Motorcycle accidents can be devastating for the biker as well as their families. Because there is little protection for the motorcyclist from the impact force, most injuries are more severe than those of car accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 80% of motorcycle accidents result in the injury or death of the biker.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident caused by negligence, you have the right to seek compensation. A Baton Rouge motorcycle accident attorney with Morris Bart can help you recover damages for medical treatment expenses and other losses you or a loved one suffered in an accident. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to review your financial compensation options with our Baton Rouge personal injury lawyer.
We Will Fight for Your Financial Recovery After a Baton Rouge Motorcycle Accident
With our victories in over 5,600 injury cases in 2022 and 40-plus years of personal injury law experience in the Gulf South, we are confident we can review your Baton Rouge motorcycle accident and advise you on the next best steps to take in your case. We are proud to serve clients in Louisiana and help them hold the parties accountable who caused their losses after acts of negligence.
If you or a loved one is recovering from injuries from a motorcycle accident, we can take up your case, ensuring you protect your rights and demand the compensation due to you. We work diligently to get results for our clients that give them the monetary compensation they deserve as they move forward after an accident. In many cases, motorcycle accident victims suffer debilitating injuries that can take months or even years to recover from.
For a free legal consultation with a Motorcycle Accident lawyer serving Baton Rouge, call 800-537-8185
You Don’t Have to Pay Us Up Front to Work on Your Baton Rouge Injury Case
Our law office works on personal injury cases in Baton Rouge on contingency. We will not charge you any upfront attorney’s fees if you hire us to represent you after your legal consultation. We receive payment only after your case concludes and if you recover compensation. A contingency fee agreement makes it easier for you to obtain legal representation and allows us to start on your case as soon as possible.
Recoverable Damages in a Baton Rouge Motorcycle Accident
While every case is different, some economic and non-economic damages our Baton Rouge motorcycle accident lawyers have recovered after motorcycle accidents include:
- Medical care expenses (past, present, ongoing)
- Rehabilitation expenses (e.g., physical therapy)
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income and benefits
- Lost future earnings if your injuries result in a permanent disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
We will assess the financial value of every loss you endured. We want you to receive the maximum compensation for your losses and will seek a fair financial settlement for you.
Click to contact our Baton Rouge Personal Injury Lawyers today
Wrongful Death Damages in a Baton Rouge Motorcycle Collision
Negligent driving causes fatal injuries for motorcycle riders. Grieving families must now deal with the sudden loss of a loved one and deal with their financial burdens.
If your family is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit because of the loss of a loved one, you may be entitled to:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Benefits and income the decedent would have earned
- The decedent’s medical expenses
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to the decedent’s injuries
Under Louisiana law, certain relatives can demand wrongful death damages from the liable party. Our law firm can explain how the wrongful death action process works for you and your family during a free consultation.
Louisiana’s Statute of Limitations Sets a Deadline for Your Injury Case
In Louisiana, injured parties generally have one year to file a lawsuit, per La. Civ. Code Art. 3492. In other words, you have one year from your accident date to file a claim against the negligent driver.
We Will Prove Negligence in Your Motorcycle Accident
To prove a defendant was negligent on the road, motorcycle accident victims and their lawyers must prove the following elements:
- Duty: The other party owed you a duty of care to show care while on the road.
- Breach of duty: The other party failed to meet that duty through actions or inactions. Distracted driving, reckless driving, aggressive driving, and other unsafe behavior on the road are all breaches of the duty of care.
- Cause in fact: Had it not been for the other party’s failure, you would not have suffered an injury.
- Cause: The other party’s failure to uphold their rights directly caused an accident.
- Damages: You suffered injuries and losses (including future losses) that you can demand payment for.
If you wish to recover from your financial damages and have the negligent party pay for them, you must prove they behaved recklessly and that you were injured as a result.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Baton Rouge
There are several ways the defendant can be found liable for your injuries. Some instances of negligent behavior our Baton Rouge personal injury lawyers have seen in motorcycle accident cases include:
- They turned their cars into your motorcycle: The NHTSA reports that 42% of multiple-vehicle accidents involve a driver turning into a motorcyclist.
- They changed lanes suddenly or drifted over the line: If a driver is not vigilant, it can be easy to overlook motorcyclists in their blind spots.
- They were driving while under the influence of alcohol: According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), 1,803 motorcyclists died in 2020 because of alcohol-related crashes.
- The lane was split: This dangerous practice puts motorcycles near other cars, which can be deadly if the car shifts too close to the motorcycle.
Louisiana Laws that May Impact a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
There are a few laws you should be aware of that could impact your claim to recover damages after a motorcycle accident in Baton Rouge or the surrounding area:
Comparative Fault
According to this law, if you are found somewhat responsible for the accident, your damages will be reduced by the degree to which you are responsible. If the courts find that you are 20% responsible for the incident, the amount you are awarded will be reduced by 20%.
A motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm will help you build a strong case to protect you against defense tactics used to allege that you are more responsible than you are.
Common Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Accidents
Because motorcyclists do not have a car frame to protect them from an impact or stop them from being ejected, injuries from motorcycle accidents are generally more severe than those in car accidents. Some of the common injuries our Baton Rouge lawyers see include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
A TBI can occur when someone experiences a sudden blow or jolt to the head, impacting the brain’s normal function. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents cause 20% of all TBI-related hospital stays. Head injury can have lasting consequences, from a changed personality to a coma.
If you suffer from a TBI and have difficulty with hand-eye coordination, your personal injury lawyer will handle all communications and filing legal paperwork. We will also represent you at trial and in settlement negotiations if you are bound to a bed.
Spinal Cord Injuries
One study analyzing injuries in motorcycle accidents found that of the 1,121 riders studied, 11.2% suffered from a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injuries can cause numbness or tingling in the extremities, difficulty walking, or complete paralysis below the injury.
Motorcycle victims with spinal cord injuries can rely on their attorneys to meet with insurance companies and negotiate fair compensation on their behalf.
Road Rash
With nothing but clothing to protect you from the road during a motorcycle accident, road rash is a common injury in motorcycle crashes. While the severity of road rash can vary, in severe cases, it can remove multiple layers of skin and require skin grafting to treat and repair the area.
If you are bound to the hospital for treatment, a lawyer at Morris Bart can begin totaling your damages and preparing for conversations with the defendant’s insurance company.
Get Started on Your Baton Rouge Motorcycle Accident Case by Calling Morris Bart Injury and Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A Baton Rouge motorcycle accident lawyer at Morris Bart can help you pursue damages. We offer a free, no-risk consultation to find out what options you have for recovering compensation for your injuries.
We can help you and your family explore your legal options for recovering compensation after a motorcycle accident. We also work on a contingency basis, which means that if you retain our services, we are paid only if we are successful with your case.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
