Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Fighting for Injured Riders
Motorcycle wrecks are more likely to be deadly than accidents involving only passenger cars. Motorcycles offer riders little protection from the impact of a collision. Motorcycle riders routinely are thrown from their bikes during the violent impact of a crash. Regardless of whether another motorist causes the collision, the exposed motorcyclist usually sustains the brunt of serious or fatal injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle crash in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio or Tennessee, you may be able to take legal action against the driver who caused your injuries. A Kentucky motorcycle accident lawyer at Becker Law Office will review the details of your accident and explain your legal options. Our legal team has been fighting for injured people for more than 30 years. We may be able to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver to help you recover from your motorcycle wreck injuries.
Schedule a free legal consultation with Becker Law Office today. Learn about your options for filing a claim and recovering the compensation you deserve.
The Benefits of an Attorney
When a motorcycle crash occurs, the driver who caused the accident can be held legally liable for the injuries that result. This is true regardless of whether the motorcyclist was wearing a motorcycle helmet at the time of the accident.
The at-fault driver who caused your injuries may be legally liable for:
- Medical costs now and in the future if you need ongoing treatment or care
- Lost income, including losses due to diminished earning power
- Costs of repairing or replacing your motorcycle
- Pain and suffering, including emotional distress
- Funeral and burial expenses in the wrongful death of a loved one in a motorcycle accident.
You can demand compensation from the at-fault driver by filing a personal injury claim. The claim will be resolved through an out-of-court settlement agreement or decided in a civil court.
The Dangers of Motorbike Crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 5,286 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2016—the largest number of motorcycle rider deaths since 2008.
In addition, the NHTSA reports:
- Among motorcyclists killed in crashes, 94 percent were riders and 6 percent were passengers.
- 54 percent of all fatal these accidents involved at least one motor vehicle in addition to the motorcycle.
- In 41 percent of fatal crashes involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight or passing.
- In 22 percent of the fatal crashes involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, both vehicles were traveling straight ahead.
- The average age of motorcyclists killed in accidents was 42.
Sharing the Road with a Motorcycle Requires:
The statistics indicate that motorcyclists and motorcycle passengers face a very serious risk of life-altering or fatal injuries when a collision happens. In fact, the NHTSA says motorcycle riders are nearly 27 times more likely to die in a motorcycle crash than occupants of passenger cars.
- Checking blind spots and rearview / side-view mirrors for motorcycles before turning, or entering or exiting a lane.
- Never riding beside a motorcycle in the same lane or passing a motorcycle in the same lane. Motorists should always allow a motorcycle to occupy the entire width of their lane alone.
- Not following a motorcycle too closely. Motorcycles stop much more quickly than cars. Drivers should allow three or four seconds' worth of space between a motorcycle and a car.
In many cases, the negligence or recklessness of a driver is directly responsible for causing a motorbike accident. Many drivers simply do not detect motorcycle riders in traffic or do not pay adequate attention to sharing the road. This can have devastating consequences when a driver's carelessness results in a crash. However, a skilled Kentucky lawyer could help to hold a motorist accountable for a motorcycle crash.
Injuries from motorbike wrecks can cause significant pain and suffering, and require extensive medical care followed by weeks or months of rehabilitation. Unfortunately, some injuries never heal, and the victim has to live with impairments, as well as a loss of earning power and income.
A proper claim will take into consideration all present and future medical expenses and losses caused by the accident. The Kentucky motorcycle crash attorneys at Becker Law Office will pursue maximum compensation for you if you have been seriously injured by someone else's negligence or recklessness.
Motorcycle Accident Catastrophic Injuries We Are Going After
Ejected From Motorcycle After Accident
Surgery After a Motorcycle Accident
Death After a Motorcycle Accident
Helmet Laws in Kentucky
In its most recent annual report about motorcycle accidents, the NHTSA estimates that helmets saved 1,772 motorcyclists' lives over the course of the year and that 740 more lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn helmets.
Reported helmet use rates for fatally injured motorcyclists were 61 percent for riders and 48 percent for passengers, the NHTSA says. Meanwhile, a DOT-compliant motorcycle helmet is estimated to be 37 percent effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders and 41 percent effective for motorcycle passengers.
Currently, according to the IIHS, 19 states and the District of Columbia have universal helmet laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear a helmet. Laws requiring only some motorcyclists to wear a helmet are in place in 28 states. There is no motorcycle helmet use law in three states (Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire).
- Kentucky requires motorcycle riders younger than 20 years old to wear a helmet.
- Indiana requires motorcycle riders younger than 18 years old to wear a helmet.
- Ohio requires motorcycle riders younger than 18 years old to wear a helmet.
- Tennessee requires all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.
While we at Becker Law Office encourage all motorcyclists to wear a DOT-compliant helmet when riding, we also want you to understand that whether or not you were wearing a helmet has no effect on a claim.
Call a Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Attorney for Help
If you have a claim for motorcycle accident injuries, you need an experienced motorcycle injury attorney representing you—whether to negotiate a settlement or present your case to a jury.
Our attorneys at Becker Law Office will:
- investigate your accident
- preserve accident scene evidence before it is lost
- identify the potentially at-fault parties
- determine the insurance policies available to pay compensation
- send a notice of claim letter to the insurers
- seek to negotiate a settlement.
To pursue the most favorable settlement, you'll want an experienced and skilled negotiator who knows insurance company tactics representing you. If your case goes to court, you'll want a seasoned trial lawyer who excels at litigation to advocate on your behalf.
When you are represented by Becker Law Office, you will be represented by skilled negotiators and nationally recognized trial lawyers. You get two firms in one with Becker Law Office. You'll have the right attorney to handle your case, wherever it leads.
The Kentucky motorcycle accident lawyers at Becker Law Office are seasoned negotiators. We will fight to achieve a just settlement for you without a trial. If your case goes to court, you will be represented by the attorneys who have been named among the top 100 Trial Lawyers in Kentucky. You have both legal teams in your corner.
To learn more about how Becker Law Office can help you, give us a call or contact us online today. We handle motorcycle injury claims from our offices in Louisville, Lexington, Florence and Cincinnati.
Searching for Answers?
Review Our Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident. Is there anything I should do right away to protect my rights?
Yes, there are several things to do right after a motorcycle accident if you can. What you do immediately after getting injured in a motorcycle accident can determine how likely you are to obtain compensation through a legal claim later.
Proceed in a calm, business-like manner after a motorcycle accident. Look out for yourself, but be polite to others and cooperate with authorities.
Determine whether you or anyone else is injured, then summon help by calling 911 and requesting police assistance and an ambulance if necessary.
You should seek medical treatment of some kind as soon as possible, even if you do not need emergency care. Some serious injuries are not apparent right away. A doctor will diagnose any injuries you have suffered, and his or her records will document them.The documentation of your injuries contained in your medical records will be crucial to a legal claim.
If you do not need an ambulance, try to collect evidence to document your accident. This includes:
- Names, contact information and insurance information for everyone involved in the accident, and names and contact information from witnesses.
- Photos of the accident scene, your motorcycle, the other vehicle, debris, skid marks and anything that shows what happened.
- Copies of the police's accident report.
- Records and receipts from all medical treatment, including receipts for prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Report the accident to your insurance company. Answer questions truthfully but, if they ask, decline to record a statement. Don't say anything to indicate you were at fault or downplay your injuries. Do not sign anything.
You should also contact a motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. The Becker Law Office's motorcycle accident attorneys can provide a free legal consultation to review your accident and injuries, and explain the legal options available to you.
The insurance company for the driver who hit me says it can send me a check for my motorcycle accident right away. Should I accept it?
No. It's good for an insurance adjustor to close an accident case quickly and move on, but it's not always good for the accident victim. By accepting a settlement you must agree that you won't seek additional compensation, though you may not even know the full extent of your losses.
In addition to repairs to your motorcycle and the medical care required for your injuries, you may suffer a significant loss if your injuries keep you from returning to work for a long time or you have to take a job that pays less than what you made before. The full extent of your losses may not be known for several weeks or months after a motorcycle accident.
It's important to understand fully the extent of your medical expenses, property damage and income losses before you accept an insurance settlement. Part of the work a Becker Law Office motorcycle accident attorney can do for you is to ensure this calculation is correct.
The Becker Law Office wants you to receive the full amount of money you need now and may need in the future. Once you retain the services of our motorcycle accident attorneys, we can work directly with the insurance company to see that your claim is for an appropriate amount.
What can I expect to recover in a personal injury lawsuit over a motorcycle accident?
You could receive compensation for property damage (your motorcycle), medical bills and wages lost because of your motorcycle accident. You might also be awarded damages for your pain and suffering. A proper claim settlement includes money for your future if your injuries will keep you from returning to work or require you to take work that pays less.
The intent of a personal injury lawsuit after a motorcycle accident is to ensure that the victim and/or the victim's family do not suffer financially because of someone else's negligence. Personal injury law allows an injured party to hold the at-fault party liable for damages.
It would not be responsible for any attorney to say how much money you might receive in a personal injury lawsuit after a motorcycle accident. At the Becker Law Office, we pledge to conduct a thorough investigation that calculates all of your losses and then to press the insurance company hard in negotiations to meet its financial responsibility to you.
One thing you can always get is a free initial consultation about your legal options after a motorcycle accident. Contact the Becker Law Office to set an appointment today.
How do I pay medical bills from my motorcycle accident while waiting for a lawsuit to be resolved?
Kentucky and Indiana insurance laws require the immediate payment of medical bills in a motorcycle accident. If you have any problem obtaining this money, the Becker Law Office can help you.
In Kentucky, you most likely have "no fault" coverage as part of your motorcycle insurance. This pays as much as $10,000 to help with your medical expenses. It may also provide up to $200 per week for lost income and additional damages for pain and suffering.
Your insurance company should pay these benefits regardless of who was at fault in your motorcycle accident. If another driver is at-fault, your insurance company is to be reimbursed from their insurer. No fault personal injury projection limits your right to file a lawsuit to recover compensation, unless your medical bills and expenses exceed a certain amount.
In Indiana, you should receive immediate medical benefits, regardless of fault, if you have Medical Payments Coverage as part of your insurance policy. Depending on the extent of your coverage, you may receive compensation for medical care and prescriptions. Your primary health insurance may also cover you for expenses that exceed the coverage in your motorcycle insurance policy.
Contact Becker Law Office today to set up a free meeting to review your motorcycle accident and injuries in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, or Tennessee. We can work with you to process your insurance claim and ensure that you receive the compensation you are due.
I wasn’t wearing a helmet when I was in a motorcycle accident. Can I still obtain compensation?
It is important to always wear a motorcycle helmet for safety, but it does not affect a motorcycle accident legally, including whether you'll receive compensation for your injuries and other losses.
Kentucky and Indiana have partial helmet laws, requiring riders under age 21 and 18, respectively, to wear a motorcycle helmet. Kentucky makes further provisions, requiring a helmet if a motorcyclist has been licensed for less than a year or has no medical insurance. Tennessee has no motorcycle helmet law. (See the Governors Highway Safety Association roundup of motorcycle helmet laws.)
Wearing a motorcycle helmet greatly increases your chances of surviving a motorcycle accident, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and most other organizations that study the matter. But a helmet is not typically considered a contributing factor in an accident. Therefore, not wearing a helmet should not affect the compensation you could be awarded in a lawsuit after a motorcycle accident.
Engaging an experienced motorcycle accident attorney is the best way to protect your ability to obtain compensation after an accident, regardless of the circumstances of the wreck. If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident that was someone else's fault in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, or Tennessee, please contact the Becker Law Office today.
What does it cost to hire a lawyer to help with my motorcycle accident claim?
You can hire a motorcycle accident attorney without paying anything up front. If we don't obtain compensation for you from your claim, you won't have to pay us anything at all.
The Becker Law Office's motorcycle accident attorneys pursue personal injury lawsuits on a contingency-fee basis. This means clients do not pay us until we recover money for them in a settlement or a court award.
Before you hire us, we'll meet and review your case with you at no charge and with no further obligation from you. If you decide to retain our services, we will agree to a fee based on a percentage of the final settlement or court award.We will also require you to reimburse us for expenses associated with your case, which we will pay up front, such as charges for police reports, medical records and filing fees, and fees for expert witnesses and court reporters who record depositions.
This protects you as well as us, because it ensures that we only accept cases that we expect to result in compensation that covers your losses as well as our fees and costs. We won't take a frivolous lawsuit and won't fill you with false hopes for a big payoff that isn't likely.
We'll investigate your case thoroughly and work hard to obtain the compensation you deserve. If you're ready to get started, we are too. Please contact the Becker Law Office today.
