Drivers should stay alert and look out for motorcyclists on the road, but they do not always do so. When a vehicle driver causes a motorcycle accident, they should be liable for the injured party’s losses. Still, it can be difficult to prove fault in a motorcycle accident, especially when you are healing from injuries. Our Belmont personal injury lawyers can pursue fair compensation while you recover.
You can hire a Belmont motorcycle accident lawyer from Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC to handle your legal case. They can investigate your motorcycle accident and gather evidence of another party’s negligence. In some cases, multiple parties may have contributed to your injuries, in which case we can demand compensation from both.
Driver Error Often Causes Motorcycle Accidents
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 42% of fatal motorcycle accidents occur in intersections due to a driver turning left while a motorcyclist is going straight, passing, or overtaking them. This is mainly because a driver’s blind spots can hide an oncoming motorcycle. Still, it’s up to the vehicle driver to stay vigilant and look for motorcycles on the road.
Various forms of driver negligence can contribute to motorcycle accidents, such as:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigued or drowsy driving
- Speeding
- Improper lane changes
- Failure to use a turn signal
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
It can be difficult to prove exactly what happened in a motorcycle accident, though. Insurance adjusters will investigate and determine fault, but they may try to shift the blame onto the motorcyclist.
Our Belmont motorcycle accident attorneys can conduct an independent investigation to gather evidence and refute the insurance adjuster’s findings. We will watch for any attempt on the insurer’s part to undervalue or deny your claim.
Applying the Four Elements of Negligence in a Motorcycle Accident
After we investigate your case, we will compile evidence to demonstrate the negligence of another party or parties. This involves proving these four elements:
- Duty of care: A driver or another party owed you a duty of care to keep you reasonably safe on the road.
- Breach of duty of care: Through some action or inaction, the at-fault party breached their duty of care. For example, they may have failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign.
- Causation: This breach directly caused or contributed to the motorcycle accident.
- Damages: You suffered injuries and financial losses due to the accident.
We may use various evidence to prove negligence, such as traffic camera footage, eyewitness testimony, and reports from expert witnesses (e.g., your doctor or an accident reconstructionist). We will leave no stone unturned when we investigate your accident.
Compensation You Can Seek After a Motorcycle Accident in Belmont
Motorcycle accident injuries are often severe or fatal, since riders lack much of the protection a passenger vehicle offers. Upon impact, motorcyclists may be thrown from their vehicles onto the road, for example. Your medical bills alone may be enough to cripple you and your family financially.
You don’t have to let someone else get away with causing you such losses. Our Belmont motorcycle accident lawyers can help you seek the following damages in a personal injury claim or lawsuit:
- Current medical expenses, such as emergency room care, hospital stays, and surgery
- Ongoing medical care, such as rehabilitative therapy and medication
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability
- Property damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- In-home aid
Other accident expenses may also warrant compensation. When our law firm takes on your case, we will fully account for all your current and future losses so that you aren’t left picking up the bill down the road.
Remember that once you sign a settlement agreement, it usually bars you from seeking additional compensation or filing a lawsuit later. You may feel you need money sooner than later, but you will benefit more in the long run from a fair settlement. We can review any offers and negotiate with insurers.
If You Lost a Loved One in a Motorcycle Accident
Our wrongful death attorneys want to help if you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident. You deserve time to mourn with your family. While you grieve in peace, we can lead your case and fight for fair compensation. The following damages may apply:
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Loss of income
- Your loved one’s medical bills
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
We understand that nothing can replace your loved one, but a settlement or verdict can go a long way in helping you adjust in their absence.
How a Belmont Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help You
Aside from investigating your motorcycle accident and dealing with the insurers, our legal team can help in other ways, such as by:
- Communicating with the liable party and their representatives
- Filing all the paperwork for your claim or lawsuit
- Helping you meet important legal deadlines
- Keeping you up to date with your case’s progress
- Representing you in a trial if necessary
We pride ourselves on providing clients with compassionate, personalized legal care. This means we will tailor a legal strategy to suit your unique situation. We’ll take our time to listen to your concerns and address them promptly. Our goal is excellence in legal representation in every case, with every client, and at every stage.
Let Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC Help You After a Motorcycle Accident in Belmont
You may face mounting medical bills, painful injuries, and other losses after a motorcycle accident, yet the last thing you should have to deal with is a legal battle. However, you don’t have to handle an insurance claim or lawsuit alone.
A Belmont motorcycle accident lawyer from our team is ready to take your case on contingency. Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today for your free consultation.