Intersection Accidents

Intersections are dangerous for all drivers, but they pose a specific danger to people on motorcycles. Motorists do not always take the proper time to survey their surroundings when approaching or turning within an intersection, putting motorcyclists and others at risk of serious harm. The Jacksonville motorcycle accident lawyers at The Lawrence Law Group assist victims of intersection collisions with taking legal action against a careless driver responsible for their injuries. Since motorcyclists are exposed inherently to a greater risk of injury because they are not protected by the walls and safety features of a larger vehicle, victims of these crashes often face long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation due to their injuries. We are dedicated to making sure that these victims have the support to cope with their recovery. If you or a love one has been injured or killed as a result of a motorcycle accident, contact our office today to see how we can help.

The most common factor involved in motorcycle accidents is another motorist’s failure to see the motorcycle on the road. This inattentiveness is even more likely to be present among drivers maneuvering through a busy intersection. A majority of intersection accidents involving motorcycles result from the following scenarios:

• A motorist’s failure to yield the right of way to an approaching motorcyclist.
• Drivers speeding up toward a yellow light and consequently running a red light, and hitting an oncoming motorcycle.
• Failing to notice a stopped motorcyclist, leading to a rear-end crash.
• Running stop signs, and hitting motorcycles moving through the intersection.
• Drivers making left-hand turns quickly, and cutting off an oncoming motorcycle.

Almost 80 percent of motorcycle collisions result in an injury or death to the motorcyclist. In Florida, motorcyclists are not required to wear helmets, making a traumatic brain injury much more likely for motorcyclists involved in a crash. Drivers who act carelessly and hit a motorcyclist in an intersection can be held accountable in a personal injury or wrongful death claim. These cases require that victims or their families show that a driver has acted negligently, or unreasonably, in causing the accident. Even if a motorcyclist contributed to causing their own injuries, compensation is still usually available. In Florida, damages are assessed based on each party’s degree of fault in an accident.

Liability for intersection accidents may be complex to prove. Often, witnesses and the drivers involved have different memories about what color a light was, or who approached a signal first with the right-of-way. Given these complexities, detailed accident reconstruction may be vital to determining what happened. Motorcyclists or their passengers injured in an intersection collision can receive damages in the forms of past and future medical costs, loss of income, diminished earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering when a permanent injury was sustained. Families who have lost a relative may also recover costs associated with burial or funeral arrangements and loss of consortium. Additionally, due to the severity of most motorcyclists’ injuries, a life care plan is often needed to detail future expenses related to the injured cyclist’s care. It is important to consult an experienced injury attorney in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident so that your rights are protected from the start, and all of the necessary evidence is collected before it is lost.

Severe motorcycle injuries often involve expensive treatment, and in the most extreme circumstances, they may result in a lifetime’s worth of care. Insurance policy limits are often not enough to cover these escalating costs, making legal action necessary to a victim’s recovery. The Jacksonville attorneys at The Lawrence Law Group use their vast resources and experience to make sure that victims receive the compensation that they are entitled to obtain. Our firm represents motorcyclists throughout Duval, Clay, Nassau, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Baker, Brevard, Union, Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, Jefferson, Volusia, and Alachua Counties. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a serious motorcycle accident, you can contact our office online or at (904) 632-0077 to schedule a free appointment to explore your legal options.