What to Do If You Have Been in an Orlando Motorcycle Accident
With its beautiful weather and annual motorcycle events, Florida attracts bikers from around the country. Unfortunately, Florida also leads the nation in motorcycle accidents and fatalities. If you were injured in an Orlando motorcycle accident or a family member was fatally injured in one, knowing what to do next is the key to a full recovery.
The Orlando motorcycle accident attorneys at Warner & Warner represent injured victims of motorcycle accidents and family members of victims who were fatally injured in a crash. We have the experience and resources needed to ensure that you are fully and fairly compensated for all your injuries and that the responsible party is held accountable.
Orange County Motorcycle Accident Facts and Figures
In Orange County, there were 470 crashes involving a motorcycle in 2020, according to figures published by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV). As a result of those collisions, 405 people were injured, including 35 fatalities. Those figures represent a decrease in crashes and injuries from 2019; however, given the lockdowns and other restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic, there were also considerably fewer vehicles on the roadways in 2020.
Steps to Take Following an Orlando Motorcycle Accident
The minutes, hours, and days following a motorcycle injury accident can be extremely stressful and confusing for a victim as well as for family members. Further injury can be prevented, and evidence preserved if another party was partially or wholly at fault during that time. To achieve those goals, the following steps should be taken following an Orlando motorcycle accident:
- Protect yourself from secondary impacts. Secondary collisions are common when an accident has occurred. A secondary collision for a motorcyclist poses an even bigger risk of additional injuries than it does for occupants of a passenger vehicle. To avoid additional injuries from a secondary crash, get yourself off the roadway immediately after a collision if you can do so.
- Call 911. Always call the police when involved in a motorcycle accident. Along with helping to prevent secondary impacts, calling with police will ensure that an official report of the accident is filed. That report may be important if you file a claim against another motorist for the injuries you suffered.
- Get contact information from involved parties and witnesses. When possible, get contact information from other motorists involved in the collision as well as witnesses. Take a picture of a driver’s license and/or insurance card of involved motorists and get the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses.
- Document the scene. Prior to leaving the scene, document the crash and conditions using your cell phone if you can. Get photos of the vehicles involved, any relevant road conditions (wet road, construction work, road signage), and anything else that could be important down the road.
- Go to the hospital. Even if you do not think you were seriously injured in the crash, get to the hospital (via ambulance or on your own) to have a thorough medical evaluation done. Along with providing potentially crucial documentary evidence for a future claim, going to the hospital ensures that serious injuries are not overlooked. Traumatic brain injuries and serious spinal cord damage can take hours, even days, to exhibit symptoms. Failing to get such injuries diagnosed immediately can lead to irreversible injury.
- Contact your insurance company. You should contact your insurance provider as soon after any collision as possible; however, do not agree to provide an official taped statement regarding the accident until after you have consulted with an attorney.
- Talk to a motorcycle accident attorney. Despite efforts to educate motorists regarding the presence of motorcycles in the roadways, other drivers still fail to notice motorcycles. The resulting crash, therefore, is frequently caused by a motorist other than the motorcyclist. Given the severity of injuries typically suffered in a motorcycle crash, contacting an Orlando motorcycle accident attorney after the collision to discuss your legal options is always wise.
- Document your injuries and losses. In anticipation of filing a claim and/or lawsuit, keep detailed records evidencing your injuries and losses. This might include things such as medical bills and evaluations, estimates for repairs to your motorcycle, and a journal detailing your emotional and physical pain. If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, this may also include things such as funeral bills and documents verifying his/her income prior to the fatal collision.
When to Contact an Orlando Motorcycle Accident Attorney
At Warner & Warner, our Orlando motorcycle accident attorneys are committed to pursuing the legal rights of motorcycle accident victims and surviving family members. If you were injured in an Orlando motorcycle accident or lost a loved one in one, contact the Orlando motorcycle accident lawyers at Warner & Warner to discuss your legal options. Call us at 321-972-1889 or contact us online to schedule a free case review.