Nationwide Motorcycle Accidents Attorneys

As a motorcyclist, it is important to remember that you are entitled to the same rights and protections as any other driver on the road. However, many people — including bystanders, authorities, and insurance companies — view motorcycles as inherently dangerous and are inclined to blame the rider as soon as an accident occurs.

At Metier Law Firm, we do not make assumptions and know that there is almost always more to the story. Distracted drivers, hazardous road conditions, faulty parts, and other factors can all injure even the most diligent riders.

Following an accident, you may be facing high medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, and other economic and non-economic burdens that make it difficult to pursue the compensation you need to recover.

Hiring a motorcycle accident attorney who can help you understand your rights and advocate on your behalf could be the difference between a settlement that relieves much of the financial burden caused by the accident, and receiving only a fraction of what you need.

Our attorneys offer free, no-risk consultations to motorcycle accident victims and will help you understand your options so that you can make an informed decision for yourself and your loved ones.Learn more about why you should contact a motorcycle accident attorney.

We recommend contacting an attorney in your home state as soon as possible to discuss your options. In some cases, a motorcycle injury attorney in your home state may be licensed to practice in other states as well. Even if an attorney in your home state is not licensed to practice in the state in which you were injured, they may be able to refer you to skilled motorcycle accident attorneys in that state. In either case, contacting an attorney in your home state provides you with easy-to-access guidance as you pursue compensation for your injuries.
 

Many motorcycle accident claims are brought by riders who were injured in single-bike accidents. Some of these accidents are due to defective parts and hardware, and an experienced product liability attorney can help you understand why the crash occurred and how to attribute liability to the responsible party.In other cases, accidents are often caused by hazardous road conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Improper signage
• Construction debris
• Potholes
• Grading highways
• Damaged or uneven pavement
• Gravel, sand, rocks, and loose dirt
• Trees and vegetation that block or obscure the road

Far too many injured riders receive little, or no compensation because they are unable to identify what caused their accident after it occurred. No matter what contributed to your accident, it is important to contact an experienced motorcycle injury attorney as soon as possible so that they can begin investigating the cause of the accident.

At Metier Law Firm, we have access to premier investigative resources that have helped our clients recover hundreds of millions in settlements and verdicts.

The damages involved in a personal injury case typically include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are easily calculable such as:

• property damage
• medical expenses
• lost wages
• lost economic opportunity
• future losses that can be reasonably expected as a result of the injury

Non-economic damagers are losses or burdens incurred by the accident that are not as easily calculated. Such as:

• pain and suffering
• emotional trauma
• disfigurement
• and other serious repercussions a victim would not have otherwise experienced.

A report from Thomson Reuters Jury Verdict Research evaluating cases from 1994 to 2006 states that the average motorcycle accident claim is approximately $73,700.

Keep in mind that this number has likely increased due to inflation and that some cases can be worth much more, depending on how severe the accident was and to which degree each party is held responsible. Although no two cases are exactly alike, the motorcycle accident attorneys at Metier Law Firm can help you understand how much you could receive from a claim.

Some of the most common mistakes riders often make following an accident include:Leaving the scene without calling the police and informing them that a crash occurred.

• Failing to collect insurance and contact information from any drivers involved in the accident.
• Assuming that no injuries occurred. In many cases, injuries manifest days or even weeks after an accident.
• Seeking medical care immediately after an accident will provide you with valuable evidence as you pursue your case.
• Assuming responsibility for the accident prematurely. Accidents happen quickly and it takes time to determine who is at fault. Even if you believe that your actions may have played a role in the accident, you should not assume responsibility until you and your attorney have all of the facts.
• Giving a statement to an insurance company. While you should report your crash so that you can claim the coverage to which you are entitled, speaking with a motorcycle accident attorney can help you avoid saying something that could negatively affect your case.

Learn more about what you should and should not do after a motorcycle accident, and always consult with your attorney if you have a question about something that could potentially compromise your case.

The answer to this question can quickly become complex and nuanced depending on the state in which the accident occurred and the circumstances that led to it. 

Generally speaking, failing to wear a helmet is more likely to negatively affect your case if the accident occurred in a state that requires riders to wear protective headgear. Violating the law by failing to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle is likely to be considered negligence on your part, which could reduce the compensation you receive or bar you from recovering it altogether.

In states like Wyoming, however, riders over the age of 18 are not required to wear helmets while operating a motorcycle. If you were to sustain an injury from an accident in Wyoming, you may be assigned a degree of blame for the damages you sustained if it can be shown that a helmet would have reduced the severity of the injuries or prevented them altogether.

Even if you were injured in a state with mandatory helmet laws while riding without one, you should still discuss the circumstances of your accident with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney to become fully informed about your options.

Unfortunately, thousands of motorcycle accidents result in deaths that could have been avoided. In cases in which it can be shown that the negligent actions of another party caused the wrongful death of a motorcycle rider, the victim's family members may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim to recover damages.  Each state has different restrictions and timeframes in which a victim's next of kin can take legal action.

At Metier Law Firm, we provide families across the nation with Comfort, Safety and Strength® as we fight to secure the justice and compensation they deserve. Learn more about wrongful death claims, and contact our office to speak with a motorcycle accident attorney who will put you and your family's interests first.