When driving in Mississippi, you will likely see a variety of vehicles sharing the roadway. These vehicles range in sizes and weights, which can cause some dangerous situations for those driving smaller vehicles.
A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 40 tons, an average delivery truck weighs about 6 tons, and a standard passenger car may weigh 1.5 tons. All of these vehicles are significantly larger and heavier than a motorcycle and rider, placing the motorcyclist in potentially serious peril in the event of an accident.
If you were struck by another motor vehicle while riding your bike, you might want to consider contacting a Biloxi motorcycle accident lawyer. Our team at the Morris Bart law firm is ready to stand by your side in a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who hit you. Call us today at (228) 357-9621 for a free case evaluation.
Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents are extremely dangerous for the long-term health of the cyclist. Nationwide, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 80% of crashes involving a motorcycle result in injury or death for the cyclist.
In Mississippi, the NHTSA also found that motorcycle fatalities climbed from 37 in 2015 to 50 just a year later.
Common Cyclist Injuries
Beyond the fatalities, many more Mississippi motorcyclists suffer injuries in a crash with a motor vehicle. Some of these injuries can be extremely serious, threatening the life of the rider and possibly changing their life forever.
Some of the injuries that motorcycle riders may suffer in a crash include:
- Head injury: A concussion, traumatic brain injury, or skull fracture
- Neck injury: A compression in the vertebrae with the possibility of paralysis
- Back injury: A broken back or spinal cord injury that might cause paralysis
- Broken bones: Broken arms, legs, wrists, ankles, and fingers (any of which may include compound fractures, where the bone breaks through the skin)
- Ligament injury: Sprained or torn knee, ankle, wrist, shoulder, or elbow ligaments
- Road rash: Skin abrasions on any part of the body, including the face
Some of these injuries may allow you to recover within a few days. Other injuries are life-altering or life-threatening, requiring months of rehabilitation. Some never fully heal.
Seeking Legal Representation
For help with your case, consider hiring a Biloxi motorcycle accident lawyer. Our team is ready to discuss your case in a free consultation, and we will help you determine the viability of your case against the other driver. Contact the Morris Bart law firm today at (228) 357-9621 to get started.
For a free legal consultation with a Motorcycle Accident lawyer serving Biloxi, call 800-537-8185
Recovering Damages after Your Biloxi Motorcycle Crash
Regardless of the type and extent of your injury, you probably will have medical bills associated with the injury. We believe you should not have to pay for these medical costs yourself when the driver who struck your motorcycle caused the crash and injury.
Beyond medical bills, you can seek compensation for a variety of items related to your crash and injuries. As long as you can prove that the driver who struck your motorcycle was negligently operating their vehicle, you may have a chance to recover damages. Some of the items for which you can receive a judgment include:
- Costs for medical care
- Costs for prescription drugs
- Costs for hospitalization
- Costs for therapy equipment
- Lost wages while recovering from your injury
You may be able to recover an amount equal to whatever your out-of-pocket expenses have been to this point for these items. You could also recover an amount equal to the estimated costs you will have for these items in the future.
Additionally, you could be eligible to recover compensation for emotional trauma related to the accident. This may involve post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleeplessness, a reduction in your quality of life, disfigurement, and other related items.
How an Attorney Can Help My Case
One of the key components of developing a personal injury case is proving that the other party involved behaved in a negligent manner, and this behavior led to the crash, causing your injuries.
Proving negligence is not always an easy process. This is one area where an attorney can help your case. Attorneys can study the police reports from the accident, speak with eyewitnesses, study any video of the area before and during the crash, and hire an accident reconstruction expert to help prove your case.
An attorney also understands how to calculate what a fair settlement amount should be in an injury case like yours. This knowledge can be valuable in helping you determine whether an insurer is treating you fairly.
Helping Your Case Stay on Track
Another way an attorney can help you is through meeting all deadlines for filing paperwork in the case. Like any state, Mississippi has a statute of limitations (three years, set by Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49) for starting the paperwork in a personal injury case. Your lawyer will help you stay within the statute of limitations, ensuring your case does not become invalid because of a technicality.
The insurance company representing the driver likely will have quite a bit of paperwork that it wants you to complete, as well as numerous questions for you to answer. With an attorney representing you, they can handle all of these items, ensuring that everything is completed in a timely manner.
Click to contact our Biloxi Personal Injury Lawyers today
Let Us Represent Your Interests Against the Insurance Company
As you begin assessing your injuries and long-term outlook, you may receive a call from an insurance adjuster for the driver who hit you. The insurer might attempt to convince you to accept a settlement that does not truly reflect the medical bills you are facing in the future, or your pain and suffering.
Our team at the Morris Bart law firm knows how to counteract some of the underhanded techniques that insurance adjusters might use. If you hire us, our Biloxi motorcycle accident lawyers will begin negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf, presenting your side of the story and attempting to gain the settlement you deserve.
We are ready to begin working for you. Call the Morris Bart law firm today at (228) 357-9621 today for a free consultation with a team member.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
