The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcycle riders are 29 times more likely to die in a car crash compared to motorists in vehicles. Despite making a very small percentage of the vehicles on the road (8 million registered motorcycles compared to 286.9 million registered cars), motorcycle accidents are responsible for 14% of all accident fatalities.
Motorcycle accident victims are more likely to sustain severe injuries, especially when other vehicles are involved. When facing such a circumstance, seek the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer to file a claim against the at-fault parties.
How a Fort Polk Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Helps
The weeks following your motorcycle accident will most likely be quite stressful. You’ll be injured, unable to work, and facing mounting medical bills. Your personal expenses will keep piling up while you’re recovering from your injuries. Fortunately, you might be entitled to damages from the party or parties responsible for the crash.
The bad news is that getting this compensation in full will not be easy, especially if you don’t have legal representation. The insurance provider will try to limit their liability and reduce your payout. In some cases, insurance providers will even deny personal injury claims outright. This might require an attorney to help you deal with the legal side of things while you recover from your injuries. Here’s what an attorney can do for you:
- Ensure you file your accident suit in Fort Polk long before the one-year deadline elapses.
- Collect all the evidence you need to prove that the party or parties that caused the accident acted negligently and are liable for your injuries; this includes reviewing pictures and videos of the accident scene, interviewing eyewitnesses, and consulting specialists to get a clearer picture of how the accident happened.
- Review your medical records and consult medical professionals to determine the full extent of your injuries, their projected treatment costs, and the damages that you are entitled to.
- Communicate with the insurance providers and negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf.
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court if negotiations with the insurance providers don’t result in a favorable outcome.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Fort Polk, call (337) 777-7777
Who Is Liable for a Motorcycle Accident?
Accident lawsuits rely on legal concepts called duty of care and negligence when determining which party to hold liable. Duty of care requires that every motorist exercise reasonable care to ensure they don’t cause physical injury to other road users or damage their property. Any action that breaches this duty of care and increases the chance of an accident is considered negligence.
As such, any motorist that acts negligently while on the road can be held liable for damages if their actions lead to a crash. Your attorney must prove that the other party or parties were negligent and that their negligence was the direct cause of your injuries. Actions such as inattentive and reckless driving, speeding, and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol are considered negligence.
Note that the motorcyclist can also be held liable if they were partly responsible for the crash, even if they’re injured. You may also be able to sue a manufacturer if the motorcycle was defective or a local government if they did not maintain the roads properly.
Fort Polk Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
Damages You Can Get After a Motorcycle Accident
Accidents involving motorcycles usually result in severe injuries. This means you’ll most likely need a longer recovery time, be out of work for a while, and face higher medical bills. These factors will significantly affect the type of damages and the amount of compensation you’ll receive.
Your attorney will review your medical records and liaise with medical professionals to determine how much it will cost to treat your injuries. For instance, you’ll be entitled to higher compensation if you sustain disabling or life-changing wounds in a motorcycle accident. The following are some of the damages your attorney may seek after reviewing your case:
- Past and future treatment costs, including transport, emergency treatment, hospital stays, and prescription medications
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring, disfigurement, or loss of limb
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Wrongful death damages if the motorcyclist victims die; this covers funeral and burial expenses, treatment costs, the deceased’s loss of income, loss of companionship, and the deceased’s pain and suffering before they died
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Why Motorcycle Injuries Are So Dangerous
Motorcyclists are more than 29 times more likely to die in a crash and ten times more likely to sustain severe injuries than vehicle drivers. Why are riders so at risk whenever they hit the road? The difference in size, weight, and available protection is vital.
Motorcycles are a much smaller vehicle compared to the average car. They can be hard to spot on the road, especially for drivers in large passenger cars, buses, and trucks, making them more likely to be involved in crashes. Furthermore, the immense difference in size and weight means that even a minor crash can result in devastating injuries to the motorcyclist.
Furthermore, motorcyclists have little protection compared to other motorists. While drivers are protected by the vehicle’s shell and have airbags and seatbelts for extra protection, riders are completely exposed. In case of a crash, they’ll impact other vehicles or the ground directly, significantly increasing the chances of injury. Even though wearing a helmet and pads can reduce your injuries in case of a crash, they can only do so much in a severe accident.
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Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers
Have you recently been involved in a motorcycle accident in Fort Polk? Did your loved one lose their life in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence? Consider reaching out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers to file an injury lawsuit.
Our lawyers have years of personal injury experience, and we’ll use all our knowledge and experience to get you the maximum compensation you deserve. We require no upfront fees or costs to start working on your claim, so don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free case review.
Call or text (337) 777-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
