Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident in Fort Walton Beach, Florida? Did you get hurt because someone else was careless? If so, now is the time to reach out to the accomplished legal team at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers. You have rights as an accident victim, including the ability to pursue compensation for your lost income, costs of medical care, and suffering. Our experienced Fort Walton Beach motorcycle accident lawyers are here to help you maximize your recovery.
For 44 years, motorcyclists and their families have trusted us to help them fight for justice after life-changing traffic accidents across the state of Florida. Our team has 75+ years of collective experience and a reputation for going above and beyond in the protection of our client’s rights. We’ve won $200 million (and counting) on their behalf, and now we’re to fight to make you whole again, too.
Contact our law office or call us at (850) 604-3844 in Fort Walton Beach, FL, today to get started. There’s no charge for your initial case review with our Fort Walton Beach motorcycle accident attorneys.
How Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers Helps Injured Motorcycle Riders in Fort Walton Beach, FL
Even though Florida is a “no-fault” state, motorcyclists are not required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits or other no-fault coverage. So, when there’s an accident, the at-fault driver is usually on the hook for the costs related to the rider’s injuries. Getting compensation from a third party’s insurance carrier can be an uphill battle. Expect them to use every trick in the book to downplay your injuries, minimize your costs, and limit your financial recovery.
That’s why it’s important to hire an experienced Fort Walton Beach personal injury lawyer to handle your motorcycle injury claim.
Injured motorcyclists in Fort Walton Beach choose Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers because we’re known for our compassionate and effective representation. Our team includes attorneys recognized for excellence in civil litigation by Martindale Hubbell, Florida’s Board of Legal Specialization & Education, Avvo, and other respected legal organizations. As passionate advocates utilizing smart legal strategies and negotiating tactics, we’ve helped our clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in financial awards.
Take time to focus on recovering from your motorcycle accident injuries and count on our top-rated Fort Walton Beach personal injury injury lawyers to:
- Take on the at-fault party’s insurance company on your behalf, representing you during interviews, hearings, negotiations, and at trial, if necessary
- Coordinate a timely independent investigation into your motorcycle crash
- Gather relevant evidence, including accident reports, medical records, property damage, photographs of the scene, witness statements, forensics reports, and surveillance footage
- Enlist experts who can offer relevant insight into non-legal components of your case, giving us the opportunity to make a well-rounded, comprehensive claim on your behalf
- Handle the administrative elements of your civil claim
- Decide the most advantageous strategies for navigating claims of comparative fault
- Use the full force of our law firm’s resources to help you secure a top-dollar settlement offer
Times are tough now, but there are better days ahead. Hiring our Fort Walton motorcycle accident attorneys can make the road to recovery an easier one to navigate. We represent our clients on a contingency fee basis, which means our fees are tied directly to the results we achieve. No win, no fee. That’s our promise to you.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Walton personal injury attorney. Our team members in Fort Walton Beach are always available to take your call.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Fort Walton Beach Motorcycle Crash?
Regardless of what type of claim you file – an insurance claim or lawsuit – you’ll typically be able to request compensatory damages after a motorcycle accident in Fort Walton Beach.
Compensatory damages are divided into two separate categories, each of which is designed to help you deal with different aspects of being involved in a motorcycle wreck.
Economic damages are intended to make you whole by offsetting the financial costs of your accident, such as:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing assistance
- Costs paid out-of-pocket
- Property damage
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages are designed to help you cope with the more personal – and difficult to value – aspects of being injured in a traffic accident, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Embarrassment
- Disfigurement
- Physical scarring
- Loss of consortium
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Chronic physical pain
You may also be able to win punitive damages if your motorcycle accident lawsuit gets to trial. In these situations, an Okaloosa County jury can decide that additional damages are appropriate solely to punish the defendant in your case because their actions were malicious or grossly negligent.
Our Florida motorcycle accident lawyers in Fort Walton Beach will work closely with experts as we evaluate your damages, calculate their value, and build a claim that helps you recover the full monetary award to which you’re entitled under the law.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Wrecks?
In 2024, 103 motorcycle accidents were reported in Fort Walton Beach and surrounding towns in Okaloosa County, FL, resulting in at least seven rider fatalities. That’s roughly one motorcycle crash near Fort Walton Beach every 3.5 days.
The sad truth is that most of these motorcycle wrecks are avoidable. Instead, they are an all-too-common sight on Okaloosa County roads because other motorists don’t always exercise appropriate caution when sharing the road with a motorcycle.
Some of the most commonly cited causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Unsafe lane changes
- Following too closely
- Blind spot errors
- Illegal turns
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Braking errors
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Driver fatigue
- Aggressive driving
Of course, not every accident is entirely (or sometimes, even remotely) a third-party motorist’s fault. Factors that also cause or contribute to Fort Walton Beach motorcycle accidents include defective vehicles and components, hazardous weather conditions, limited visibility, road construction, and road defects.
Who’s Liable For My Motorcycle Accident?
Florida law extends liability for a motorcycle accident to anyone whose wrongful or negligent conduct contributes to the event.
Following a thorough investigation of your motorcycle accident, our Fort Walton Beach personal injury attorneys might find that the following are liable:
- Manufacturer of a motorcycle, vehicle component, or a piece of safety equipment
- Government agency charged with road maintenance and safety
- Another motorcyclist
- Pedestrian
- Bicyclist
- Uber or Lyft rideshare driver
- Truck driver
- Bus driver
- Mass transportation company
- Property owner
- Employer of a negligent party
When liability is clear, our legal team will get to work building a personal injury case that demonstrates your losses and forces those at fault to take accountability for the costs, injuries, and trauma you’ve endured because of the wreck.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Riding a motorcycle is inherently more dangerous than riding in a car, SUV, or truck. After all, you’re exposed to the elements without a large steel frame, airbags, or a seatbelt to protect you if there’s an accident. And while Florida requires all motorcyclists (and their passengers) to wear a helmet until the age of 21, riders can still suffer serious physical injuries – or death – if their motorcycle accident is severe enough.
At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we fight to help motorcyclists and their families seek compensation for all crash-related injuries, including:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Burn injuries
- Road rash
- Nerve damage
- Crushing injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Chest injuries
- Concussion injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated disc injuries
- Neck injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Eye injuries
- Wrongful death
Always seek immediate medical attention, report your motorcycle accident to the Fort Walton Beach police, and call an experienced motorcycle accident attorney near you for help right away after you’ve been injured in a crash.
Can Sharing Blame For a Florida Motorcycle Accident Affect My Settlement?
Yes, since Florida has adopted a modified comparative negligence system for shared fault. Under the law, an injured motorcyclist cannot recover compensation if their shared liability for a crash is greater than 50 percent.
When shared fault is 50 percent or less, damages can be awarded on a limited basis. For instance, you could expect to recover 85 percent of what your motorcycle accident case is worth if you’re assigned 15 percent of the blame for your injuries.
How Long Will I Have to Seek Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida?
Florida applies a two-year statute of limitations to most motorcycle accident cases, including situations involving wrongful death.
Barring any exceptions, you must file your personal injury claim within the statute of limitations or lose the right to demand compensation. So, it’s critical that you speak with an experienced and knowledgeable legal advocate as soon as you can after you or someone you care about has been involved in a car accident on your motorcycle in Fort Walton Beach.
Contact Our Fort Walton Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Motorcycle accidents are costly and stressful. Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers can offer the kind of support you need to make it through these incredibly difficult days.
Focus on recovering from your injuries and trust our Fort Walton Beach motorcycle accident lawyers to take charge of your fight for compensation. We’ll stand up to the driver who caused the crash, their insurance company, and anyone else who dares to stand between you and the compensation you deserve.
We’ve helped clients recover over $600 million in settlements and jury awards. Now, you can benefit from our 75+ years of collective experience as we fight for your best interests, too.
Contact our law office in Fort Walton Beach, FL, to set a time for your free consultation now.
