Kentucky recorded almost 1,400 motorcycle crashes in a recent year, according to data from the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. Since motorcycles lack passenger compartments, motorcyclists are at a heightened risk of serious injuries in collisions. Crashes can lead to severe injuries, medical expenses, and ongoing physical and emotional challenges.
If another driver’s carelessness or reckless actions caused a motorcycle crash that injured you, you may be able to seek financial relief for your medical expenses and financial losses from missed work and lost income. Insurance companies frequently look for reasons to deny or minimize a motorcycle accident claim. If you have serious injuries from a motorcycle crash and someone else is at fault, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer to advocate for your interests.
The experienced Kentucky motorcycle accident lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer bring determination and Kentucky Courage to every motorcycle wreck case we handle. We stand up to insurance companies and demand the full compensation our clients deserve. Contact a Kentucky motorcycle accident attorney for a free consultation to discuss your legal options for pursuing justice.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Paintsville, KY
Many motorcycle accidents in Paintsville occur due to negligent or reckless drivers who aren’t looking out for motorcycles. Some of the more common causes of motorcycle crashes include:
- Speeding automobile drivers
- Driving too fast for road, weather, or traffic conditions
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Tailgating or following too closely
- Reckless driving, such as excessive speeding or weaving through traffic
- Making improper lane changes and failing to check mirrors before changing lanes
- Making unsafe left turns at intersections
- Improper passing or passing a motorcycle without moving into an adjacent lane
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Legal Process for Motorcycle Accident Claims in Paintsville
The legal process for pursuing claims for motorcycle accident injuries begins with a thorough investigation of the crash to determine the cause and identify the at-fault parties. In many cases, a Kentucky motorcycle accident lawyer in Paintsville may work with accident reconstruction specialists to determine how the crash happened and prepare compelling reports and testimony.
Our law firm will identify insurance policies available to provide compensation in your case and file claims on your behalf. When necessary, our firm will file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused the accident and other liable parties and demand compensation for your losses.
Under Kentucky’s statute of limitations for injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents, you typically have two years after a motor vehicle accident to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and other parties liable for your injuries and losses.
Because you have this relatively short timeframe in which to file a motorcycle accident claim, it’s important to contact a Paintsville motorcycle accident lawyer with Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer as soon as possible after a crash to understand your legal options. Don’t miss the deadline for pursuing legal action.
Why Hire a Paintsville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Pursuing a motorcycle accident claim can present challenges for someone without legal representation. For example, riders tend to suffer severe injuries in a crash due to their exposed position on a motorcycle. As a result, the financial stakes in a motorcycle accident claim may be higher. You will be at a disadvantage if you do not have an experienced personal injury lawyer advocating for you in settlement negotiations. If a motorcyclist gets hit by a driver with minimal or no liability insurance, that rider may have to pursue alternatives to secure financial resources for their recovery.
At-fault drivers and insurance companies may try to avoid financial liability by relying on biases against motorcyclists. The insurance company may claim that a rider caused a crash by driving recklessly. An experienced attorney will investigate the accident and seek evidence to prove the other driver’s fault.
Hiring a Paintsville motorcycle accident lawyer from Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer means you will have an experienced attorney guiding you through the legal process. While you focus on your medical treatment and recovery, our law firm will fight to recover the financial resources you need to put your life back on track after a devastating motorcycle crash.
What To Expect When Working with a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
You can expect Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to take prompt action to assist you if you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle crash in Paintsville. We offer free consultations to review your motorcycle accident and discuss your legal options. Let us seek the financial relief you need.
After you hire our firm, we will work to gather the evidence needed to prove the other driver’s fault for the accident. Our attorneys will evaluate the accident circumstances to identify other potentially liable parties and avenues for pursuing compensation, including filing a claim against the at-fault driver.
Our firm can help you find the medical specialists you need for your injuries while documenting your ongoing and future medical expenses. Let us handle your legal case while you focus on healing. Our team will keep you updated on the progress of your claim.
Choosing the Right Lawyer for You
If you have sustained severe injuries in a Paintsville motorcycle accident due to another driver’s careless behavior, you might have a right to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer today for a free consultation with a Paintsville motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss how we can help you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Motorcycle Accidents
Some of the common questions motorcycle accident victims have about their legal options after a crash include:
What happens if the other driver is uninsured?
If you’ve suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash caused by an uninsured driver, you may file a claim against your own uninsured motorist policy if you have coverage. In an uninsured motorist accident, you turn to your insurer for coverage for losses you would ordinarily attempt to recover from the at-fault driver.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Even if you share some responsibility for causing a motorcycle accident, Kentucky law still allows you to pursue legal claims against the other driver(s) or parties at fault for the crash.
Kentucky follows a pure comparative negligence rule for accident cases. Under this rule, your partial responsibility for the motorcycle accident will not prevent you from filing a lawsuit against other at-fault parties. However, the court will reduce any financial compensation you are awarded in proportion to your percentage of fault for the accident.
For example, if you sustained $100,000 in losses due to a motorcycle accident for which you bear 20 percent responsibility, the court can reduce your award by $20,000 to reflect your share of fault. Because the pure comparative negligence rule can affect your financial recovery, you need an experienced legal advocate if the other driver or insurance company attempts to shift the blame for the accident to you.
How long will my case take to resolve?
Unfortunately, no one can predict how long it may take to obtain a resolution to your motorcycle accident claim. Some motorcycle accident cases settle in a few months, while others take several years to conclude. Multiple factors will influence the timeline of your case, such as:
- The type and severity of your accident injuries
- The duration of your medical care and the types of treatment or rehabilitation you need
- Whether you miss time from work or suffer a reduction in your earnings due to your injuries
- Whether your injuries result in permanent disabilities
- The complexity of the evidence involved in your case, including whether your case involves electronic records, accident reconstruction expert reports, or testimony
- Whether other people also suffered injuries in the accident
- The number of potentially liable parties
- Whether you share any responsibility for causing the accident
- The availability of insurance coverage
- How quickly the insurance companies investigate and process your claims
- Whether you need to file a lawsuit to pursue financial recovery in your case
- The case schedule imposed by the trial court presiding over your lawsuit
What types of compensation can I recover?
In a personal injury claim, you may have an opportunity to seek a financial recovery for ongoing and future losses you suffered due to a Kentucky motorcycle accident. Compensation for motorcycle accidents can include money for:
- Medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses
- Costs of long-term care services if you suffer prolonged or permanent disabilities
- Lost income from missed work or reduced earnings during your recovery
- Loss of future earning potential if you are permanently disabled and cannot return to work
- Physical pain and emotional trauma or distress
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life due to physical disabilities or visible scarring or disfigurement
Contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer’s Paintsville Office
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Kentucky caused by another motorist, you need a law firm known for standing up to insurance companies and fighting for justice for injured people. Contact Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer today at (606) 789-1135 for a free consultation with a Paintsville motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss how we can help you.
