Motorcycle Accidents

The Most Important Insurance Every Motorcyclist Should Get

July 10, 2016 | Wolfson & Leon

boy Motorcycle accident lawyers in Miami come across this issue all the time. What kind of insurance should I get for my motorcycle? If you own a motorcycle, the most important insurance coverage you should have is uninsured motorist coverage.

If there is a motorcycle in your life – you, your spouse, your kids, your parents, even your grandparents – then you probably understand there is a risk. Especially in Miami. If you or a loved one is in a motorcycle accident, then two things are likely to happen. The injuries will most likely be significant or even fatal. Second, there is a very good chance the other driver will have little or no insurance. Those are just facts of life. Especially in Miami.

Motorcycle accident injuries can be severe. The simple fact is as a motorcyclist, you don’t have the protections that vehicle drivers have. You are directly exposed to the impact and the elements. In some unfortunate and heartbreaking cases, the motorcyclist is killed and a wrongful death case is brought on behalf of the survivors. In almost every motorcycle accident case, the medical expenses are astronomical in addition to the lost wages, loss of future earning capacity as well as pain and suffering.

Motor Bike Accident Kills NFL Player in Miami—What Are the Personal Injury Risks of Motorcycles?

March 25, 2016 | Wolfson & Leon

Motor Bike Accident Kills NFL Player in Miami—What Are the Personal Injury Risks of Motorcycles?

An NFL player was killed recently when his motorbike crashed into a car in Miami. The fourth-round NFL player was riding his Honda dirt bike when he collided with a Ford Escape. The Honda dirt bike allegedly did not have headlights. Fox News reports that motorcycles must have headlights in order to legally operate on Miami roads. If the motorbike didn’t have headlights, the driver may have been in violation of the law.

While this accident is a tragedy, motorcycle riding and motorcycle deaths are increasingly becoming a risk that affects more middle-aged riders. According to the New York Times, almost half of all motorcycle riders killed in 2006 were over age 40. About 25% were over age 50. Many blame the increase in injuries to the weakening of laws requiring helmet use. While many states still require mandatory helmet use, the federal government relaxed its requirement that states implement helmet laws in order to receive highway money.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS – LOOK TWICE SAVE A LIFE

October 29, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

Two motorcyclists were killed in a crash last night in the Florida Keys. The accident involved a vehicle and a motorcycle and resulted in a fatal left turn collision. This unfortunate tragedy further emphasizes the need for awareness of the “Look Twice Save a Life” campaign.

The last four words any driver should ever say are “I never saw him”. Rider Smart Florida, a safety organization, provides top ten list of what all car and truck drivers should know about motorcycles:

1	More than 50% of all motorcycle crash fatalities involve a car. A majority of the time, the vehicle driver , not the motorcyclist, is at fault. There are more vehicles and trucks than motorcycles, and some motorists don’t cognitively notice a motorcycle and they “ignore” it (usually unintentionally).
2	A cycle, because it is small, can be unseen in the blind spot of a vehicle or covered by the background or objects outside of a car (fences, bushes, bridges, etc). Take an extra minute to look for motorcyclists, whether you’re turning at intersections, changing lanes or backing up.
3	A motorcycle can look farther away than it actually is. It can also be difficult to determine a motorcyclist’s speed. When looking to make a turn in an intersection or out of (or into) a driveway, assume a motorcyclist is closer than it appears.
4	Motorcyclists will often slow down by rolling off the throttle or downshifting, and by doing this the brake light is not activated. Try to allow for more stopping distance, even 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, assume a motorcycle will slow down without any visual warning.
5	Motorcyclists often change lane position to minimize the effects of wind, passing vehicles, and road debris as well as to be seen by drivers more easily. Try to keep that in mind and to understand that motorcycles change their lane position for a reason, not to be careless or to show off or even to let you to share the lane.
6	A motorcycle’s turn signals are generally not self-canceling. Therefore some motorcyclists (beginners in particular) will forget to turn the the signal off after a lane change or a turn. It is best to be certain as possible that a motorcyclist’s signal is for real.
7	One of a motorcyclist’s better values is maneuverability. This is particularly true at lower speeds and in good road conditions. However don’t expect a motorcycle to always be able to get avoid any danger.
8	Stopping distance for motorcyclists is about the same as it is for cars. But slippery or wet pavement makes stopping fast very difficult for everyone. We should all allow more following distance behind a motorcyclist because it is impossible to always stop suddenly.
9	Look at the motorcyclist and see the guy or girl under the helmet – it could be your relative, neighbor, or friend.
10	Keep in mind, when a driver crashes into a motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian and causes death or serious physical injury, that driver will likely never forgive themselves.

If you or a loved one were injured or killed in a motorcycle crash, you should seek the assistance of a motorcycle accident lawyer. Wolfson & Leon is a Miami personal injury law firm located in Miami, Florida. The trial attorneys at Wolfson & Leon offer assistance to all motorcycle and car accident victims in Miami, Florida. If you are suffering from injuries sustained in a bicycle, car or motorcycle accident, call Wolfson & Leon. If you do not recover, you pay no attorneys’ fees. Schedule a free initial consultation today by calling us at 305-285-1115.

Florida Police Search for Hit-and-Run Driver Who Injured Motorcyclist

March 5, 2015 | Wolfson & Leon

It’s no secret that motorcycle accidents are often deadly. In many cases, wearing helmets and protective gear cannot save motorcyclists from sustaining serious injuries.

During the last three years, there has been a slow increase in the number of motorcycle operators and passengers involved in fatal accidents. According to Ride Smart Florida, 444 motorcycle operators and 18 passengers died in 2013. This marks a significant increase from 2010, when just 350 operators died on the city’s roads.

If you are the victim of a motorcycle accident, do not struggle through the injuries and medical bills on your own. An experienced personal-injury lawyer might be able to work with you to recover costs for the medical expenses incurred. If you are looking for a Miami personal-injury lawyer, call Wolfson & Leon, LLP at 305-285-1115. We are a team of accident attorneys who will work with you to defend your rights.

Accident Leaves Miami Firefighter Critical

June 5, 2013 | Wolfson & Leon

June, 4, 2013, Miami, FL- Motorcyclist love to be on their bikes and want nothing more than to ride, but other motorists can make the roads very dangerous for them. This a reality that a veteran Miami firefighter learned Monday after he was struck by a truck while on his way to work, leaving him critically injured and his colleagues in shock.

Police say that Hector Seiglie was riding along Dixie Highway South at 22nd Avenue at 6:30 a.m. when he was struck by a pickup truck.

One eyewitness, Mario Sanchez told WSVN-TV what he saw, “And the pickup truck just hit him, and I saw the gentleman on the ground.”

ATV Accident – Woman Dies from Head Injury

December 17, 2012 | Wolfson & Leon

MACCLENNY, FLORIDA- Saturday, December 15, 2012, a woman from North Florida died as a result of a fall from an ATV that was being driven by her husband. The accident occurred, apparently, when the driver was attempting to negotiate a curve on a rural road. This happened in Hamilton County. The young woman’s death apparently occured as a result of a head injury.

Closed head injuries are usually the most devastating injuries that occur following All Terrain Vehicle (“ATV”) accidents or motorcycle accidents. The severity of the injuries usually range depending on whether or not the hurt person was wearing a helmet. It is unclear whether the woman in this case was wearing a helmet.

We are Miami and Miami Beach personal injury lawyers and have extensive experience working on ATV cases as well as motorcycle cases. We also have handled numerous wrongful death cases involving Florida’s Wrongful Death Statute. If you or a family member were hurt as result of such an accident, give us a call and we will give you a free evaluation. If you call us, you can speak to an attorney that will discuss your case and be happy to explain the law firm’s experience handling similar matters.