Motorcycles lack the steel frames and standard safety features of passenger vehicles, which makes accidents involving them far more serious. If you’ve been in a motorcycle crash, you may be sidelined for weeks or months, unable to work and facing piles of medical bills. Seeking monetary damages can be an uphill battle, as many lawyers and insurers try to blame riders for their accidents. The best way to stand up for your right to the compensation you deserve is to hire a knowledgeable Lafayette motorcycle accident attorney. Find out why so many clients trust the family at Inzina Law Firm Injury Attorneys.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
The steps you take immediately after being in a motorcycle crash will affect the strength of your legal claim. We suggest doing the following:
- Call 911 and report the accident: Ensure law enforcement arrives at the scene and generates a police accident report, which will serve as evidence later.
- Seek immediate medical attention: Even if you don’t think you’ve been hurt, seeing a doctor is vital to protecting your health and your legal rights.
- Document as much of the accident as you can: To the extent you are able to do so, take pictures, record video, and ask witnesses for their contact information.
- Talk to a motorcycle accident attorney in Lafayette: Your lawyer can help you explore your right to compensation, so don’t delay speaking to one.
Motorcycle Accident Claims Process
Understanding the claims process can help protect you or your loved one after being in a motorcycle wreck. A Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyer can help you with these steps:
- Filing a claim: An insurance claim will need to be filed with the at-fault party’s insurance company, and we can handle this for you.
- Investigating the accident scene: This is necessary to obtain evidence and determine if other parties, aside from the negligent driver, may have been responsible.
- Negotiating with the insurers: Once all potential defendants are identified, we will negotiate on your behalf with their insurance companies.
- Taking your claim to court if needed: If the insurers and lawyers won’t negotiate fairly, we will take your case to court and seek the maximum damages for your injuries.
Types of Damages You Can Recover After a Motorcycle Accident
Although every accident is different, most victims can seek compensation for the following:
- Medical bills, past and present: These include expenses for ambulance rides, hospitalization, surgery, adaptive medical equipment, and more.
- Lost wages and future lost wages: You can win damages for work you miss now plus lost future income stemming from your injuries.
- Educational training: If your accident requires you to train for a new job, a settlement could potentially cover the expenses associated with it.
- Property damages: The costs of your motorcycle plus any other damaged or destroyed personal property are included here.
- Emotional distress and pain and suffering: These two categories are similar in nature and cover anxiety, depression, mental and physical pain, and more.
Potential Liable Parties in a Lafayette Motorcycle Accident
Because motorcycle accident claims are based on negligence, various parties could have played a role in causing your wreck. These parties include:
- Another motorist
- The other motorist’s employer, if he or she was working at the time
- The manufacturer of the motorcycle or a defective part
- A repair shop or mechanic who did faulty work on your motorcycle or another vehicle
- A governmental entity that failed to safely maintain the roads
- A road construction crew that allowed hazards to cause the crash
Your Lafayette motorcycle accident attorney will thoroughly investigate to determine who could be held at fault. Sometimes, more than one party shares blame, which may increase the amount of your damages award.
Louisiana Motorcycle Laws
Motorcyclists are expected to obey the laws like everyone else, and following them will help your case in the event of an accident. These state laws cover:
- Motorcycle licensing and inspection
- Helmet safety requirements
- Safety gear, such as protective eyewear
- Motorcycle traffic laws
Contact our office to learn more about the legal requirements for riding a motorcycle so you can protect your right to damages if you are in a crash.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Louisiana
Motorcycle accident victims have the duty of explaining what caused their wrecks. Examples include:
- Speeding and other traffic violations
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued driving
- Lane splitting
- Bad weather conditions
- Road hazards
Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Wearing helmets and other safety gear is essential to minimize injuries in the event of an accident. Among the most frequent injuries are:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Road rash
- Bone fractures
- Internal organ damage and bleeding
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Non-physical injuries, such as emotional trauma
Our Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Will Help You Build a Strong Case
We understand the stress you are facing after being in a motorcycle accident or having a loved one who has been hurt. We get to work immediately by reviewing the evidence and using the insurance claims process for our clients. If your case goes to trial, we have a number of tools at our disposal to obtain additional evidence, including subpoenas, depositions, and expert witness testimony. We handle your case from start to finish, answer your questions and concerns, and seek the damages you deserve.
Contact a Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
You owe it to yourself and your family to learn more about your legal rights after being in a motorcycle accident. Connect with a motorcycle accident attorney in Lafayette today. Call the family Inzina Law Firm Injury Attorneys to schedule your confidential consultation.
Motorcycle Accident FAQs
What is the average settlement payout for a motorcycle crash?
Since every motorcycle accident is different, the amount of money that yours is worth will depend on numerous factors. These include the seriousness of your injuries, how much work you miss, and how willing the insurers and lawyers representing the at-fault parties are willing to negotiate in good faith.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partially at fault?
Louisiana law allows defendants to argue that motorcycle accident victims were partially at fault for their wrecks. While you can still recover compensation, it will be reduced by the amount of fault (if any) the jury assigns to you. We work hard to fight all attempts to shift liability to our clients.
Is there a deadline to file a lawsuit?
Most victims only have one year after their accidents to file a lawsuit, although in some cases this timeframe may be different. If you do not file before the applicable deadline, your claim will be dismissed and you won’t recover anything. But to present the strongest possible case you should not delay seeing a motorcycle accident attorney in Lafayette.
