The majority of motorcyclists are careful, responsible motorists who do not treat traveling by two wheels lightly. Unfortunately, drivers of larger passenger vehicles frequently engage in dangerous and reckless behaviors when sharing the road with motorcycles, often with disastrous results.
If you’ve been injured in a crash, a Baton Rouge motorcycle accident lawyer from Bianca | Matkins can provide aggressive legal representation for your personal injury claim.
As a personal injury law firm, we regularly work with clients who are dealing with a wide range of injuries and losses related to their accidents. Whether you’re struggling with lost wages, medical bills, property damage, or less tangible losses like emotional distress, we are the motorcycle crash lawyers who will demand full and fair compensation from the insurance company.
As champions for the working-class people of Louisiana, we offer free consultations to injury victims in the area. We also have staff fluent in ASL, as we are active advocates in the Deaf community.
Motorcycle Crashes in Louisiana
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists are more than 20 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle crash than passenger vehicle occupants and are 4 times more likely to be injured.
Motorcycle riders are among the most vulnerable groups of road users in Baton Rouge. When drivers in other cars behave badly, it is motorcyclists who suffer.
To understand just how dangerous it is to travel by bike in our state, let’s look at the 2023 Louisiana Traffic Records Data Report:
- There were 98 motorcycle crash deaths, 7.7% more than in 2022
- There were 392 serious injuries from motorcycle crashes
- Alcohol was a factor in 24% of 2023 motorcycle wrecks
If your loved one suffered a fatal injury, an accident lawyer can help you hold the driver of the vehicle responsible for the crash and make them liable for their actions.
When to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Accidents involving motorcycles tend to be traumatic and devastating. Having a personal injury lawyer in your corner can improve your chances of securing the financial compensation needed to fully address the damages and losses you’ve suffered.
You’ve Suffered Injuries
Motorcycle accident injuries are among the most severe vehicle injuries in Louisiana.
Even a seemingly minor injury can lead to a lifetime of complications, pain and suffering, and ongoing medical bills.
Your attorney understands the profound impact and relief that financial compensation can offer for those suffering from motorcycle accident injuries. If you’ve been hurt and need to pursue compensation, an accident lawyer will help you file a motorcycle crash case for:
- Brain damage or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spine and spinal cord injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Broken bones
- Road rash
- Burns
- Permanent disability
Whether you’re dealing with moderate physical injuries or catastrophic trauma that affects every facet of your daily life, a Baton Rouge motorcycle accident lawyer will be a fierce advocate as you pursue damages from the at-fault party.
You Have Significant Financial Losses
Motorcyclists who are injured because of the negligent or reckless actions of other drivers suffer far more than just physical and emotional harm. Anyone who’s been involved in an accident already knows just how costly these situations can become.
If you’ve lost income because you can’t work, are buried under the weight of medical expenses, or can’t pay for property damage or replacement, it’s time to make sure that the other party is held responsible.
You have legal options for recovering compensation—and a motorcycle accident attorney can help you protect those rights.
Liability Is Uncertain
Were there multiple vehicles involved in your collision?
Is the other driver denying that they did anything wrong?
Did an auto part malfunction?
The at-fault driver’s insurance company will likely be the biggest obstacle to securing the financial compensation you need to recover from your accident.
Insurance companies will warp and manipulate the facts to limit your right to a financial award. It’s not a question of if an auto insurer will try to lowball your settlement but when.
Your right to recover damages hinges on you and your lawyer’s ability to prove who caused or contributed to your motorcycle wreck. As a crucial part, your attorney will investigate the accident to determine its cause.
Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents that we see at our firm include:
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
The key factor between these common causes of motorcycle accidents is driver negligence.
Your Life Has Been Adversely Impacted
For many injury victims, life after a motorcycle crash is never quite the same.
A motorcyclist may go from being independent with gainful employment to someone who requires regular hands-on care and can no longer work. Mental health problems stemming from these accidents (including post-traumatic stress disorder) are sometimes so intense that the mere thought of riding in a vehicle again can cause distress.
What a Baton Rouge Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Does
When you choose to work with a personal injury lawyer, you’ll have an experienced legal advocate on your side who can provide the following services:
- Gather all relevant evidence and documentation of the accident
- Investigate the claim to determine fault and liability
- Value the worth of the claim to determine what a fair settlement looks like
- Work with expert witnesses who can corroborate the correct version of events
- Complete and submit necessary paperwork promptly
- Strive to settle your case outside of court
- Prepare for the possibility of trial should negotiations with the insurance company be unsuccessful
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit?
Louisiana state law was recently updated to allow two years to file for personal injury claims occurring on or after July 1, 2024 (Previously, it was only one year from the date of the accident).
This may seem like plenty of time to meet with a personal injury attorney, build a case, and file a claim, but given recuperation and adaptations required by injuries can go quicker than you think. The longer you wait to contact a lawyer about your motorcycle wreck, the more you risk losing out on your right to seek compensation.
It should also be noted that anyone who rides a motorcycle in the state of Louisiana must do so while wearing a helmet. Helmets lower the occurrence of some of the most common injuries in motorcycle accidents. In a collision, they are highly effective at preventing death for both the driver and passenger.
Bianca | Matkins Are the Accident Lawyers Who Care
Whether you like to just take your motorcycle out for a weekend ride or rely on it as your main transportation, you deserve to safely ride Louisiana’s picturesque roads. Unfortunately, we all know that as a motorcyclist, you risk severe injury simply by sharing the road with other drivers.
If you’ve been hurt in a wreck and are ready to hold the at-fault driver liable for their actions, Bianca | Matkins can help. Our experienced Baton Rouge motorcycle accident lawyer is waiting to speak with you and discuss your accident and injuries.
Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
