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Motorcycle accidents are very common in the United States. If you get involved in a motorcycle accident, you can get compensated for any injuries you have sustained. The injuries sustained from a motorcycle accident are very serious and may lead to permanent damage. Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyer at (337) 284 9548, and let us review your case at no cost.
Abbeville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycles are very small, which often makes it very hard for other road users to see them while checking their blind spots. The motorcyclist often suffers the most serious injuries when involved in a motorcycle accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists were 28 times more likely to die in an accident than passenger car occupants.
Riding a motorcycle is quite dangerous even when you have taken the necessary precautions. The main cause of motorcycle accidents is a collision with other road users. For instance, many passenger vehicles collide with motorcycles when changing lanes without properly checking their blind spot. Some motorcycle accidents can occur due to poor roads. In such a case, you can file a claim against the state.
When a motorcycle accident occurs, the liable party’s insurance company will try to prove that you are responsible for your injuries. This will put you in a difficult position, and the insurance company will try to lower the compensation they should give you for your injuries. This is why you need to contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyer immediately after your motorcycle accident. Call us today at (337) 284 9548 and let us review your case for free.
Injuries Commonly Associated with Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles are not enclosed like other vehicles, which increases the severity of injuries sustained by victims of motorcycle accidents. Wearing protective gear such as helmets, leather jackets and boots, can help prevent some injuries. Some of the injuries commonly associated with motorcycle accidents include:
- Injuries to the head or neck
- Broken bones
- Lacerations and cuts
- Injuries to the spinal cord
- Lower extremity injuries
- Skin abrasions or road rash
How Can an Abbeville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help?
A motorcycle accident can leave you with serious or life-long injuries. Such injuries will negatively affect your earning capabilities, the relationship you have with your family and the overall quality of your life. The main reason why you should get a lawyer is to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Here are a few ways that a motorcycle accident lawyer can help you:
- Negotiate with the insurance company of the liable party
- File your case in court
- Gather important evidence
- Get expert witnesses who will testify
- Follow evidence up the chain of custody
A motorcycle accident lawyer has a wealth of experience in dealing with insurance companies. This makes it easy for them to negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company and get a fair settlement. A motorcycle accident lawyer also understands any loopholes that the insurance company might try to use to get out of paying you the full settlement.
If negotiating with your insurance company does not work, your motorcycle accident lawyer can file your case in court. An Abbeville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer understands that the statute of limitation on filing a personal injury case in Louisiana is one year. This will help the lawyer file your case in time and represent you even if you cannot go to court physically.
A motorcycle accident lawyer will also gather evidence that will prove that the other party is liable for the accident. This might involve visiting the scene of the accident and taking pictures. The lawyer will also collect the other party’s contact information. A motorcycle accident lawyer will also call upon expert witnesses who will testify that your injuries are due to the accident.
Evidence collected by the police is often tampered with, which makes it easy for the liable party to win a case. The lawyer will ensure that the integrity of the evidence remains intact. This will help you have a fair case where you can get the compensation you deserve.
What Happens If the Injured Party was Not Wearing a Helmet?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, helmets reduce the risk of death by approximately 37%. Louisiana law requires that every individual riding a motorcycle wear a helmet. If you get involved in a motorcycle accident without having worn a helmet, the amount of compensation will significantly reduce.
Comparative negligence principles in Louisiana will still entitle you to some level of compensation. If the court finds that you were partially at fault for 50% of the accident, then the compensation will reduce by 50%. However, you can get more compensation if you can prove that the injuries you sustained would still be there if you had been wearing a helmet.
Failure to wear a helmet should not deter you from seeking compensation. The liable party will try to show that not wearing a helmet made you partially or even wholly liable for the accident. If you get involved in a motorcycle accident without a helmet, contact an Abbeville motorcycle accident lawyer. You can get in touch with a motorcycle accident lawyer by calling Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers at (337) 284 9548 today.
Can You Get Punitive Damages After Suffering a Motorcycle Accident?
Punitive damages are not normally awarded in a motorcycle accident. However, you can get punitive damages if your lawyer proves that the liable party acted with malicious intent or engaged in very reckless behaviour. Punitive damages are usually meant to punish the liable party. Punitive damages are usually higher than compensatory damages.
Proving that the liable party acted with gross negligence and in disregard of other people’s safety is a bit tricky. Having a motorcycle accident lawyer by your side can help you win punitive damages. The money from punitive damages can help you get back on your feet by:
- Compensating you for lost income
- Helping you meet current and future medical expenses
- Allowing you to get adaptive equipment such as ramps, or wheelchairs
- Helping you meet the burial and funeral expenses of your loved one.
Seek Legal Counsel
Getting an Abbeville motorcycle accident lawyer is one of the best decisions you can make if you have sustained injuries from a motorcycle accident. Let us review your case for free. Call any of our Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 284 9548.