What Should I Do if I Was Hit by a Motorcycle in Gainesville, FL?
Motorcycle collisions often happen in Gainesville, Florida. According to data downloaded from the Florida Traffic Safety Dashboard, Gainesville had 116 total motorcycle accidents in 2021. Gainesville had only 13 single-vehicle motorcycle crashes. The remaining 93 accidents involved a collision.
The same laws cover motorcycle crashes caused by motorcyclists and those caused by automobile drivers. If a motorcyclist drives negligently, the motorcyclist bears liability for any injuries resulting from a crash.
Learn what you should do if you get hit by a motorcycle in Gainesville, FL, and how you can recover compensation for your injuries. The Allen Law Firm, P.A. offers a free consultation at (877) 255-3652.
How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Gainesville
Allen Law Firm, P.A. was founded in 2007. Over the past 15 years, the firm’s Gainesville motorcycle accident attorneys have recovered over $100 million in injury compensation for their clients.
The firm’s lawyers have over a century of combined legal experience. During their careers, they have earned many honors and awards:
- Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating for legal knowledge and ethics
- Named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers
- Received the Client Satisfaction Award from the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
If you hire the firm, you’ll have a legal team to assist with your case by:
- Conducting a comprehensive internal investigation into your case
- Negotiating with the other side to arrive at a fair settlement, with the ability to file a lawsuit if the at-fault party does not negotiate in good faith
- Keeping you up-to-date on your legal options at all stages of your claim
Road users injured in car and motorcycle accidents can face temporary or permanent disabilities. To discuss the injury compensation you can seek after your accident, contact Allen Law Firm for a free consultation.
How Common Is It To Get Hit by a Motorcycle?
According to the Traffic Safety Dashboard, Gainesville had 93 collisions between motorcycles and other road users. Of these:
- 54 involved a crash between a motorcycle and automobiles
- 18 involved a motorcycle hitting a pedestrian
- 11 were crashes between two motorcycles
- 10 involved a collision between a motorcycle and a bicycle
Gainesville had over 5,100 traffic accidents in 2021, according to the crash dashboard. People were much more likely to get hit by a car or semi-truck than by a motorcycle.
But getting hit by a motorcycle was not rare. Motorcycles caused over 10% of bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and motorcycle accidents in Gainesville that year, according to the Crash Dashboard.
Overview of What To Do if You Get Hit by a Motorcycle in Gainesville, FL
Florida does not list how many of Gainesville’s 93 motorcycle collisions were caused by the motorcyclist. Statistically, motorcyclists cause about 40% of the collisions between automobiles and motorcycles.
This percentage would indicate that around 23 car accidents of the 45 total happened when a motorcycle hit a car. Similarly, a fair number of collisions with pedestrians or bicycles were also likely caused by motorcyclists.
What To Do if You Get Hit by a Motorcycle
If you get hit by a motorcycle:
- Stop at the accident scene
- Get the motorcyclist’s name, address, and insurer
- Contact the police if anyone was injured or killed
Bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists hit by motorcyclists must file a claim with the at-fault motorcyclist’s insurance carrier to get compensation.
Drivers can first seek injury compensation from their no-fault auto insurer. But if they suffer significant, permanent injuries or their medical costs exceed their policy limits, drivers can file claims against negligent motorcyclists.
Reasons Motorcycles Hit Other Road Users
Motorcyclists cause accidents for many of the same reasons car drivers cause accidents.
Speeding
Motorcycles accelerate faster than cars. This makes them difficult to control. A rider who loses control of their motorcycle can hit other road users.
Failing To Yield the Right of Way
Motorcyclists, like drivers, must yield the right of way at crosswalks, stop signs, and traffic lights. Because motorcycles accelerate faster, riders often try to “beat” other road users, like pedestrians crossing a street or drivers turning left across their path. But in doing so, they endanger road users who have the right of way.
Unsafe Lane Changes
Motorcycles have greater maneuverability than automobiles. Impatient riders weave through slowed or stopped traffic. This weaving often involves lane changes where motorcyclists come dangerously close to other vehicles or collide with them.
Injuries from Getting Hit by a Motorcycle
Collisions with motorcycles were especially dangerous for cyclists. The 10 collisions between motorcycles and bicycles in Gainesville injured all 10 cyclists, with two suffering fatal injuries.
Pedestrians also suffer when they get hit by motorcycles. According to the Crash Dashboard, 21 pedestrians were run over by a motorcycle in Gainesville. These crashes caused 13 injuries, including one fatal injury.
Liability from Getting Hit by a Motorcycle
When a motorcyclist collides with another road user, liability depends on who, if anyone, acted negligently. If a pedestrian was jaywalking when they got hit, the pedestrian might be at fault. But if the pedestrian was at a crosswalk, the motorcyclist might be at fault.
When determining liability, you also need to look at whether the motorcyclist exercised reasonable care. The motorcyclist is liable for actions that put other road users at risk, such as riding in a bike lane or weaving through traffic.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Gainesville Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcyclists who hit other road users can cause serious injuries, including catastrophic or even fatal injuries. To discuss the compensation you can seek after getting hit by a motorcycle, contact Allen Law Firm.
