Motorcycle Accidents

A motorcycle accident can cause serious injury because motorcycles do not have the same protections that are found in passenger vehicles.

Also, because motorcycles are smaller than cars or trucks, in a collision with a car or truck, the motorcycle has sustain more damage, and so may the motorcycle’s rider.

Often, the cause of a motorcycle accident is that the other driver did not pay attention to the presence of the motorcycle.

An experienced personal injury attorney can help you recover for the losses and damage you sustained as a result of the motorcycle accident. These damages may include:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical, doctor and hospital bills
• Lost wages
• Future medical expenses

The law governing motorcycles is different from state to state. In some states, you may be required to have a special motorcycle license in order to use a motorcycle. The failure to have a special motorcycle license may or may not affect your claim, depending on the state involved.

Some states may also have special helmet laws. If you were not wearing a helmet and were injured, this again is an issue that must be reviewed based on the particular law of the state involved.

Motorcycle accidents often result in the most catastrophic injuries. Such injuries can include brain injury and amputation – leading to permanent disabilities. As such, it’s important to find an attorney that has experience handling cases with significant damages. Mona Lisa Wallace has been handling motorcycle accidents since 1982 and she knows what it takes to ensure you receive the most compensation possible. Further, in the event you do sustain a permanent disability, Wallace & Graham can help you through the maze of applying for social security. Some of the cases we are currently handling or have handled recently include:

Motorcycle Accident/Permanent Disability

A 29 year old man was involved in a catastrophic motorcycle accident that left him permanently disabled. He was struck by a truck while riding his motorcycle. At the time of impact, the motorcycle was dragged under the truck and he was thrown through the truck windshield, and he was then thrown off of the windshield, thirty feet from the point of impact onto the road. Our client was wearing a helmet. His injuries were extremely extensive resulting in medical bills and lost wages of over a quarter of a million dollars. In addition to the bills he had already incurred, his physicians believed he would continue to need treatment for the foreseeable future after the accident. His injuries included facial fractures and other fractures all over his body. He went into shock and had several other problems. Wallace & Graham settled his case for the total available insurance coverage.

Motorcycle Accident/Amputation

A man was injured when he was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle. He was transported to the hospital and he underwent an amputation below his knee shortly after the accident. This amputation was particularly difficult for our client because he loved outdoor sports and was very active. Fortunately, he is going to be able to use a prosthetic leg and return to work and many of his normal activities. Liability was not contested in this case and we were able to collect all available insurance proceeds for our client in this matter.

Motorcycle Accident/Severe Injuries

A motorcyclist was involved in a serious accident on the Blue Ridge Parkway when a negligent driver stopped in the middle of the road to look at flowers. Our client suffered multiple injuries that led to surgery and he was fortunate to survive. After extensive negotiations with several insurance companies we obtained all available insurance coverage. We further reduced all his medical liens.

Motorcycle Accident/Amputation

In another recent case, a dog ran into the side of our client’s motorcycle while he was traveling in Florida. Our client’s leg was broken in the collision. He had metal rods placed in his ankle. Unfortunately, his wound became infected. The infection got into the bone and as a result, he had to have his leg amputated right below the knee. He is just now beginning to use a prosthetic device and we hope he can return to work soon. We are still working to secure compensation for our client’s injuries.

Motorcycle Accident/Amputation

We are also currently working on a case in which our client was involved in a motorcycle accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken ribs, dislocated shoulder and broken toe. Unfortunately, he did not have insurance so the hospital discharged our client before realizing he had a severe infection in his broken toe that went into the bone. He was forced to amputate his toe. The amputation did not reach all of the infection and he was later forced to get rid of all of his toes on that foot. As a result of losing his toes, he was very unsteady and had problems with balance. Because of his lack of balance he suffered an injury in a fall which resulted in an amputation on the other foot. We are still working to secure compensation for our client’s injuries.

Motorcycle Accident/Traumatic Brain Injury

One of our most recent cases arose out of a motorcycle accident resulting in severe injuries including facial fractures and a traumatic brain injury. Our client was riding in a motorcycle when he was struck by a woman in a van. He was in the hospital for over a month after the accident. This case was very complicated because our client was on a special errand for his employer at the time of the accident. That means there was both a workers’ compensation claim and a claim against the at-fault driver in the van. Both claims were vigorously contested. The driver of the van insisted that our client was at fault for using his blinker in a turn lane but then failing to execute the turn. The employer believed it wasn’t a workers' compensation claim because our client was not on a special errand for his employer. As the parties argued over who should pay for the damages caused in this accident, our client’s medical insurance began to pay his medical bills. After about a year of negotiating the insurance company for the driver of the van paid us $2.4 million to settle the case. The firm also obtained additional benefits for the victim and his family.

Please note that every case depends on its own facts. The case summaries above are not meant to suggest that if you have a claim, the law will support it, or that if we represent you we will be able to prevail. Each case must be evaluated under its own particular facts and the law that applies.

If you believe you or someone you love may have a personal injury claim, please call our firm at 1-800-849-5291 or use this convenient form