Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Riding motorcycles can be a fun pastime or hobby. Over the last 30 years, the number of people riding motorcycles has increased significantly in the United States, particularly in Kentucky. With the creation of motorcycle clubs everywhere, there are more and more bikes on Kentucky roads each year.

Unfortunately, a motorcycle is one of the deadliest types of road vehicles for passengers. Motorcycle accidents are more likely to be fatal than accidents involving passenger cars. Motorcycles provide no protection from impact, and motorcycle riders are routinely thrown from their bikes in a crash. It is usually the motorcycle rider who is killed in an accident, or who suffers serious and life-changing injuries.

If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle crash and was seriously injured, then hiring an experienced Louisville motorcycle accident attorney is the smartest thing to do. You have rights in these cases. Investigating the accident and dealing with the insurance companies can be difficult. In order to get fairly compensated for your injuries, you need experience on your side.

Louisville Motorcycle Accident stats

Honest and professional. Kept me in the loop every step of the way. I would recommend Attorney Hessig to anyone looking to recoup their losses after an accident.

- DEE

Louisville personal injury lawyer

Hiring an experienced Louisville motorcycle accident attorney is the smartest thing to do

Riding a motorcycle can be dangerous

Because motorcycle riders are so vulnerable, they need to be extremely careful and drive defensively. A car can pull in front of a motorcycle at any time.

According to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, in 2017 there were a total of 782 roadway fatalities, with 78 of them involving motorcycles. Nationwide, there are over 100,000 people injured in motorcycle accidents every year. The injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents can be severe and varied, especially if the rider was not wearing a helmet.

motorcycle accident lawyers
motorcycle accident attorney

Common injuries seen in motorcycle crashes include

Broken bones

Brain injuries: Including Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), concussions, contusions, skull fractures and brain hemorrhages (bleeding on the brain)

Road rash: Cuts, scraping of the skin or bruises due to uncovered skin striking the pavement

Spinal cord injuries: Including broken vertebrae and paralysis

Soft tissue injuries to the neck, back or knees: Soft tissue injuries refer to injuries of the connecting tissue in the body such as muscles, ligaments and tendons

Joint injuries of the shoulders and hips

Amputations: Motorcycle riders are at heightened risk of arm or leg amputations resulting from crashes

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes

As with any type of motor vehicle accident, causes can be varied. However, riding a motorcycle is unique, and there is one cause of motorcycle accidents that is less common with other types of vehicles, and that is not being seen.

Some common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

Other drivers not seeing the motorcycle: Because this is common, most states have laws requiring motorcycle riders to run their front light all times, or have a blinking front light. The most common types of “no-see” crashes are when drivers either make a left turn in front of the motorcycle, or simply pull out in front of a motorcycle.

Distracted drivers: Distracted driving is a major cause of all types of roadway accidents, and it affects motorcyclists as well. Distracted driving has become an epidemic in Kentucky and in the United States.

Road defects: Because motorcycles are so light and agile, they are more subject to road defects than regular vehicles. Large potholes, uneven or broken pavement, and broken roadway berms can send a motorcycle reeling.

Stay Safe

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Stay safe

The first thing you should do is to stay safe and do not do anything that might put you into extra risk of harm. If you are able, without further injury, move yourself and the vehicles off the road to avoid causing secondary crashes. Put out flares or warning signs to help direct traffic until first responders arrive.

Call 911

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover the damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Call 911

Always call 911 even if you do not initially believe anyone is seriously injured. First Responders should arrive as soon as possible to help injured people and direct traffic, so no subsequent collisions occur. Police will also need to interview drivers and any witnesses to gather information that will help reconstruct the accident scene.

Be observant

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Be observant

Look for any signs that the at-fault driver may be intoxicated like stumbling, incoherent talk or the smell of alcohol. Note whether the driver has alcohol in the vehicle, or may be attempting to destroy evidence.

Document the scene

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Document the scene

If you have a smartphone handy, take pictures and video of the scene, including any skid marks and the exact location of the vehicles involved. Try to make notes about the photos to help reinforce your memory of the accident.

Gather information

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Gather information

Obtain the insurance information from the at-fault driver so that you can convey that information to your personal injury lawyer.

Talk to witnesses

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Talk to witnesses

Get the names, addresses and contact information of all witnesses who can help officials recreate what happened at the scene. If they are willing, have them write out a statement that you can give to your attorney documenting their recollection of the accident.

Write your own report

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Write your own report

As soon as possible, write a statement of your memory of the accident to record the details while they are fresh in your mind. Such a statement can be valuable to investigators and to your attorneys.

Talk to an attorney

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What to do if you are in a motorcycle crash

After being struck by a car or truck, making decisions can be difficult. What a rider will or will not be able to do will depend on the extent of his or her injuries.

However, if you can do some of the following things, it might help you recover damages you deserve to compensate you for your injuries:

Talk to an attorney

Contact an experienced Kentucky motorcycle attorney. An attorney can investigate your case, determine who was at fault and to file a lawsuit if necessary to recover the damages you deserve.

Types of Recoverable Damages in a Louisville Motorcycle Crash

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligence of another driver, you can recover damages for you injuries. You should not attempt to deal with the at-fault driver’s insurance company by yourself. The insurance company will try to avoid compensating you for the economic and non-economic damages you incurred. A Louisville motorcycle accident attorney can level the playing field for you.

Economic damages

Economic damages are calculable and include the following:

  • Property damage to your bike and any items you may have had in the vehicle
  • Medical bills and expenses related to your treatment and recovery
  • Lost wages due to an inability to work while healing from your injuries
  • Future lost wages due to a long term disability affecting your future earning capacity.

Remember to ask about our Fee Free Consultation

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages are more difficult to discern, because your lawyer is not just adding up numbers. Non-economic damages attempt to compensate you for the effect of injuries on your life, and include:

  • Pain and suffering from your injuries;
  • Emotional distress, post-traumatic stress disorder and mental suffering;
  • Humiliation and damage to your reputation.

Punitive damages

If a motorcycle accident is caused by a driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you may be able to seek punitive damages. Punitive damages can be awarded to the injured plaintiff not to compensate the plaintiff for any injuries, but to punish the intoxicated driver. Punitive damages are not allowed in every case.

Motorcycle accidents happen everyday on the roads and highways of Kentucky

Kentucky helmet laws

On July 15, 2000, Kentucky legislators passed HB 619, which no longer required those 21-years-old or older to wear a helmet.

Additionally, the legislature did away with a law that required motorcyclists to prove they were covered by health insurance. Bikers under 21 years of age, whether they are operators or passengers on a motorcycle, are required to wear helmets. The same holds true for those who are operating a motorcycle on a permit, or who have had their motorcycle license for less than one year.

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Bikers under 21 years of age are required to wear helmets
Louisville motorcycle accident lawyer

Non-use of a helmet can affect your case

When a motorcycle rider chooses to not wear a helmet, this can be seen to increase their liability when an injury crash occurs. It can also limit the amount of compensation that can be awarded to the injured rider.

For compensation to be denied, the non-wearing of the helmet has to be pertinent to the injury or injuries being claimed. For example, if the rider suffered a broken leg and is filing a lawsuit based upon that injury, the fact that they were not wearing a helmet has very little to do with the injury. However, if the motorcycle rider suffered a brain injury which could have been prevented or lessened in severity, then the fact that a helmet was not worn could reflect negatively on the motorcycle rider.

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The Importance of Hiring a Louisville Motorcycle Crash Lawyer

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s negligence, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Hessig & Pohl will help you get the compensation you deserve. We work hard to build a solid case on your behalf. We handle the details so you can focus on getting healing and getting your life back to normal. We know how to present the facts of your case and negotiate with the automobile insurance companies.

When you hire Hessig & Pohl, we become your advocates. We will make sure you get the medical coverage you need and lost wages that are caused by your injuries. We will not rest until you are fully and fairly compensated for your injuries. Contact us at (502) 777-1111. The initial consultation is free.