If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, you likely suffered injuries and had to take time away from work. An accident can leave you worrying about how to pay the medical bills that are starting to pile up while still covering your living expenses. We understand your concerns.
A Hattiesburg motorcycle accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law firm can explain your rights after the collision. Under Mississippi law, if another party’s negligence caused your motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to seek compensation that will cover your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. Talk to one of our personal injury attorneys for free today.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
In an article presented by the Insurance Information Institute (III), alcohol and speeding are the two major contributors to motorcycle accidents. Although motorcycle accidents can occur under a wide variety of circumstances, the following behaviors and conditions commonly spur this type of collision:
- Left turns
- Sudden stops
- Head-on collisions
- Lane-splitting
- “Dooring,” when a parked motorist opens their car door into the motorcyclist’s path
- Hazardous road conditions
- Lack of riding experience
- Unsafe lane changes
We accept all types of motorcycle cases. Whatever the factors and conditions, we will investigate and determine if another party’s negligence played a causal role in your injuries. Our personal injury lawyers are not afraid to go up against even the largest insurance companies, or take cases to trial when necessary. We understand the legal process and will navigate it on your behalf while you focus on healing from your injuries.
For a free legal consultation with a Motorcycle Accident lawyer serving Hattiesburg, call (601) 602-8431
Types of Injuries from a Motorcycle Collision
Due to the relative weight difference between a motorcycle and other vehicles, the force a rider experiences in a collision can be powerful. Combined with motorcycles’ lack of safety structures (frame, airbags, seatbelts), a tremendous impact can further exacerbate the risk of serious injuries.
Many variables, including the bike’s size and the driver’s age, factor into the types of injuries that can result from a collision. Some common injuries from this type of crash include:
- Traumatic Brain Injury: Prompting a host of other potentially lasting and life-altering effects.
- Fractured and Broken Bones: Collarbone, ribs, legs, arms, and skull.
- Soft-Tissue Damage: Sprains, strains, tears, and ruptures of tissue and ligaments.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Causing numbness below the site of the injury or possibly resulting in complete paralysis of parts of the body.
- Road Rash: Possibly leading to infections and nerve damage.
These injuries can cause extreme pain and generate hefty medical expenses, time away from work, and a diminished quality of life. If another party’s negligence caused you to suffer such injuries, that individual or entity should pay for your losses. This is especially true because distracted driving and drunk driving, two careless and reckless actions behind the wheel, are common causes of motor vehicle accidents.
Motorcycle Accidents and Wrongful Death
If a loved one dies from their motorcycle accident injuries, you will face expenses related to their death. A wrongful death action against the at-fault party can spare you from bearing these costs.
A Hattiesburg motorcycle accident lawyer from the Morris Bart law office can help you pursue compensation through a wrongful death action. We provide an initial case assessment and legal advice during your first conversation with one of our Hattiesburg car accident lawyers. Our compassionate team understands how difficult it is for a loved one to suffer catastrophic injuries or pass away. We are here for you.
We Will Investigate Your Hattiesburg Motorcycle Accident
To determine if negligence contributed to the collision that caused your injury, our law firm will investigate your accident. We will use the evidence to identify the at-fault party and establish their negligence. Some evidence will support your claim for damages in your personal injury case against the defendant.
Our Hattiesburg motorcycle accident lawyers will:
- Visit the accident scene to collect evidence
- Seek photos and videos and document them for your case
- Collect testimonies from witnesses
- Obtain a copy of the accident report filed by law enforcement who handled the scene
- Gather all medical records related to your accident injury
- Get copies of your wage statements from your employer
- Work with accident reconstruction specialists
- Seek professional opinions from experts in medicine, economics, occupational therapy, and psychology
This investigation will give us the evidence we need to support your claim as tort law requires. With the right evidence, we build a compelling case against the at-fault motorist or another liable party. This often allows us to file a motorcycle accident claim and negotiate fair compensation from the negligent driver’s auto liability insurance company. Sometimes, we file lawsuits on behalf of motorcycle riders who suffer injuries in these crashes.
Click to contact our Hattiesburg Personal Injury Lawyers today
Types of Damages You Might Recover in a Motorcycle Crash
The compensation you stand to receive for your motorcycle accident is unique to your case—no two personal injury cases are exactly alike. Our firm will use the evidence we obtain from our investigation to build a demand letter itemizing all the losses you suffered from your injury and their respective values. We use this evidence to ask the insurer for fair compensation to motorcycle accident victims.
Some of the types of damages we might include in this letter include:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medicines
- Hospital stays
- Physical rehabilitation
- Mobility devices
- Lost income and benefits
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Diminished future potential earnings
- Emotional stress
- Loss of consortium
Your motorcycle accident attorney in Hattiesburg will present a demand letter to the at-fault party insurer. Most likely, they will respond with a counteroffer. At this point, we begin to negotiate.
We will fight to get you a fair settlement for your losses. However, sometimes the insurer refuses to cooperate. In these cases, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf. We will let a civil court decide on a judgment to cover your damages. There are numerous reasons why we might suggest a lawsuit in your case. We often continue to negotiate with the insurance company even after filing suit.
In fact, most cases do not go to trial, even when we file a lawsuit. Most successful cases can settle outside of court.
Should You Get a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident?
The Morris Bart law office in Hattiesburg offers free, no-obligation consultations if you are unsure about hiring a lawyer to assist you with your case. Our legal team can help you with:
- Investigating the cause of your collision
- Identifying who is liable
- Gathering evidence
- Calculating the total of your financial losses
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
- Representing you in court
Your lawyer will provide legal guidance and answer any questions you may have throughout the legal proceedings.
Who Is Liable for a Motorcycle Accident in Hattiesburg?
Mississippi is a fault state. Whoever caused your motorcycle crash is responsible for the damages. To establish your right to compensation, your attorney will need to demonstrate that:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care
- The defendant breached that duty
- That breach caused your accident
- You suffered physical, emotional, and/or financial damages in the crash
All drivers in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, are required to drive safely to avoid causing accidents. If a driver failed to drive with reasonable caution or blatantly broke the law, they can be held accountable for the resulting harm. Careless and reckless drivers are the most common cause of all motor vehicle crashes, including motorcycle collisions.
Your Time to Take Legal Action Is Limited
A motorcycle crash could leave you injured for months or permanently disabled. However, legal deadlines apply to your case. Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49 generally only gives you three years to take legal action after you suffer an injury in a motorcycle accident.
By teaming up with our motorcycle accident attorneys in Hattiesburg sooner rather than later, you will be in a better position to stay within this important deadline. You will also give your lawyer more time to build a solid case while the evidence is fresher and more abundant.
Witnesses will also still have a clear recollection of the events that unfolded before, during, and after the collision.
How Our Law Firm Accepts Payment
Our team of motorcycle accident lawyers in Hattiesburg understands that you may be struggling to make ends meet after a motorcycle accident. We don’t want you to worry about the cost of legal assistance.
Our firm works on a contingency basis. You pay attorney’s fees only when and if we secure a settlement or judgment for you in this case. If we can’t secure a settlement for your case, you won’t owe us anything.
Call a Hattiesburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Contact us 24/7 to schedule your free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Hattiesburg from the Morris Bart law firm. Our law firm has been successfully helping accident victims get the compensation they need for over 40 years. We are eager to get started on your case today.
Questions?Call (601) 602-8431
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
