Preventing drivers from speeding or otherwise driving recklessly could increase the safety of motorcyclists on shared roads. Speeding can decrease a vehicle driver’s ability to stop quickly to avoid a collision with a motorcycle. Slowing down also allows drivers to pay better attention to their surroundings. Controlling speed could also decrease the severity of injuries motorcyclists sustain in accidents since they are largely unprotected from the impact of the collision.
motorcycle accident lawyers in Fort Lauderdale are familiar with the dynamic of speed-related motorcycle crashes. If a personal injury attorney represents you, they can help you understand the role of speed limits in preventing motorcycle accidents. They can also delve into the specifics of your accident and your right to financial recovery. You can often get a free review of your case with a team member at a local personal injury law firm.
Why Speeding Can Cause a Dangerous Vehicle-Versus-Motorcycle Accident
Speed limits are determined based on road type and are designed to foster safety and enhance vehicle control. Ignoring speed limits can put everyone on the road at risk of serious injury. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), motorcycles could be particularly vulnerable.
FHA research indicates:
- High speeds result in greater crash impacts.
- Motorcycle accidents are approximately 29 times more likely to end with a fatality than vehicle accidents.
The FHA further cites the significantly greater stopping distance a vehicle needs when speeding or driving recklessly or carelessly. The force of the impact caused by a speeding car can cause it to careen out of control and lead to additional damage.
Speed Is One of the Greatest Risks to Motorcycle Drivers and Passengers
Excessive speed lowers a driver’s reaction time, diminishes their ability to control their car, and can also decrease the effectiveness of safety equipment, including helmets. Florida takes speeding seriously and has laws that make it a criminal infraction with serious consequences.
Per Florida Statutes § 316.1906, the state detects speeding using audio dopplers, radar detectors, and other speed-measuring devices. Even if they don’t cause an accident, drivers who exceed the speed limit are subject to hefty fines and potential criminal charges for reckless driving.
Excessive speeding (such as traveling more than 50 miles per hour above the posted speed limit) can result in a third-degree felony, which carries potential penalties of up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines, per Florida Statutes § 775.082.
Proof That Obeying the Speed Limit Can Prevent Motorcycle Accidents
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by unsafe speed, your motorcycle lawyer will clarify motorcycle-specific laws and regulations that might support your compensation request.
They will also collect evidence for your case file. Sometimes, a personal injury lawyer can obtain evidence you might find hard to gain access to on your own, including:
- Expert testimonials
- Data from speed detectors
- Accident reconstruction reports
- Speeding citations issued to the at-fault driver
Additional evidence can include photos and video footage, witness statements, and medical records and bills. Your motorcycle accident attorney will compile and sort your evidence and submit it to the at-fault party’s insurance company.
Speeding is a Form of Driver Negligence
If you are seeking compensation for a motorcycle accident case, you must prove negligence caused the crash. Speeding and other forms of reckless driving are considered negligent behavior. The lawyer handling your case will aim to document the following elements of negligence:
- Duty of care: The at-fault driver’s responsibility to provide you with a duty of reasonable care while sharing the road
- Breach of duty: The at-fault driver’s speeding is a negligent action that another reasonable driver would not take
- Causation: Evidence that proves the collision would not have happened if the at-fault driver had obeyed the speed limit
- Damages: Evidence of the financial expenses and losses you incurred because of the liable party’s actions
Your lawyer will aim to prove these elements with a comprehensive evidence collection. It will include any evidence you have in your possession. It will also include evidence they collect while investigating your crash and evidence and testimony obtained during the discovery process and deposition sessions.
The Role of Speed Limits in Serious Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents caused by speeding can lead to serious injuries that could be worsened by the force of the impact and the at-fault driver’s increased stopping distance. Common motorcycle injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Fractured bones
- Catastrophic road rash
- Fatalities
Motorcycle accident lawyers are familiar with proving the extent of such injuries and will obtain your medical records and written prognosis. This evidence will prove the cause of your injuries and their immediate and ongoing costs.
A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You Seek Compensation for Your Injuries
Recovering from a motorcycle accident can involve a costly and extensive treatment protocol. A lawyer can help you fight to recover its costs from the negligent party, including:
- Hospitalization and surgery
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Prescribed medications
- Assistive medical devices
- Treatment-related travel expenses
Medical expenses for a speeding-related motorcycle accident can start at the accident scene with emergency medical care and ambulance fees. Your lawyer will include these costs in your compensation request.
Additional Damages a Lawyer Can Help You Seek After a Motorcycle Accident in Florida
Current and future medical bills are only one of the types of economic and non-economic damages you can demand in a motorcycle accident claim or lawsuit. An attorney for motorcycle accidents can help you build a strong case for these additional damages:
- All accident-related losses of income, including full- and part-time wages, hard-to-prove sources of income, and lost future earning ability
- Motorcycle damage, destruction, or diminished resale value
- Temporary and permanent disability, scarring, and disfigurement
- Ongoing physical pain and suffering, inconvenience, and mental and emotional anguish
If your family lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident caused by a speeding driver, you could be entitled to Florida wrongful death damages. Your Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyer can help you seek compensation for their funeral expenses, your loss of their financial support, and a range of additional damages.
Get a Free Review of Your Speed-Related Motorcycle Accident Claim
Speeding can lead to a serious accident and life-changing and life-threatening injuries. At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, our motorcycle accident lawyers can clarify the role of speed limits in preventing motorcycle accidents. We can also help you seek compensation if you or a loved one was injured.
Learn more about working with our caring and attentive legal team to recover damages from the at-fault driver. Call (954) 633-8270 for your free initial consultation today.
