Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

With over six million motorcycles on the road, they’re a prevalent sight across the United States and in Louisville. Although a passion for many, they also come with perhaps more risks and dangers compared to other vehicles. Unfortunately, when a motorcycle collides with a car, van, or semi-truck, the motorcycle rider is likely to walk away with more injuries. Other road users have metal all around them providing a shield; motorcycle riders are more exposed.

Over the years, the design of safety equipment has certainly improved, and we’ll always support the development of safety gear for motorcycle riders. However, the nature of the vehicle means that riders are inherently at a higher risk when involved in a motorcycle crash.

The  NHTSA Statistics

Recently, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) revealed its latest statistics, and it’s quite concerning for motorcyclists. Perhaps the most poignant statistic was that motorcyclists were 30 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries than those in a car after an accident.

In 2018 alone, 88 people died around Kentucky after over 1,450 accidents. Meanwhile, over 930 people suffered some form of injury after an accident on Kentucky roads. To put the risk of death in comparison, only 1% of road accidents involved a motorcycle in 2018. Despite this, they accounted for 7% of all deaths.

Laws and Regulations Regarding Motorcycles

According to the NHTSA, over 1,870 lives were saved in the US in 2017 alone because of motorcycle helmets. However, one of the biggest problems in Louisville and Kentucky is that not all riders need to wear a helmet. In state law, the only people required to wear a helmet are those with only a permit, those with less than a year on their license, and anybody under the age of 21 years. Otherwise, helmets aren’t a legal requirement.

Sadly, the NHTSA also said that nearly 750 lost lives in the United States could have been saved with a helmet. Of the 88 deaths we mentioned previously in Kentucky, only 34 were wearing a helmet while 54 died without a helmet.

Common Causes of Accidents

Frustratingly, most accidents on the Kentucky roads are preventable, and this goes for all accidents. Below, you’ll see some of the most common causes of accidents involving a motorcycle. First, we want to say that The Injury Firm has experience in helping motorcycle accident victims after experiencing a serious bike injury in Louisville. After an accident, make sure you choose reliable Louisville motorcycle accident personal injury attorneys.

Driver Negligence

Many motorcyclists will tell you that the actions of drivers put them at risk every single day…and it shows. Some examples of driver negligence include:

• Swerving behind or in front of motorcyclists
• Speeding to overtake
• Driving too closely or following too closely in traffic
• Not yielding
• Not seeing indications or allowing room for lane changes
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Sometimes, it’s a simple case of misjudging distance or speed, not seeing a motorcycle when waiting at an intersection, or drivers relying on one another (and both not seeing the motorcyclist).

Left-Hand Turns

We touched upon it in the previous section, but drivers not seeing a motorcyclist is a huge problem on American roads. There’s no clearer evidence of this than in left-hand turn incidents. Here, the driver doesn’t look property into their mirrors or make the effort of turning around in their seat to check the blind spot. Suddenly, they’re turning into the path of an oncoming motorcyclist.

Lack of Experience

Driving a motorcycle is a skill and one that requires confidence and experience. Yet, all riders need to start somewhere. Though Louisville residents are encouraged to take safety courses to gain experience, not all riders perform this training, and it means that they can make poor decisions on the road.

Lane Splitting

Often, motorcyclists enjoy riding through traffic because they can split lanes and get through even the most intense build-ups. However, this is a dangerous practice and one that causes many accidents every single year. While some drivers fail to look in their mirrors, others don’t see motorcyclists in their blind spots. At all times, drivers need to be aware of motorcyclists (and vice versa!).

Other Causes

Elsewhere, it could be intoxication or poor decision-making that leads to an accident between a motorcycle and another road user. It’s a frustrating fact, but negligence, carelessness, and recklessness still cause a large percentage of all motorcycle accidents on our Kentucky roads.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

While car accidents lead to whiplash and neck injuries, a motorcycle crash is more likely to cause broken bones, fractures, and scratches/bruising. More serious cases might include:

• Spinal cord damage
• Limb loss
• Head trauma
• Brain damage
• Disfigurement
• Death
• Paralysis

To claim against a negligent driver, you’ll need to have an experienced personal injury accident attorney since compensation is designed to recover costs and damages.

Louisville Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

If you’ve suffered a bike injury after a motorcycle crash in Louisville, it’s time to contact The Injury Firm. With any accident on the road, the responsible party should be held accountable for their actions. For example, motorcycle accident victims shouldn’t have to deal with the medical bills, lost wages, and other damages that occur when they weren’t to blame for the motorcycle accident.

You might feel compelled to claim alone, but this is a mistake. For one thing, insurance adjusters and other parties will only have one goal - to reduce the amount you’re owed. Often, motorcycle accident victims are left fighting their own battles (while also trying to recover from a motorcycle crash!).

If it’s clear that the other party was negligent, the insurance adjuster might even offer a settlement. Please do not accept the offer or do anything without first speaking to the professionals at The Injury Firm. Here are just two reasons why you shouldn’t accept the first offer:

• The fact that the insurance adjuster is offering a settlement means that they accept blame for their driver. Partner with an accident attorney and get the amount that you truly deserve, an amount that at least covers the damages.

• Secondly, it’s almost impossible to claim for more later if you’ve already accepted a settlement. This means that you’re left paying for all future medical expenses alone.

When Louisville motorcycle accident attorneys take on your case, they’ll ensure that your motorcycle accident claim covers all damages. As well as medical bills, this includes lost wages, loss of earning potential, and even non-economic damages like pain and suffering. If you’re claiming for a lost loved one, a potential claim could include loss of companionship, loss of consortium, and funeral expenses.

Depending on the case, it might even include punitive damages to punish the guilty party and prevent something similar from happening in the future.

Contact The Injury Firm Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

As accident attorneys, The Injury Firm will protect your legal rights, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and compile a case against the other road user. As long as you’ve experienced an accident and injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. We can help with personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death cases.

After a bike injury in Louisville, motorcyclists should focus on recovery rather than making claims alone. The Injury Firm even has the resources to reject settlements and take the case to court after no fair settlement offers. Pick up the phone today!