Motorcycles do not offer the same level of protection and are harder to see on the road compared to larger motor vehicles. This puts motorcyclists at a higher risk of injury when accidents occur.
If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle accident, your legal options may include filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the appropriate party. A Marrero personal injury lawyer from our law firm can help you understand and navigate this process as you seek compensation.
Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (504) 777-7777 for more information and a free case review.
How to File an Injury Claim After a Motorcycle Accident
You can file a personal injury claim after a motorcycle accident with the responsible party’s insurer. Filing your claim requires knowing and providing documentation for factors such as:
- Who was at fault in the accident
- If negligence was involved
- How the motorcycle accident has impacted you
- Whether you will recover from your injuries
- If your family will suffer due to loss in income
Factors that May Affect Your Claim
Many factors affect whether you are in a position to file a claim and how much you could recover. For example, you will need to determine who you can bring your claim against. Depending on the circumstances, this could be another driver or an entity. There may even be multiple liable parties involved, which could allow you to seek compensation in more than one claim.
However, you can only hold these parties responsible if you can prove that their negligence led to the motorcycle accident. This means they acted without reasonable care for your and others’ safety. For example, if a driver texts behind the wheel, they can be at fault when a collision occurs.
It is possible to be partially at fault for a motorcycle collision and still collect damages from another negligent party. However, any damages you recover will likely be reduced, according to CC Art. 2323.
Louisiana Statute of Limitations
In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for motorcycle accident lawsuits is generally two years from the day the collision occurred, according to CC Art. 3492. It is important to keep this deadline in mind even when filing a claim—if you are unable to secure an insurance settlement, you will want to maintain your right to sue.
If you are worried about missing the filing deadline in your case, a lawyer from our team can explain this law in further detail and how it affects your timeline. We can also handle your claim and take over settlement negotiations to keep your case on track.
Consider working with our Marrero motorcycle accident attorney today. Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers now at (504) 777-7777 to receive a complimentary case review from a team member.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientCompensation in a Motorcycle Accident Claim
Motorcycle accidents often lead to serious injuries that require several weeks—if not months—of recovery. In turn, this can mean costly medical bills, time lost at work, and missed paychecks, which can quickly cause victims financial hardship.
Compensation awarded in motorcycle accident injury claims can help you recover from all the ways the accident has affected your life. The following sections outline the types of damages you may qualify to receive.
Medical Expenses
Recoverable medical expenses can include any medical care you required due to the motorcycle accident. If your accident was caused by someone else, you should not have to cover these costs. For example, you may be able to receive compensation for:
- Emergency medical assistance
- X-rays and CT scans
- Physical therapy
- Ongoing treatment for extensive injuries
- Surgery
- Casts for broken bones
- Treatment for traumatic brain injuries
- Prescriptions for pain relief
- Future medical expenses, if your injuries are permanent
Payments for Missed Time from Work
Not everyone can afford time off work to recover. A motorcycle collision case could help you collect compensation for the income you were unable to earn while healing after the accident, including payments for:
- Lost wages or salary
- PTO benefits
- 401k earnings
- Health insurance benefits
If you will not be able to return to work again, or you will suffer a reduced working capacity, you may recover damages that reflect these changes, as well.
Wrongful Death Damages
Losing a loved one due to a motorcycle accident can also bring about unexpected expenses, such as funeral costs and burial expenses. Wrongful death damages can help you pay for these costs, among others.
A wrongful death lawsuit may be filed by close family members of the deceased, including:
- A spouse
- Children
- Parents
- Grandparents
This compensation may also help the family account for the unexpected loss of income, including wages and benefits such as health insurance, after the accident.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientGet Help from Our Marrero Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
When you are ready to file your claim, a motorcycle accident attorney from our team can help in a range of ways, such as:
Fighting for Compensation on Your Behalf
We will advocate for you, work to build a case, and fight hard to pursue compensation for your injuries.
Our team will perform these tough tasks so you don’t have to, such as gathering evidence to support your claim. This could include:
- Analyzing your medical records and the police report
- Talking to eyewitnesses and the insurance companies for you
- Calling on expert witnesses to explain evidence, if necessary
Working Toward a Favorable Settlement
Our motorcycle accident team will work tirelessly to help you negotiate a settlement amount that reflects the value of your injuries. Some insurance companies will attempt to offer you low settlements at first to tie up the claim quickly. We will help you stay patient until they suggest a fair offer.
Fighting for You in Court
Should your claim not end in a settlement, our team will be there to fight for your compensation in court, sparing no effort, skills, or experience.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientReach Out Today to Get Started
At Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we have helped clients fight for compensation after suffering motorcycle accident injuries for years. We are ready to put the same skills and experience that helped us reach multi-million dollar settlements to work for you.
Contact us today at (504) 777-7777 to learn how you can begin working with our Marrero motorcycle accident lawyer.