When you suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident due to someone else’s carelessness, you may have the right to pursue compensation for the injuries and losses their negligence caused. However, insurance companies can make it challenging to recover the financial relief you need and deserve. Let a Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyer from The Thibeaux Firm advocate for your rights and interests.

Attorney Omar Thibeaux has a proven track record of success representing injured accident victims throughout Louisiana. He’s known across the Pelican State as “The 25% Attorney,” in that he charges a flat and fair 25 percent contingency fee if he wins compensation for you in your motorcycle accident claim.

After getting hurt in a motorcycle crash, you deserve to seek maximum financial recovery and justice for the harm you’ve suffered. Contact The Thibeaux Firm for a free initial case evaluation with a personal injury lawyer in Lafayette to discuss your legal options.

Benefits of Hiring a Lafayette Lawyer for Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

A motorcycle accident can leave you with severe injuries that will require intensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. You deserve to recover compensation from the party responsible for the accident and your injuries.

However, balancing medical recovery with pursuing a motorcycle accident claim can prove challenging. When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Lafayette to represent you, you’ll benefit from a determined advocate who can handle your case while you focus on healing.

Let The Thibeaux Firm pursue the financial resources you need for your recovery by:

  • Thoroughly investigating the accident to recover evidence to support your injury claim
  • Identifying liable parties and evaluating your options for pursuing financial recovery
  • Documenting your injuries and losses to ensure we pursue maximum compensation for your ongoing and future needs
  • Answering your questions and preparing you for what to expect in the claims process
  • Filing your insurance and legal claims and negotiating with insurance adjusters to pursue a fair and full settlement of your claims
  • Taking your case to court and trial, if necessary, to demand the justice and compensation you deserve
  • Never charging you anything unless we recover compensation for your claim

At The Thibeaux Firm, we offer a distinct advantage for accident victims. We strive to bring value to your claim, which is why Attorney Thibeaux is known as “The 25% Attorney.” Our law firm charges a flat rate of 25 percent of the ultimate award for every case, which allows you to access high-quality legal representation regardless of your financial situation. This is much less than the 33 to 40 percent that most other lawyers charge.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

The shock of a motorcycle crash may leave you unsure of what steps to take next. However, taking prompt action can best protect your health and rights. Steps to take after getting into a motorcycle collision include:

  • Report the accident to the police and get a copy of the crash report in the days following the accident
  • Seek immediate medical care and follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recovery instructions
  • Request records of your medical treatment and rehabilitation
  • Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts to document your medical and motorcycle repair expenses
  • Gather your pay stubs to calculate lost wages if you take time off or earn less while in a part-time or light-duty role

Finally, contact a motorcycle accident attorney from The Thibeaux Firm as soon as possible to pursue your compensation claims.

How We Investigate Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Cases

At The Thibeaux Firm, our hardworking legal team thoroughly investigates motorcycle accident claims to recover all available evidence, which helps us build the most robust case possible for our clients. Your motorcycle accident case may involve the use of evidence such as:

  • Police crash reports
  • Accident scene photos and videos
  • Surveillance and traffic camera footage
  • Dashcam and helmet cam footage
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Driver cell phone records
  • Vehicle computer logs
  • Post-accident vehicle inspections
  • Repair and maintenance records
  • Accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony

Compensation You Could Recover in a Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Claim

After a motorcycle accident caused by another party’s fault, motorcycle accident compensation can provide you with money for your:

  • Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs
  • Costs of long-term disability care
  • Ongoing and future losses of income and benefits due to disabilities
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment and quality of life
  • Costs of motorcycle repairs or replacement

How a Motorcycle Accident Differs from a Car Accident

Injured motorcycle riders frequently face challenges that injured victims of car accidents never experience due to the unique circumstances of motorcycle accidents. Some of the factors that make motorcycle accidents different from car accidents include:

  • Riders Tend to Suffer More Severe Injuries – The lack of crash protection for motorcycle riders means they usually suffer far more severe injuries than vehicle occupants. As a result, motorcycle accident claims typically involve higher amounts of compensation due to more expensive medical care, additional missed time from work, and a higher risk of prolonged or permanent disabilities.
  • At-Fault Drivers May Have Insufficient Insurance Coverage – Some drivers carry only the minimum liability insurance required by state law. However, when a motorcycle rider suffers severe injuries in a crash, the minimum policy limits required in Louisiana may not fully compensate the rider for their expenses or losses.
  • Drivers and Insurers Use Stereotypes to Shift Blame for Accidents – At-fault drivers and insurance companies sometimes deflect blame for a motorcycle crash by relying on negative stereotypes and biases against motorcycle riders to claim that the rider caused the accident through dangerous or reckless riding.

Parties Who Could Be Held Liable for a Motorcycle Wreck in Lafayette

In most cases, a driver will bear responsibility for causing a motorcycle wreck. However, other parties may also bear liability for your injuries and losses from a motorcycle accident, such as:

  • The At-Fault Driver’s Employer – When a driver hits a motorcyclist while driving for work, the driver’s employer will also bear liability to the injured rider.
  • The Owner of the At-Fault Driver’s Vehicle – The vehicle’s owner may bear liability for a motorcycle accident if they negligently entrusted their vehicle to the driver, such as by lending it to a severely intoxicated person or an unlicensed driver.
  • A Vehicle or Auto Part Manufacturer – Vehicle and auto part manufacturers may bear responsibility for motorcycle accidents when a vehicle suffers a mechanical issue due to a design or manufacturing defect in the vehicle or one of its parts (such as brakes or tires).

Could You Recover Compensation if You’re Partly to Blame for a Motorcycle Accident?

Even if you share some of the responsibility for the accident, you still have the right to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. Louisiana follows the pure comparative negligence rule for accident cases. Under this rule, you can file a compensation claim even if you bear a majority of the fault for the accident.

However, the rule states that your compensation award will be reduced in proportion to the percentage of responsibility you bear for the accident. For example, suppose a jury finds you 25 percent at fault for the motorcycle accident. In that case, your compensation award will be reduced by 25 percent to reflect your share of liability for your injuries and losses.

Every percentage point amounts to dollars you will — or won’t — recover for your motorcycle accident injury. But Attorney Thibeaux knows how to demonstrate that the other party was fully or overwhelmingly responsible for the collision. This can get you closer to the full and fair compensation you deserve.

How Long Do You Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Louisiana?

Louisiana’s statute of limitations typically gives you one year after the crash to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit. However, this deadline does not apply to minors injured in motorcycle accidents. Because you have little time to pursue an injury claim after a motorcycle crash, you can best protect your rights and options by speaking with the motorcycle accident law firm of The Thibeaux Firm right away after an accident to ensure your claims get filed on time.

Common Types and Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Lafayette

Motorcycle riders can get into all types of accidents, including sideswipe collisions, rear-end collisions, side-impact or T-bone collisions, head-on collisions, and “wipeout” accidents. Many motorcycle accidents in Louisiana occur due to negligent or reckless driving by other motorists. Some of the top causes of motorcycle accidents in Lafayette include:

  • Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
  • Tailgating
  • Reckless driving
  • Aggressive driving
  • Unsafe passing
  • Failing to yield the right-of-way
  • Failing to use turn signals
  • Illegal or unsafe turns, lane changes, or passes
  • Distracted driving
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Drowsy driving
  • Vehicle defects
  • Inadequate vehicle maintenance that causes mechanical problems

Typical Injuries Resulting from a Motorcycle Collision

A motorcycle collision can cause various severe injuries for riders due to their exposed position. Common examples of injuries that riders can suffer in crashes include:

  • Lacerations
  • Abrasions and road rash
  • Burn Injuries
  • Broken bones
  • Dislocated joints
  • Ligament sprains and tears
  • Muscle and tendon strains and tears
  • Whiplash

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Lafayette Today

A motorcycle accident can leave you with significant physical injuries, substantial medical bills, and worries about your future. If another motorist’s actions caused the accident that injured you, a caring and determined attorney can pursue the compensation, justice, and accountability you deserve.

Contact The Thibeaux Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a hardworking Lafayette motorcycle accident attorney. You’ll learn about your legal options and how our firm will fight for financial recovery for your medical bills, motorcycle repairs, lost income, and pain and suffering.