The Motorcycle Personal Injury Statute of Limitations: Know Your Rights
The statute of limitations in motorcycle personal injury claims in Florida is generally two years. This deadline relates to filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
You should know your rights for taking legal action against a negligent party. A Florida motorcycle accident attorney can determine how long you have to file a lawsuit and help you meet your deadline.
What Happens When You Miss the Statute of Limitations in Motorcycle Personal Injury Cases?
If you fail to meet the two-year statute of limitations in Florida Statutes § 95.11, the court could dismiss your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, leaving you with no legal recourse or bargaining power to seek compensation from an insurer or responsible party.
This is why you should begin working on your motorcycle accident case as soon as possible. A motorcycle accident lawyer can help you streamline the legal process as much as possible, ensuring you get the compensation you need to recover from severe injuries.
Your damages may include non-financial and financial losses, such as:
- Current and future medical expenses, including surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, medications, and more
- Current and future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death damages, including funeral expenses, loss of household income, and loss of companionship
Are There Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations in Motorcycle Accident Cases?
There are rare exceptions to Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits. Florida Statutes § 95.051 notes that the deadline can toll (or be delayed) when:
- The injured party is mentally incapacitated (due to a condition existing before the injury)
- The defendant left the state before the injured party filed the lawsuit
- The defendant concealed or changed their identity to avoid being served
- The injured party is a minor
A motorcycle accident lawyer can determine if any exceptions apply to your case and petition the court for an extension if necessary.
How a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You Meet Florida’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations
When you hire a personal injury lawyer to represent you in a motorcycle accident claim, they can handle the legal process from start to finish. However, they need time to complete various tasks and meet deadlines.
For example, they may begin seeking motorcycle accident compensation by filing an insurance claim with the liable party’s provider. This means they will need time to negotiate for a fair settlement, which is often a lengthy process.
Even if they suggest beginning with a civil lawsuit for your motorcycle accident, building your case will still take time. They must investigate the accident, gather evidence of negligence, and complete paperwork. The sooner you reach out to begin the process, the better they will be able to protect your right to take legal action.
Other Ways a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With Motorcycle Personal Injury Claims
Aside from helping you file an insurance claim or lawsuit, a lawyer can take the stress out of the legal process in other ways. For example, they can handle all communications with the at-fault party, insurance company, and opposing legal representation. They can also let you know your rights and protect you from bad-faith insurance tactics.
Your fort Myers motorcycle accident lawyer can even consult expert witnesses, such as accident reconstructionists, to help gather evidence of another party’s negligence. They can speak with your doctors to understand your recovery process and prognosis. If you require ongoing medical treatment, your attorney can help you estimate your future medical bills to account for those expenses in your requested compensation amount.
A Florida motorcycle accident attorney can also explain the legal process and answer any questions you may have along the way.
You Can Afford to Hire a Lawyer to Help With Motorcycle Accident Claims in Florida
You may be wondering if you can afford to hire legal representation. You should know that many personal injury law firms, including the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, take fort lauderdale motorcycle accident law firm cases on contingency. This means we will not charge you upfront fees or hourly retainers to start your case. Instead, we will take a percentage of your settlement or verdict at the end of your case.
This way, our law firm can start working on your case immediately to help you meet the statute of limitations for Miami motorcycle accident lawyer cases. You can also rest assured that we will work our hardest because our payment depends on your case’s success.
Discuss Your Legal Options During a Free Consultation
Our personal injury law firm also offers free, no-obligation consultations. You can explain your motorcycle accident and ask questions during this conversation. Of course, this consultation is completely confidential, and you are not obligated to hire a lawyer.
Call The Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato for Help With Your Florida Motorcycle Personal Injury Claim
You deserve time to focus on your physical recovery, yet you have a deadline to meet if you choose to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in Florida. Instead of racing against the clock on your own, you can hire our Florida motorcycle accident attorneys to help you meet the statute of limitations. At the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato, we have helped many motorcycle accident victims and their families recover fair compensation, and now we want to help you. Call us today at (954) 633-8270.
