Port Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you or your loved one has been injured in a Port Charlotte motorcycle accident, we can help you hold the negligent driver accountable. Contact us now for a free consultation.
FREE CASE REVIEW
Motorcycle riders are vulnerable to serious injuries from accidents because motorcycles lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle. There are no seatbelts, airbags, or crumple zones. The rider can be thrown from the motorcycle, caught under it and dragged, or crushed between the motorcycle and another object.
Florida drivers have a duty to watch for motorcycles, follow traffic laws, and take reasonable care to avoid accidents. However, many drivers fail to watch for motorcycles. They pull out in front of them, merge into their lane, follow too closely, or drive aggressively. Yet law enforcement and insurance companies often have unfair bias against riders and assume they are at fault.
We’ve protected injured motorcycle riders and their families since 1979, and we understand how motorcycle accidents happen. You can trust our experienced Port Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers to be firmly on your side from the moment you walk through our doors. Call our Port Charlotte office today at (941) 291-0457 for a free case review and learn how Farah & Farah can help you and your family.
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You’ll Be Glad You Chose Our Port Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
When you choose Farah & Farah, you get a team of experienced Port Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers who work together to maximize compensation. Eddie Farah started our firm in 1979 with a mission to provide injured people with a place to get legal help where their needs came first. We grew into one of the largest law firms in Florida and Georgia because we stayed true to Eddie’s original vision. Our team approach is one way we put clients first.
We’ve recovered over $2 billion in compensation, and our results are no accident. We win through caring, understanding, and hard work. We care about every client’s results and their experience with us. We’re more than lawyers. We treat clients like family and go above and beyond. While we handle your injury claim, we’ll also help with your property damage claim at no extra charge.
Our clients know our compassion is genuine because it permeates everything we do, inside and outside our offices. Community involvement has always been important to our founders and individual attorneys. We support local shelters, disability organizations, schools, food banks, and more. When someone in our community gets hurt, it’s personal for us. Our clients are people, not cases.
Meet Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Port Charlotte
Martin Tapia is one of the hardest-working attorneys you’ll meet. He attended one of the top law schools in Peru and worked in the Department of Education, the High Court of Lima, and several law firms. When he moved to the United States, he attended college and law school for the second time to become an attorney here. He worked in construction jobs to put himself through school. His work ethic and empathy are hard to beat. He has done significant pro bono work in Port Charlotte, primarily helping immigrants attain citizenship. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Charles Micklavzina started his legal career as a paralegal at the Florida State Attorney’s office, where he gained an in-depth understanding of government processes. He is known for his friendliness and compassion. He is a recipient of the prestigious William F. Blews Award for Pro Bono Legal Service.
Compensation When You’re Seriously Injured in a Port Charlotte Motorcycle Accident
You may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages for motorcycle accident injuries. Economic damages cover the financial costs of your injuries, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and property damage. Non-economic damages compensate for the more subjective losses, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In rare cases, you can also recover punitive damages if you present clear and convincing evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
We’re dedicated to recovering the highest compensation available. We’ve secured significant settlements and verdicts in motorcycle accident cases, such as the following:
When Your Loved One’s Life Is Cut Short in a Port Charlotte Motorcycle Accident
Losing a loved one in a motorcycle accident is devastating, and you deserve compensation when someone else is to blame. Florida’s wrongful death statute allows the deceased’s spouse and minor children to recover damages for loss of services and support, loss of companionship, loss of parental guidance, and mental pain and suffering. Adult children may recover damages for mental pain and suffering and loss of guidance if there is no surviving spouse. Parents of adult children can recover damages for mental pain and suffering if there are no other survivors.
The personal representative can also recover the following damages on behalf of the estate:
- Loss of earnings from the point of injury until death
- Loss of estate value
- Medical expenses
Our Port Charlotte personal injury law firm is family-centered, and we understand how much your loved one meant to you. We’re here to support your family during this difficult time while we work to hold the negligent parties accountable.
How We Helped a Grieving Family Find Closure After a Fatal Motorcycle Accident
Our clients were the grieving parents and grandparents of a 37-year-old man who died in a motorcycle accident that occurred when a pedestrian suddenly walked into the road in front of his motorcycle. The collision killed the rider and the pedestrian.
Our attorneys determined that the pedestrian violated the law by entering the motorcycle’s path and failing to yield. Although the rider had a dash cam, it was pointed at the rider’s face rather than the road. However, a witness confirmed that the pedestrian crossed in front of the rider illegally. As a result of this evidence, we settled the case for $345,000 in less than a year.
$2+ BILLION IN RESULTS
How Might Florida’s Motorcycle Laws Affect My Case?
When you pursue damages for motorcycle accident injuries, the opposing party’s insurance company will investigate the accident, hoping to find evidence that you broke the law. Such a finding would give the insurance company ammunition to blame you for your injuries.
Motorcycles generally must follow the same traffic laws as drivers, such as obeying traffic signals, following posted speed limits, and yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks. Some laws are specific to motorcycles, such as Florida Statutes § 316.209, which protects a rider’s right to full use of any traffic lane. The law allows up to two riders to share the same lane side-by-side but prohibits riders from lane-splitting and driving between lanes. If the insurance company finds you violated any of these laws, it may assume you were at fault, regardless of the driver’s conduct.
Florida’s Helmet Law
One of the first things insurance companies consider in motorcycle accidents is helmet usage, particularly if you suffered a head injury. Florida Statutes § 361.211 requires riders under 21 to wear approved motorcycle helmets and eye protection. Riders over 21 can ride without helmets if they carry at least $10,000 in MedPay insurance, which covers medical bills from accidents. Even if you were lawfully riding without a helmet, the insurance company could use it against you if you suffered head injuries.
Our Port Charlotte car accident lawyers collaborate with a comprehensive network of medical and forensic experts. Breaking the law doesn’t automatically mean you were at fault. Not wearing a helmet doesn’t automatically mean you caused your injuries, even head injuries. If the insurance company unfairly blames you for an accident, we’ll thoroughly investigate to identify the exact cause of your injury so we can point the finger back to where it belongs.
Florida’s Insurance Laws and Motorcycles
Motorcycles are excluded from Florida’s no-fault insurance system. Thus, you cannot file a claim under your Personal Injury Protection policy for a motorcycle accident. Instead, you must file your claim with the driver’s liability insurance. Liability insurance covers economic and non-economic damages.
Florida law required drivers to carry at least $10,000 in property damage liability in addition to their Personal Injury Protection. They’re not required to carry bodily injury liability insurance. Florida is the only U.S. state that doesn’t require riders to purchase motorcycle insurance. However, we recommend carrying as much insurance as you can afford. Not purchasing insurance means you would be personally liable if you are at fault in an accident.
If you purchase liability insurance, you can also buy uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to cover your damages if an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you. It will cover the damages that a liability policy should have covered.
Deadline for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim
The Florida personal injury statute of limitations governs the time frame for filing motorcycle accident lawsuits. Generally, you must file within two years of the accident. There are many exceptions to the statute of limitations, so it is important to consult with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. Further, the most important evidence in a motorcycle accident case may only be available briefly.
Don’t take a chance on losing your opportunity for justice. Call Farah & Farah today at (941) 291-0457 for a free case evaluation.
Let Farah & Farah Fight for You
Dealing with severe motorcycle accident injuries is hard enough without having to decipher your legal options and fight a stubborn insurance company. Insurers may resort to their usual tricks, such as ignoring your calls, blaming you for the accident, or minimizing your injuries. When you turn to our experienced Port Charlotte motorcycle accident lawyers, you can focus on recovery while we handle everything else. We’ll answer your calls, keep you informed, and work efficiently to get the best result possible as soon as possible.
We charge no upfront fees, and you pay nothing unless we win. If you or your loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle crash, you deserve full compensation without the hassles. We have over 46 years of experience, and experience makes all the difference.
Contact us online today or call (941) 291-0457 for a free consultation, and put our experience to work for you.
1777 Tamiami Trail
Suite 407, Port
Charlotte, FL 33948
