Due to their vulnerability, motorcycle riders are more likely to be injured when a vehicle crash occurs, and the injury severity can be higher. Along with these catastrophic injuries often come devastating medical bills and other costs. When other drivers on the road cause these motorcycle injury accidents, they can be held liable for the damages through a personal injury claim.
Injured motorcyclists and their families can have a motorcycle crash attorney on their side to begin investigating all the facts. If the other driver was negligent and caused the accident, they may be liable for the medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
A Montgomery personal injury lawyer with the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown can handle the insurance negotiations for you so that you can focus on healing. Reach out to us by phone or through our online contact form to learn more about how we can help you move forward from your motorcycle wreck with the compensation you need to cover your accident-related expenses.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Are Devastating for Alabama Riders
Many motorcycle riders are very conscientious of safety when on the road. They are careful to stay visible to other drivers and follow the rules of the road. However, other drivers may not always be as careful. If you ride a motorcycle in Alabama, we can protect your rights if you are injured.
Many serious injuries can occur in a motorcycle accident. Head injuries, spine/back injuries, and fractures are common. Fatalities are more likely to occur in motorcycle accidents than in other types of vehicle accidents. In 2018, the Governors Highway Safety Association estimated that per mile driven, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to be fatally injured in a crash.
Compensation You Can Get in a Montgomery, AL Motorcycle Accident Claim
Here are some of the damages that you may potentially claim in a Montgomery motorcycle accident lawsuit:
- Medical expenses: All healthcare costs associated with your injury treatment, from initial emergency response through long-term rehabilitation services.
- Loss of income: The value of your past income losses stemming from missing work during your recovery and any reduced earning capacity if you sustained disabilities that have altered your employment potential.
- Property losses: The repair or replacement costs for the motorcycle, gear, clothing, and any other personal property destroyed or damaged in the crash.
- Pain and suffering: Compensation for physical discomfort, emotional trauma, grief, reduced enjoyment and fulfilling experiences, permanent scarring, or lifestyle limitations resulting from crash injuries.
- Loss of consortium: Additional damages related to the negative impact your injuries and stress have on your spousal intimacy or parental abilities.
- Punitive damages: If gross negligence, like drunk driving, caused the crash, additional sums meant to punish such egregious, harmful actions may be warranted.
Quantifying motorcycle accident repercussions is complex—a motorcycle accident attorney in Montgomery can make the claims process less stressful during this profoundly difficult time.
Can You File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Montgomery if You Share Fault in a Wreck?
Alabama maintains extremely strict liability laws regarding shared fault accidents under its pure contributory negligence system. In Alabama, victims of motorcycle accidents caused by negligence cannot claim compensation if they hold even 1% of fault in causing the motorcycle collision. This strict law can limit victims’ legal options for compensation.
Your motorcycle accident lawyer in Alabama will use evidence to prove that you were not at fault in the wreck and that the other party is, therefore, responsible for covering your expenses. The sooner you reach out to our team, the sooner we can begin protecting your rights.
How Driver Negligence Causes Motorcycle Accidents in Alabama
Unlike cars, motorcycle riders lack protective exteriors and safety features like airbags. So, they rely heavily on other motorists driving attentively to avoid collisions. When drivers become negligent by breaking traffic laws or failing to implement basic road safety practices, it often precipitates catastrophic motorcycle crashes.
Common negligent driving actions that lead to motorcycle collisions include:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Reckless driving
- Weaving through traffic
- Tailgating motorcycles
- Illegal turning
- Lane changes without looking
- Not signaling
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Drunk driving
- Disregarding right of way
- Improperly merging into motorcycle lanes
When negligence is the cause of a motorcycle accident, riders end up with bills for wrecks that never should have happened. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Montgomery, AL, with the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown will build a strong case for your compensation. Call us today or complete our online contact form to learn more.
How Long You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Montgomery
The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit in Alabama is two years from the date of the accident. In most cases, victims generally have two years from the date of a motorcycle wreck to file a claim.
Specifically, Alabama law states that victims who suffered harm in a motorcycle collision caused by another driver’s negligence have a two-year window to take formal legal action to pursue financial compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and other losses stemming from crash injuries.
When the two-year mark from the actual date of the motorcycle accident passes, the chance to file a claim expires. So, connecting with an Alabama motorcycle accident attorney much earlier in the process could ensure no details are overlooked, and all legal deadlines are met.
What Should You Do if You Are in a Motorcycle Accident in Montgomery, Alabama?
Getting into a motorcycle crash is frightening and stressful, but it’s important to keep calm and focus on making sure everyone is safe. It is also important to preserve any evidence in your case if it becomes necessary to file a claim. The first thing you should do in a motorcycle wreck is call 911 to get help for any injured parties, including yourself.
If you are physically able, take photos of details like vehicle damage, ground impressions, street signs, and visibility issues while your memories remain fresh. Request contact info from any eyewitnesses, and consider videotaping witness testimony at the scene.
You may also want to reach out to a motorcycle accident attorney in Montgomery. We can guide you through the strategic steps involved in protecting your claim. You can lean on us for professional support while you recover. We will check in on you regularly to stay up-to-date with your progress.
Will Your Montgomery Motorcycle Accident Claim Go to Trial?
When it comes to the outcome of your Montgomery motorcycle accident claim, there are generally two ways a case will conclude:
We Reach a Settlement Agreement With the Insurers
The majority of all motorcycle injury claims are settled out of court prior to trial. Settlements usually involve negotiations between your attorney and the liable party’s insurance company’s attorneys. A fair settlement amount is eventually agreed upon through compromise. If settlements satisfy the victim’s needs, that ends the matter.
We Go to Trial When a Settlement Cannot Be Reached
However, sometimes settlement talks reach an impasse, and arbitrators can’t overcome key disputes regarding medical projections or percentages of blame in cases with shared liability. When this happens, we may end up taking the claim to trial so both sides can argue evidence before a judge and jury in an Alabama court.
Do You Have a Valid Montgomery Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Here are some key signs that may indicate you have a valid motorcycle accident claim to pursue compensation:
- There is clear evidence that another driver, entity, or property owner was negligent through actions like speeding, illegally turning, obscured visibility, or distracted driving that directly led to the collision. Their choices broke safety laws and practices.
- The at-fault party has sufficient assets or an active liability insurance policy, providing a means of payment that will cover damages the court may award you.
- Police reports, witness statements, skid marks, vehicle damage assessments, or other evidentiary items validate your recollection of the crash circumstances and indicate that the fault lies with the other party.
- You promptly sought medical treatment supporting physical harm, necessitating healthcare reimbursement for accident-related injuries.
- A motorcycle accident lawyer reviews your case specifics and substantiates that negligence factors, liability grounds, injury thresholds, and evidence support your right to legally pursue financial recovery for your losses.
Confirming these key elements through an initial case analysis will determine whether there is valid legal merit to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit. If you believe you have a valid claim, it may be time to get a free consultation with a Georgia motorcycle crash lawyer.
Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Montgomery for Free
If you are a victim of a motorcycle injury accident in Alabama, contact the Law Office of Dwayne L. Brown in Montgomery to discuss your legal options.
Montgomery motorcycle accident attorney Dwayne L. Brown has guided countless injured motorcycle riders through the claims and litigation process for 30 years. Our law firm understands how life changes in an instant for bikers who have been injured through no fault of their own. Let our team work on your behalf.
We are ready to act as your advocates through every step of your motorcycle accident claim. To begin mapping your path to recovery, reach out to us by phone or fill out our online contact form, and a member of our team will get back to you.
