Taking a stroll on your motorcycle can be quite the experience, especially when you’re riding around New Port Richey’s beautiful beachside view. The long stretches of road make for great, uninterrupted riding. Motorcycles can be a great way to get around, although they leave the driver at an inherently higher risk of accident. Motor vehicles collide with motorcyclists at an unfortunately high rate, and it’s often due to the recklessness of the car driver, not the motorcyclist. 

If you have been in an accident where the primary cause was the negligence of another driver, you are eligible for damages for your injuries. To best understand how to obtain the compensation you deserve, McPherson & Thomas, P.A. has put together a how-to guide to follow. 

4 Steps to Recovering Compensation After Your New Port Richey Motorcycle Accident

If you have been in a motorcycle accident and would like to receive compensation for your damages, it’s imperative you follow the four following steps:

Seek Medical Attention 

This may seem obvious, but for those who walk away from an accident fairly unscathed, it’s still vital to seek immediate medical attention. Motorcycle accidents are unpredictable, and injuries can vary quite drastically depending on the circumstances, including the size of the vehicle, whether the motorcyclist is wearing a helmet, how fast both parties are going, the location of the accident, and so on. 

Additionally, some injuries like whiplash can take days or even weeks to present themself. It also helps build your case if you have immediate medical records to report your injuries. 

Safely Gather Evidence

If you are able to gather evidence safely after your accident has occurred, then taking photographs or even video footage from your phone of the accident scene is encouraged. Additionally, it’s important to immediately call the police and seek eyewitness testimony from another driver or pedestrian. 

Do not attempt to gather evidence unless it is completely safe to do so. If you are unable to, your attorney can help do so for you while you recover. Additional evidence your attorney may have access to includes traffic camera footage, past driving records, and police reports. 

File a Personal Injury Claim 

To get the ball rolling, you must file a personal injury claim detailing your accident and injuries. For your claim to be successful and for you to receive economic and non-economic damages for your injuries, you must prove the at-fault party is liable. This can be done through the four components of negligence: 

• Standard of care
• Breach of care
• Causation
• Damages

In short, you and your attorney must be able to prove that another broke their expected standard of care by speeding, driving while intoxicated, or another or reckless activity, and you must prove that this directly resulted in your accident and your injuries. 

Florida is a modified comparative negligence state, meaning as long as you are not found to be more than 50% liable for your accident, you can still receive damages. 

Speak With a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

While you are technically able to file a claim without the help of an attorney, the process can be overwhelming, and you are likely to walk away with a far smaller settlement than you would if you partnered up with a knowledgeable lawyer. Insurance companies are not your friends and will attempt to settle your case with the smallest amount of financial compensation possible. 

An attorney will also ensure everything is filed correctly and on time. The current statute of limitations for motorcycle accident claims in Florida is two years from the accident date. 

Looking to Receive Damages for Your Accident? A New Port Richey Attorney Can Help Now

McPherson & Thomas, P.A. has helped our clients acquire more than 400 thousand dollars in compensation for their damages. Our people-first approach means you have us at your disposal from the initial meeting to the final settlement, and we take pride in our clients’ success. We also don’t see a single penny unless you win. 

See how we can best help you today by using our contact form to schedule a free consultation or by calling (727) 848-8892.