Serving Accident & Injury Victims for Over 20 Years
"Whether it's a whiplash, serious injury or wrongful death case, we pride ourselves on representing you with the personal service and aggressive representation that you expect and deserve!" -Attorney Ron Sholes​
Orange Park Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcycle Accidents in Clay County
Being involved in any type of motor vehicle accident is a frightening experience, but motorcycle accidents tend to be especially devastating for victims. Because motorcyclists are relatively unprotected, they often sustain catastrophic injuries or die when they are hit by larger, heavier vehicles. Tragically, many of these accidents are entirely avoidable and only occur because another motorist or entity was negligent.
If you were seriously injured or lost a loved one due to a motorcycle accident, our firm can help. At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., our Orange Park motorcycle accident attorneys offer personalized legal representation and aggressive advocacy for injured bikers throughout Clay County. We understand the many unique challenges you face and are prepared to do everything in our power to secure the maximum compensation you are owed.
Request a free initial consultation today; call (855) 933-3881 or submit an online case evaluation form to get started.
Florida Motorcycle Laws
Most motorcycle riders are responsible. They follow all applicable laws and take reasonable measures to ensure their own safety out on the road. While this can’t always prevent an accident, obeying applicable motorcycle laws is one of the best ways to avoid accidents and injuries.
If you own or operate a motorcycle in the state of Florida, you should know and obey the following laws:
- Motorcycle riders in Florida are required to carry minimum liability insurance. This includes at least $10,000/$20,000 in bodily injury coverage per person/accident and at least $10,000 in property damage coverage, as well as a single incident liability limit of $30,000.
- All motorcycle riders under the age of 21 must wear an approved motorcycle helmet any time they operate or ride as a passenger on a motorcycle in Florida. Riders and passengers over the age of 21 do not have to wear a helmet IF they have at least $10,000 in medical insurance benefits coverage.
- Anyone who operates a motorcycle in Florida must obtain the proper motorcycle endorsement either on their driver’s license or separately if they do not have an ordinary driver’s license. To obtain this endorsement, you will need to complete special motorcycle training.
- Motorcycle operators must use a headlight at all times, even during the day. Failure to use daytime headlights is not necessarily evidence of negligence in the event of an accident, but if it is determined to be a cause of the crash, failure to use daytime headlights could be used to prove the motorcyclist was partially negligent.
These are just some of the relevant Florida motorcycle laws you should know if you wish to own, operate, or ride a motorcycle in the state.
Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Florida: What You Need to Know
Unlike typical car accident claims, motorcycle accident cases in Florida do not fall under the state’s no-fault system. This means that you cannot automatically recover compensation through your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage regardless of fault. Rather, you will need to bring a standard personal injury claim against the at-fault person or party to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. While this does add an additional challenge in recovering compensation, it also frees you from the constraints of the no-fault system.
Typically, under the no-fault system, you can only recover compensation for specific monetary damages. Additionally, you can only recover up to a certain percentage of your total losses, not the full amount. By not having to abide by this system, injured motorcycle accident victims have the advantage of being able to seek compensation for the full amount of their economic damages, as well as their non-economic losses.
After an accident, our Orange Park motorcycle accident attorneys can help you seek maximum compensation for your:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost income/wages
- Future lost earnings
- Lost earning capacity/disability
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
- Inconvenience
- Property/motorcycle repairs
Unfortunately, motorcycle accident victims tend to suffer major, life-altering injuries, such as brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe burns. At the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., our goal is to secure all of the compensation you are entitled to receive so that you can obtain critical medical care, manage day-to-day living expenses, and move forward in your recovery.
Fighting for Your Rights After an Accident
With over a century of combined legal experience, our attorneys understand the unique challenges motorcycle accident victims are up against. Often, insurance companies try to play up the common misconception that motorcyclists are reckless, unsafe drivers. They may try to use this argument to devalue or dispute your claim or to sway a jury into thinking you do not deserve full compensation. Our team knows how to fight back against these tactics, prove the other side’s liability, and secure the maximum compensation our clients are owed.
When you choose the Law Offices of Ron Sholes, P.A., you choose an aggressive and respected legal team with the resources, skill, and experience to effectively advocate for you. We do not collect any attorneys’ fees unless we win your case, and we provide legal services in Spanish, Russian, and German to better serve our community.
Get in touch with us today at (855) 933-3881 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney. We are available to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.