Intersection Accidents

Motorcycles are a popular mode of transportation in a warm climate like South Florida, where they can be utilized year round. Motorcycle riders love the sense of freedom they get from riding. However, motorcycles pose their own dangers too, especially when navigating through intersections with other vehicles whose drivers aren’t paying close attention. If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash at an intersection, the Miami motorcycle accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Robert Dixon are available to assist you with your claim. We have represented injured individuals in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties, as well as throughout Florida. Our attorneys have the experience and skill to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.

Accidents involving motorcycles in intersections can lead to serious injuries. They often result from a car or truck driver’s lack of awareness, even when the motorcyclist has the right of way. Studies show that the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents is other motorists’ failure to detect motorcycles in traffic. Intersections are especially dangerous because drivers are making turns, changing speeds at a rapid pace, stopping suddenly, and trying to make it through a yellow or running a red light.

Motorists not paying proper attention at intersections, and who cause motorcycle accidents as a result, may be liable for injuries caused by their carelessness. To establish a negligence claim, an injured person must show that the defendant had a duty of care to drive as carefully as an ordinary person would, breached that duty, and caused injuries to the victim that resulted in damages such as medical expenses or lost wages.

Many careless actions can cause an intersection accident. Drivers failing to legally yield the right-of-way while entering or approaching an intersection are examples of negligence. Many motorcycle intersection accidents are caused by the following actions of careless drivers:

• Attempting to pass through a yellow light and running a red light as a result;
• Failing to notice a motorcycle stopped at an intersection, leading to a rear-end collision;
• Failing to obey a stop sign; or
• Not exercising due care when making left-hand turns, often misjudging a motorcyclist’s speed or failing to see them.

All drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely, including motorcyclists. If a motorcyclist is also driving unreasonably given the circumstances, such as speeding through a yellow light, he or she may be found negligent as well. Since Florida is a pure comparative fault state, someone who was injured in an intersection accident is responsible for the percentage of damages correlating to his or her percentage of fault. Even if the victim is 60 percent responsible for the collision, however, the victim can still recover 40 percent of the damages from a defendant who bears the rest of the responsibility.

If you have been injured in an intersection accident due to another’s negligence, consulting a qualified and experienced lawyer in a timely manner is important. Personal injury suits must be filed within four years of when the collision occurred. Compensation that may be available to you includes past and future medical costs, loss of income, lost future earnings, and property damage to the motorcycle, as well as more subjective damages such as pain and suffering. In the tragic event that an intersection accident kills someone, certain family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for their loss.

Drivers who fail to exercise proper care on the roadways should be held liable for the injuries they cause. If you’ve been hurt by a careless driver, the Miami motorcycle accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you pursue a claim to receive appropriate compensation. Contact us to schedule a free consultation regarding your intersection accident, even if you are not sure if you have a claim. You can call us at 877.499.4878 or fill out our online form to set up a conversation.