types of evidence can help you win your motorcycle accident case. You can count on our lawyers and investigators to locate and evaluate every shred of evidence.
That includes:
- Police and accident reports
- Witness statements
- Video footage from dash cams, traffic lights, businesses, etc.
- Medical records
- Hard physical evidence from the crash scene
- Cell phone records
- Drug and alcohol test results
- Traffic situations
In contested cases, we’ll often bring in accident reconstruction experts to testify about what happened.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
In nearly every case, victims have two years to file a lawsuit. The two-year statute of limitations starts running on the date of the accident. Missing the deadline isn’t an option. You completely lose your right to sue for damages if you wait longer than two years to take legal action.
Contact a St. Petersburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Do you have questions about your legal rights after a motorcycle wreck in St. Petersburg, FL? Call a St. Petersburg motorcycle accident lawyer at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group today. We know how to help you get the maximum compensation you deserve.