According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are about 22 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than occupants in other types of vehicles. In 2022, 6.218 motorcyclists died in fatal motorcycle accidents. When motorcycle accidents are not deadly, they can result in catastrophic, life-changing injuries.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, an experienced Huntsville motorcycle accident lawyer from Siniard Law, LLC can help. We want to help you obtain fair compensation for your severe injuries. Call us today for a free initial consultation.
How Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help
Motorcycle accidents in Huntsville, Alabama can result in severe injuries that lead to costly medical bills and a long road to recovery. If someone else’s negligence is responsible for your injuries, they could be responsible for the damages you suffered.
Many motorcycle accidents cause permanent disability. You may be in rehabilitation for months or years. You need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney who can fight to protect your rights while you focus on your recovery.
The Alabama personal injury attorneys at Siniard Law, LLC have decades of combined legal experience representing victims of motorcycle accidents and other accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. We know the tactics insurance companies use to try to avoid paying fair compensation to victims, and we are here to fight back.
Our motorcycle injury attorneys can investigate your case to determine how the accident happened. We can obtain case-supporting evidence to show the factors that contributed to the accident. We can work with your medical team to ensure you receive the medical care you need and can estimate your future care needs. We can then offer you legal advice about your options for recovery.
We can also negotiate aggressively for maximum compensation. Insurance adjusters will try to minimize your claim or even blame you for the accident. However, we can fight back to ensure you are treated safely. Having experienced legal representation during this time is critical. Call us today for a legal consultation to discuss your rights and options.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents can result in permanent injuries because of the lack of a steel frame or other safety features in motorcycles. Common injuries stemming from motorcycle accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial injuries, including dental trauma
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Nerve damage
- Leg injuries
- Arm injuries
- Bone injuries
- Pelvic and hip injuries
- Burn injuries
- Crush injuries
- Road rash
Sadly, many accidents result in fatal injuries. According to the NHTSA, 2,741 accidents that involved a motorcycle and another type of vehicle resulted in fatalities in 2020. In these incidents, a personal injury lawyer may be able to help the grieving family file a wrongful death claim.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents often occur because drivers of other vehicles do not see motorcyclists. Motorcycles are much smaller and lower to the ground than other vehicles. Motorists may fail to scan the road in front of them or around them to see these other road users, potentially putting them in danger through their careless driving.
Leading causes of motorcycle accidents include:
- Drivers turning left into the pathway of oncoming motorcyclists
- Misjudging speed or distance
- Failing to see the motorcyclist
- Failing to check blind spots
- Distracted driving
- Driver inattention
- Not signaling lane changes
- Drunk driving
- Driver error
In these situations, the injured motorcyclist has the right to seek compensation from the liable party.
Financial Compensation in Motorcycle Accident Claims
Victims of motorcycle accidents often face significant financial challenges. Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries that may take months or years to recover from, if ever. Accident victims can seek compensation for economic damages they suffer, such as:
- Medical bills for surgeries, hospital stays, ambulance services, diagnostic tests, therapies, doctor visits, and medication
- Rehabilitation and ongoing medical expenses
- Future anticipated medical expenses
- Lost wages and employment benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Costs to repair or replace their bike
Compensation for victims also includes money for subjective losses that are not tied to a particular dollar amount, including:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish and mental distress
- Psychological trauma, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, or depression
- Loss of consortium
- Costs to repair or replace their bike
If you lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident, Alabama’s wrongful death statute allows certain family members to file a wrongful death claim and seek punitive damages from the at-fault party.
Steps for a Successful Motorcycle Accident Claim
Here are the steps to make a successful claim following a motorcycle accident:
Report the Accident
Along with reporting the accident to the police, you will also want to report the accident to the at-fault party’s insurance company. Alabama is an at-fault insurance state, so the party who is at fault for the accident is responsible for compensating the victim for their losses. This process is often completed through an insurance claim with their liability provider.
Seek Medical Attention
Your health is your top priority. Few motorcycle accidents result in minor injuries. Accept the EMT’s offer of medical attention and see a doctor immediately. Keep all your medical bills and records, as you will need them for your compensation claim.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
As soon as possible, you will want to engage the services of a Huntsville motorcycle accident lawyer. A lawyer can investigate the accident and preserve evidence before it is lost or destroyed. A lawyer can also handle the legal process for you so you can focus on your path to recovery.
Investigate the Case
Insurance adjusters may investigate the accident to determine who is at fault and if insurance coverage applies. However, you should be aware of biases among insurance companies against motorcyclists. Many insurance companies try to blame the victim for the accident and claim that the accident was due to drunk driving, reckless driving, or speeding.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers can fight back against these tactics. We can gather evidence to prove how the accident happened. We can interview witnesses, seek video evidence of the accident, and review the accident report and photos of the accident scene. Our goal is to help secure maximum compensation for you and your family.
Prepare a Demand Letter
Once we have the evidence necessary to show the other driver was at fault and can accurately estimate your damages, we can prepare a demand letter to the insurance company. This demand letter sets out critical information, such as:
- How the accident occurred
- The factors that contributed to the accident
- How the other driver was at fault
- The damages you sustained in the accident
- The amount of financial compensation
Negotiate the Claim
The insurance company may respond to the demand letter by offering a low settlement. An experienced attorney can review the offer and explain whether it is a fair settlement. They can negotiate for a higher settlement amount. Your attorney and the insurance company may go through several rounds of negotiations before reaching a final amount for your claim.
How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Every personal injury claim is different, so estimating how much your case might be worth is difficult. Individual factors that can affect the potential value of a motorcycle accident case include:
- The type and severity of injuries you suffered
- The type of medical treatment you require
- How long your recovery lasts
- The extent of the damages you sustained, including pain and suffering
- How the accident affects your life
- Insurance coverage available
- Whether you contributed to the accident
The best way to learn the potential value of your case is to discuss it with an experienced attorney.
What Is the Deadline to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident?
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, the statute of limitations serves as a deadline by which you must file your lawsuit. The statute of limitations in Alabama is two years from the accident date. In a fatal motorcycle accident case, the legal representative has two years from the date of death to file a personal injury lawsuit.
This deadline is important to remember as you proceed through the legal process because if you miss it, you can lose your right to seek compensation through the courts.
How Can I Prove Fault for a Motorcycle Accident?
Various forms of evidence can help prove fault in a motorcycle accident, including:
- The accident report
- Statements from witnesses
- Photos of the accident scene
- Video footage from dash cams, traffic cameras, and surveillance cameras
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
- Data stored in the vehicle’s event data recorder
An experienced attorney can help gather compelling evidence to support your claim.
Contact Our Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorneys for a Free Case Review
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Huntsville, Alabama, you have legal rights. You should not have to pay for someone else’s mistake. Get help from a Huntsville motorcycle accident lawyer from Siniard Law, LLC. Contact us today to arrange a free consultation. We can discuss your legal options for recovery and how we can help.