Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Pensacola

The personal injury attorneys at Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A. are painfully aware of the stories behind motorcycle accident statistics. It is one thing to learn that bikers are 26 times more likely to have a traffic accident and 10 times more likely to be severely injured than the motorists with whom they share the road. It is quite another to deal personally with individuals who have suffered life-altering motorcycle accident injuries and families who have lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash. 

If you are suffering the far-reaching consequences of a motorcycle accident caused by another party’s negligence in Pensacola or Northwest Florida, we are here to help. You are no doubt overwhelmed by physical trauma, emotional distress, and financial worries. You may also fear that public prejudice against motorcycles will work against you. Be assured that our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys are on your side, deeply committed to protecting your right to travel as you choose. 

Contact us promptly so we can lift your legal and logical burdens while you concentrate on healing. We will investigate your case to determine who is at fault for the collision, and file a lawsuit to hold those responsible accountable. Our goal, like yours, is to win you the substantial damages you need and deserve.

What are the most common motorcycle accident injuries?

Obviously, motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to injury than those who are enclosed by the heavy metal of larger vehicles. From head to foot, even when wearing helmets and boots, bikers can be injured in a wide variety of ways. Common injuries include:

  • Road rash, which sounds less serious than it often is. When a rider’s skin makes contact with the road surface, deep abrasions known as “road rash” occur. Such injuries, in addition to being extremely painful, require urgent medical attention since they are prone to invasive infection and permanent scarring.
  • Fractures of just about any bone in the body can occur in a motorcycle accident, depending on the angle of impact. Motorcycles, balanced on only two wheels, typically fall over in a collision, often on top of the cyclist. As a result, leg breaks are the most common bone fractures. Wrists and arms are often fractured as well when riders reach out to break their fall.
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are responsible for over 50 percent of motorcycle fatalities. This statistic is made even more disturbing by the fact that a study by NHTSA found that 15 percent of helmeted riders succumbed to TBIs. Still, it should be noted that helmets do lower the risk of a TBI by 37 percent.
  • Spinal cord injuries can occur within seconds, resulting in partial or complete paralysis (paraplegia or quadriplegia). Such catastrophic injuries almost always result in permanent disability and the need for ongoing nursing care.
  • Internal injuries frequently result from blunt-force or penetration trauma, both of which commonly occur in motorcycle accidents. For this reason, internal bleeding and damage to, or loss of, internal organs are possible consequences.  
  • Post-traumatic stress or other psychological injuries often accompany physical trauma and may require medication and/or psychological counseling.

All of the above-mentioned motorcycle accident injuries require immediate medical care. If the injuries have resulted from a collision caused by another person’s negligence or reckless disregard, they also require strong legal representation. This is where the services of Staples, Ellis + Associates will be invaluable.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

More than a few motorists are inattentive, and nowhere is this more evident than in their inability (or outright refusal) to pay attention to motorcycles. Clearly, because motorcycles are so much smaller and narrower than cars, they are less visible on the roadway. This makes it necessary for motorists to be alert. The recent surge in distracted driving is especially dangerous to bikers, who are often playing defense as they ride alongside drivers who may be:

  • Impaired by alcohol or drugs
  • Speeding or otherwise driving recklessly
  • Distracted by food, drink, electronic devices
  • Making unsafe lane changes (not checking blind spots, failing to signal)
  • Opening car doors into oncoming traffic
  • Stopping suddenly 
  • Making careless left turns 

    In some cases, it is not the motorist who is at fault. Our motorcycle accident attorneys may be able to sue a third party if your motorcycle crash is attributable to an unrepaired pothole or traffic signal or a mechanical defect in your bike. In such cases, we will file a lawsuit against the government agency tasked with roadway or traffic signal maintenance or against the car manufacturer.  

    We Can Help You Even if You Bear Partial Fault for the Accident

    The law recognizes that in a great many accidents more than one party is at fault, but the way such accidents are handled by the courts varies from state to state. In Florida, if you bear partial blame, the courts work under the principle of pure comparative negligence. So, if you were, for example, speeding at the time of the accident, the court will assign you a percentage of blame and that percentage will be deducted from your awarded damages. 

    In Florida, even if you are assigned more fault than the other party for the collision, you are allowed to receive compensation for your injury. No matter what the particular circumstances, our motorcycle accident attorneys will fight aggressively to obtain the resources you need to restart your life. 

    Damages We Will Fight to Win for You and Your Family

    Our motorcycle accident attorneys have a history of successful outcomes. Once we have tabulated your expenses, now and in the future, we will work tirelessly to win you damages for:

    • Medical and rehabilitation costs
    • Lost income/lost earning power
    • Long-term nursing care
    • Psychological counseling 
    • Property damage 
    • Pain and suffering
    • Permanent disability
    • Permanent scarring or other disfigurements
    • Loss of enjoyment of life

    If your case involves extreme recklessness on the part of the defendant, we may also be able to win you punitive damages. 

    If you are dealing with the tragic death of a loved one, we will make it our mission to provide your family with a settlement to cover final medical costs, funeral expenses, and loss of financial and emotional support.

    Contact Our Experienced Motorcycle Accident Injuries Attorneys Today

    The sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner we can begin fighting for your rights. We are not only skilled lawyers but compassionate ones, dedicated to bringing you and your family maximum compensation for what you have endured.

    The Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Staples, Ellis & Associates serves clients in Pensacola County, Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa County, Walton County, and throughout Northwest Florida.