Lexington Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycles can be a cost-effective alternative to vehicles with poor gas mileage. However, a major downside to riding motorcycles is that the injuries from a potential accident can be devastating. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident, contact an experienced Lexington motorcycle accident attorney at Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., to discuss your personal injury claim. We can give you sound legal advice during a free personal injury consultation.

Why Choose Gary C. Johnson For Your Lexington Motorcycle Accident?

• Our personal injury lawyers in Lexington care about their clients and are excellent communicators. They will keep you informed throughout every step of the case, answer all of your questions, and make sure that you are prepared for depositions and trial testimony when necessary.
• Our legal team has represented personal injury clients for more than 4 decades. They have been successful in securing significant financial recoveries for their clients including multi-million dollar settlements and trial awards.
• Our law firm understands and are skilled in all aspects of motorcycle accidents and recovery, including investigating the cause of the accident, proving accident liability, proving catastrophic injuries, hiring medical experts, and settlement negotiations with insurance companies.

Responsible Parties and Insurance Companies In Lexington Motorcycle Accidents

Responsible parties in Kentucky motorcycle accidents may involve the motorcycle seller or manufacturer, government entities responsible for dangerous road conditions, other drivers, or any other person or entity whose negligence or recklessness led to your accident. Regardless of the person or entity that was at fault for your accident, insurance companies for the defendants will almost always be involved. You do not have to speak with any insurance company when they contact you and it is likely in your best interests not to speak with them. To limit their financial exposure, an insurance company will frequently try to pin some or all of the fault on you and they sometimes do this by using something you say during a phone interview against you.

Our Lexington motorcycle accident attorneys know how to handle insurance companies and they will manage all communication with their representatives so that you do not have to speak with them. They will negotiate for a fair settlement so that you are fully compensated and if an insurance company is being unreasonable in their negotiations, our attorneys will take your case to trial. Most motorcycle accident claims do settle and insurance companies are often much more generous with their settlement offers when they know that plaintiffs are represented by competent trial attorneys who will not hesitate to take their case to trial. Our Lexington motorcycle accident lawyers can build you a strong case so that you receive compensation that justifies your pain and suffering.

Common Causes Of Motorcycle Crashes In Lexington

Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Lexington include:

• Driver inattention
• Failing to follow traffic signs and signals
• Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Speeding or driving too fast for the conditions present
• Dangerous road conditions
• Aggressive drivers
• Motorcycle defects

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Compared to car accidents, motorcycle crashes typically inflict more serious injuries upon the rider. Some common injuries in Lexington motorcycle accidents are:

• Broken bones
• Road rash
• Hand injuries
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries

Apart from physical injuries, motorcycle accident victims must also deal with mental anguish, loss of consortium, and other forms of metaphysical trauma. Taking legal action is the only way you or a loved one can receive the fair compensation you deserve to cover your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. If a death is involved in a Lexington motorcycle accident, contact our Lexington wrongful death lawyers.

What Steps Can You Take Now to Help Your Motorcycle Accident Claim?

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident in Lexington, Kentucky, it is crucial to take certain steps immediately to strengthen your claim. The actions you take after the accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation.

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately. Your health is the top priority. Even if you do not feel seriously injured, some injuries may not be immediately apparent. Seeing a doctor right away not only ensures you receive the necessary treatment but also provides medical documentation that will be critical to your claim.
2. Document the Accident Scene. If you are physically able to do so after the incident, take photos or videos of the accident scene, your injuries, and any damage to your bike and other vehicles involved. Capture details like skid marks, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible hazards.
3. Obtain Contact Information. Gather the contact information from every party involved in the accident, including drivers, passengers, and any bystanders. This information will be essential for your attorney when investigating the accident and building your case.
4. File a Police Report. Contact the police right away and ensure that an official law enforcement report is filed. This report will serve as an important piece of evidence in your claim, detailing the circumstances of the accident and any potential traffic law violations
5. Notify Your Insurance Company. Report the accident to your own insurance carrier as soon as possible. However, be cautious about what you tell the claims adjuster, as they may try to use your statements against you to minimize the payout. It is often best to consult with an attorney before providing detailed information to any insurance company.
6. Consult with a Motorcycle Accident Attorney. Contact an experienced Lexington motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure that your motorcycle accident claim is as strong as possible, increasing your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve.

How Soon Do You Need to File Your Claim?

In Kentucky, you have a limited timeframe to file a personal injury claim following a Lexington motorcycle accident. This is governed by the state’s statute of limitations, which is the legal deadline for initiating a lawsuit.

For most motorcycle accident claims, the statute of limitations in Kentucky is one year from the date of the accident. This means you have one year to file a lawsuit seeking monetary compensation for your injuries and property damage. Failing to file within this timeframe, you may lose your right to pursue compensation.

Will Insurance Cover All of Your Losses?

After a motorcycle accident, you may wonder if insurance will fully cover your losses. The answer to this question depends on several factors, including the extent of your coverage, the severity of your injuries, how the injuries continue to affect your life, and more.

Kentucky follows a no-fault insurance system, which means that your own insurance policy will typically cover your medical bills and lost income up to certain limits, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. This is covered under Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. However, this no-fault coverage does not extend to pain and suffering or other non-economic damages, which can be substantial in serious motorcycle accidents.

If your injuries are severe and your losses rise above the limits of your PIP coverage, you may be able to step outside the no-fault system and file a claim against the at-fault driver. This is known as a third-party claim. In this situation, you can seek compensation for a wider range of damages, including medical bills, lost wages, as well as a range of pain and suffering damages.

However, insurance claims adjusters in Kentucky often try to minimize payouts, and the at-fault driver’s insurance may not cover all of your losses. When that happens, working with an experienced attorney is important for ensuring you’re on the path to receiving fair compensation.

Will Your Motorcycle Accident Claim Go to Court?

Many motorcycle accident claims in Lexington are settled out of court through negotiations with the insurance companies involved. However, there are situations where taking your case to court may be necessary to secure the compensation you deserve.

Your claim may go to court if:

• The insurance company disputes liability. If the insurer denies that their policyholder was at fault or tries to shift blame onto you, a court case may be required to determine liability.
• The insurance company offers a low settlement. If the settlement offer from the insurance carrier doesn’t adequately cover your damages, you may need to file a lawsuit and go to court to seek fair compensation.
• There are complex legal issues. Some cases involve complicated legal or factual issues that cannot be easily resolved through negotiation, requiring full case in civil court.

How Long Will Your Claim Take to Resolve?

The timeline for resolving a motorcycle accident claim can vary widely depending on the factors related to the specific incident, the severity of the injuries, and whether the case goes to court. While some claims may be settled within a few months, others can take a year or more to resolve.

Factors that can affect the duration of your claim include:

• Severity of injuries. Cases involving serious injuries could take more time to resolve because they often require extensive medical treatment and a thorough assessment of future medical needs and lost earning capacity.
• Disputes over liability. If the at-fault party or their insurance company disputes liability, it can delay the resolution of your claim as both sides gather evidence and possibly go to court to resolve the issue.
• Settlement negotiations. The process of negotiating a fair settlement with the insurance company can take time, especially if the initial offers are low and your attorney needs to push for a higher amount.
• Court proceedings. If your case goes to court, the litigation process can add significant time to your claim. Court schedules, pre-trial motions, and the length of the trial itself can all impact the timeline.

While it can be frustrating to wait for a resolution, it is important not to rush the process. Settling too quickly can result in accepting a lower amount of compensation than you deserve. Your attorney will work diligently to resolve your claim as efficiently as possible while ensuring that your best interests are protected.

How Will You Pay for a Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

One of the biggest concerns for motorcycle accident victims is how to afford legal representation. Fortunately, at Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay any legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Under a contingency fee arrangement, our attorney’s fees are a percentage of the settlement or court award you receive. This percentage will be agreed upon before we take on your case, so there are no surprises. If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing for our services.

Contact Our Lexington Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle or other type of auto accident, contact a Lexington accident lawyer at Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., to discuss your legal options. If someone’s wrongful conduct caused your accident, you deserve to be compensated for losses such as property damage, medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. In cases of fatal motorcycle accidents, survivors of the decedent are sometimes eligible for compensation in wrongful death actions.

Our personal injury lawyers will take every step necessary to secure maximum compensation for you and your family. Send us a message online or call today at (800) 337-4002 to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury attorney at our Lexington, Kentucky law office. Take legal action today!