Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Drivers and motorcycle riders face unique risks and challenges on Louisiana roads. Even though there are fewer motorcycle riders on the road than other types of vehicles, their accidents are typically more severe because they’re so vulnerable. For assistance with understanding the consequences of your motorcycle accident, contact a Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyer to make sure you’re protected.

We Can Stand by You

Our firm has been a vital part of the community for 75 years. Founded in 1969, our principles of integrity, compassion, and the relentless pursuit of justice have helped us develop a positive reputation. The attorneys at the Cox Law Firm are experienced in a wide range of personal injury cases, from traditional vehicle accidents to motorcycle and large trucking accidents. At the Cox Law Firm, we’re here to support your recovery by advocating for your right to compensation.

Why Is Working With a Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Attorney Important?

A motorcycle accident attorney has an important role in helping victims receive compensation. They have access to a knowledgeable network of professionals who can attempt to reconstruct the accident and figure out who is at fault. By using police reports, witness statements, and photos and videos of the scene of the accident, they can help prove your eligibility for compensation.

Managing Paperwork

If you’re struggling with keeping track of all the documents surrounding your case, an attorney can help. They’re experienced with gathering medical records, bills for payments you made to fix or replace your vehicle, and other paperwork in a way that preserves them for an insurance claim or legal case.

Negotiating With Insurance Companies

Insurance companies often try to offer as little as possible in a settlement payout, so hiring an attorney can directly affect how much compensation you might receive. They are used to negotiating with insurance adjusters and addressing lowball offers. It’s possible to do this yourself, but many people make simple errors that result in an insurance company not taking their claim seriously or even outright rejecting it.

Representation in Court

Sometimes, an insurance company and an injured victim can’t come to an agreement on a settlement. In this case, an attorney usually represents the client in court. They can present evidence to support the client’s case and obtain compensation. Cases that go to trial can result in a higher amount of compensation, but there is a risk of losing the case and missing out on any compensation, so working with an attorney is essential.

Legal Advice and Emotional Support

Even if your case doesn’t go to trial, an attorney can still help you find peace during a difficult time. An effective attorney can constantly communicate with you about the status of your case and what your options are so that you can make the right choice for your situation. Claims with an attorney involved tend to have a higher rate of success and higher damage amounts due to the individualized work that a lawyer does on every case.

Knowledge of Relevant Laws

In addition to the benefits of having an attorney, finding one who works with motorcycle accident claims is especially important. Motorcycles are subject to slightly different rules than regular vehicle drivers on the road, and an attorney with experience in these cases has a firmer grasp on these laws, allowing them to more effectively protect their clients.

Common Challenges in Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Claims

Cases involving motorcycle accidents present different challenges than other types of accidents. Motorcyclists and others who are involved in these kinds of incidents have to deal with:

• Insurance Company Tactics: Insurance companies are quite good at offering low settlements or intentionally delaying the claims process to make you more desperate. They might even attempt to minimize the extent of your injuries or claim that you already had them before the accident.
• Proving Liability: In a motorcycle accident, there are often many potential parties involved when assessing who is to blame. The more people involved in an accident, the more difficult it can be. Figuring out who caused the accident can directly affect how much compensation you might be able to receive.
• Bias Against Motorcyclists: Unfortunately, many insurance companies and law enforcement officers assume that motorcycle riders are riskier than regular drivers. It takes a legal professional to overcome these biases so that your compensation and legal rights are not affected.
• More Severe Injuries: Motorcycle riders often experience serious injuries that can leave them permanently disabled. They could even require medical treatment for the rest of their lives. Proving these injuries might require additional evidence that an attorney can help provide, such as by contacting professionals, like doctors, to offer testimony.
• Lack of Evidence: It can be difficult for motorcycle riders to gather evidence at the scene because of the nature and intensity of their injuries. This is made worse when considering how much road conditions and weather can contribute to accidents. It might be necessary for an attorney to visit the scene to gather any evidence that could help your case.

It might seem impossible to build a case after a motorcycle accident, but an attorney can help you do so effectively.

What Types of Compensation Are Available?

If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident in Lafayette, LA, you could recover compensation for your damages. This compensation is meant to help you recover the losses you experienced after the accident.

Most of the damages available are in the form of economic damages, in which there is a tangible amount of money lost due to the accident. Medical expenses tend to be the largest amount because they include all the expenses you incurred as a result of your injuries, including hospital bills, surgeries, medications, and outpatient therapy. If your injuries resulted in a temporary or permanent disability, expenses related to your future care could be included as well.

There are other forms of damages that are related to how the accident affected your ability to earn a living. Many people have to take off work to recover, which can be accounted for in the final compensation amount. The ability to work in the future can also be considered, especially if your injuries make it difficult to hold the same job that you did before the accident.

Other aspects of economic damages include how much it costs to replace or repair your vehicle or motorcycle. Depending on the circumstances, other costs, like transportation or paid assistance to help with cleaning or cooking tasks, could be compensated. It’s important to keep any bills or receipts associated with the accident so that an attorney can compile a clear damages amount later.

Non-economic damages are more difficult to calculate, but they are an important part of any motorcycle accident settlement. Experiencing anxiety or depression, suffering emotional distress due to your injuries, and not being able to enjoy life like you used to can all be included in a settlement. It’s also possible to receive compensation for a loss of consortium if your spouse or children are affected by your injuries.

FAQs

What Should I Do Immediately After a Motorcycle Accident?

Immediately after a motorcycle accident, contact emergency services if anyone is injured. If there are no injuries but minor damage, contact the local police. Those who are injured should go with emergency medical services. If you do not need to do this, then stay at the scene to gather important evidence, like photos of the accident and the contact information of any witnesses who saw the accident occur.

How Can a Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help Me?

A motorcycle accident attorney can help you by informing you of your legal rights. They are comfortable negotiating with insurance companies to make sure you receive the compensation you are due, and they can even represent you in court if necessary. Attorneys regularly help their clients obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with a motorcycle accident to help them recover.

What Compensation Can I Receive After a Motorcycle Accident?

Types of compensation you can receive after a motorcycle accident include current medical expenses and cost estimates for medical treatments that you will need in the future. You could also receive compensation if you had to miss work due to your injuries or were disabled to the point of not being able to work anymore. Furthermore, you could obtain compensation for pain and suffering as well as any property damage sustained due to the accident.

What If I Was Partially at Fault for a Motorcycle Accident?

If you were partially at fault for a motorcycle accident, you might still be able to receive some compensation. Your attorney might be able to fight for partial compensation under comparative negligence laws. Even though you might receive less compensation, it can still be critical to your recovery. It’s important to speak to a motorcycle accident attorney to determine how much fault each party has in causing the accident and learn what you’re entitled to.

Start Your Recovery After the Lafayette Motorcycle Crash

An attorney can help you work through complicated insurance claims and understand your legal options. If you have been a victim of another individual’s negligence, it’s time to take action to start the path of recovery. Schedule a consultation with the Cox Law Firm today to learn more about how we can improve the odds of your motorcycle accident claim’s success.