According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle accidents caused over 5,000 deaths in a single recent year. NHTSA also noted motorcyclists are about 29 times more likely to die and four times more likely to be injured in an accident than passenger vehicle occupants.
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, trust the knowledge and experience of the Athens motorcycle accident attorneys of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C. For over 50 years, our lawyers have fought for the rights of those injured in motorcycle accidents. You deserve the most qualified motorcycle accident injury lawyers with a proven track record representing injured victims in Alabama courts.
The Athens motorcycle accident attorneys at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., offer a free initial case review to discuss the specifics of your accident and legal options. Contact us by phone or online today.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Athens
Many motorcycle accidents are no accidents at all. Many of them are caused by other drivers’ inattention, carelessness, or otherwise negligent actions. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Athens include the following:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Unsafe turns or lane changes
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Distracted driving or texting while driving
- Driver inexperience
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
- Defective auto parts
- Poor road conditions
- Disregarding traffic controls
- Bad weather
- Nighttime driving
Types of Motorcycle Accidents
Some of the most common types of motorcycle accidents in Athens, AL are as follows:
- Head-on collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Left-turn accidents
- Sideswipe collisions
- Blind-spot accidents
- T-bone collisions
Motorcyclists may also be involved in single-vehicle accidents. A rider may lose control of their bike and crash, often due to poor road conditions or having to make an evasive maneuver because of another driver’s negligence.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycles don’t have the protection of a vehicle body or other safety devices common to passenger vehicles, such as seat belts or airbags. Riders are exposed to the significant risk of catastrophic injury in a crash. Some of the common kinds of injuries that motorcycle riders can suffer in accidents include the following:
- Broken bones
- Torn ligaments, tendons, or muscles
- Road rash
- Burns
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Spinal injuries and paralysis
- Head and facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Traumatic amputation
What Makes Motorcycle Accident Cases More Complicated?
Pursuing compensation after a motorcycle accident is often not as easy as other kinds of motor vehicle accident claims. Motorcycle riders often suffer more serious injuries than passenger vehicle occupants do in accidents. This makes riders more likely to suffer significant financial and personal losses. Riders might also still be in treatment for injuries when pursuing a claim for compensation, meaning that any financial recovery will need to include future anticipated needs.
Motorcycle accident cases also become complex when at-fault drivers and insurance companies try to pin some of the blame for an accident on the motorcyclist by relying on biases and stereotypes. An at-fault driver may try to claim that a motorcyclist was speeding or recklessly weaving through traffic before the crash. This means that a motorcycle rider and their legal counsel will need to secure substantial evidence to prove that the other driver was entirely at fault for the crash.
Proving Fault After a Motorcycle Accident in Athens, AL
At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., our Athens motorcycle accident lawyers rely on many kinds of evidence to help us prove who was at fault and liable for your injuries and losses. Some of the evidence we may use in your case includes the following:
- Police accident reports
- Accident scene photos and videos
- Footage from surveillance or traffic cameras, dashcams, or helmet cams
- Eyewitness statements
- Post-accident vehicle inspection reports
- Accident reconstruction reports prepared by experts
How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Athens?
Under Alabama’s statute of limitations, you have limited time to file a lawsuit for compensation for your injuries and losses. Typically, you have only two years after a motorcycle accident to file suit against anyone responsible for the accident and your injuries. If you wait until the statute of limitations has passed to file a lawsuit, your case will likely be permanently dismissed by the court. You will then lose the right to pursue financial recovery.
Types of Compensation for Athens Motorcycle Accidents
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Athens, you may be entitled to recover financial compensation for losses that you sustained because of the crash, such as the following:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Long-term care expenses for permanent disabilities
- Loss of wages from missed time from work
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Repair or replacement costs for your motorcycle and other damaged property
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?
Take these steps after a motorcycle accident to help preserve your legal rights for pursuing compensation:
- Take photos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, marks on the road, traffic controls, and any visible injuries you may have suffered.
- See a doctor to be evaluated for all the physical injuries you sustained in the crash. Follow your treating provider’s instructions and recommendations.
- Keep copies of your bills and invoices for expenses you incurred due to the accident. Also, save copies of your pay records if you had to miss time from work after the accident.
- Keep a journal to record the pain and other negative impacts on your life you experience due to your injuries.
Finally, make time to speak with an Athens motorcycle accident lawyer from Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., to discuss the next steps you can take to recover compensation for your injuries and losses.
Talk to an Athens Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you were injured in a motorcycle crash, our Athens personal injury lawyers want to hear from you. Contact us online or call Morris, King & Hodge P.C., today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We understand what you’re going through, and we’ll be ready to help you get the accountability and compensation you deserve.
