Motorcycle accidents frequently lead to serious injuries. This is in part because motorcyclists, even when exercising all appropriate safety precautions, are not as well protected as people in cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles. Accordingly, motorcycles are much more likely to become injured in accidents than other motorists. Getting the medical and treatment needed to recover from these injuries can be incredibly expensive, and many motorcycle accident victims do not know where to turn in the face of such adversity.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident near Cookeville, TN, our attorneys can help. We know how to fight for you in motorcycle accident lawsuits, and we can make sure you are treated fairly in your case and that you have the best shot possible at getting financial compensation.
For a free, no-obligation case evaluation, call Howe Law’s motorcycle accident lawyers at (844) 876-4357.
Perceptions of Motorcyclists in Cookeville, TN Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits
Motorcycle riders have an unearned reputation as reckless or thrill-seekers who throw caution to the wind in the pursuit of a good time on the road. While some people who ride motorcycles may fit this mold, the reality is that this stereotype is incredibly far off the mark for most motorcyclists. Many motorcycle riders take many safety precautions while riding their bikes. They wear helmets, protective jackets, pants, and boots and are top-tier conscientious drivers.
Unfortunately, it is likely this popular perception of motorcyclists to make its way into a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Canny defense attorneys will doubtless try and play up this image to try and make it so that the accident looks like it is your fault. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will work to make sure that your situation is shown to the judge and jury in a fair light and that you are treated as the responsible motorcycle rider we know you to be.
Who Can You Sue in a Cookeville, TN Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
One of the most important parts of any motorcycle accident lawsuit is deciding who you are going to take to court. The legal system only allows you to get damages from parties that caused your injuries, so you need to make sure that you only sue people you suspect caused your injuries. Otherwise, you are not in a good position to win your case.
Other Drivers
Frequently, other drivers on the road are the cause of motorcycle accidents. This can happen for all sorts of reasons. Drivers can speed, drive aggressively, ignore road signage, get distracted, or do any number of other things to endanger not just motorcyclists but also all other motorists on the road.
Employers and Employed Drivers
If a driver who hit you on your motorcycle was working for a company, you can also hold that company accountable for your injuries. There is a legal principle called “respondeat superior,” which lets plaintiffs sue the employers of individuals who have wronged them. The idea behind this is that employers are 1) responsible for what their employees do and 2) are often in a better position to compensate plaintiffs than their underlings. After all, if you win millions in damages from a defendant who is broke, you will not get anything, and your medical bills and other needs will go unpaid.
The trick is that the employee must be doing something work-related when they hit you for the employer to be liable. For example, if a pizza delivery vehicle hits you while on the way to drop off an order, their employer will likely be liable. However, if the pizza delivery person hits you on the way to their friend’s house, their employer will probably not be liable in a lawsuit because going to a friend’s house is not a work-related activity.
Motorcycle Designers and Manufacturers
You can also sue the designers and manufacturers of motorcycles as well as the maintenance personnel who worked on the bike. Lawsuits against these entities happen when some kind of defect or problem with the motorcycle causes an accident. This could be anything from popped tires to failing brakes and beyond.
Who you sue will largely depend on what kind of defect is present and where in the process it happened. If the motorcycle design is inherently unsafe, you sue the designer. If the bike was built wrong or repaired incorrectly, you sue the appropriate manufacturer or maintenance entity.
What to Do Right After a Motorcycle Accident in Cookeville, TN
There are important things to do right after a motorcycle accident. Some of these things are critical to your case, while other tasks are crucial to making sure you get the best medical treatment possible and do not exacerbate any injuries you may have.
Seek Medical Care
First, get medical attention. Let any EMTs or other first responders who go to the scene attend to you and follow all of their instructions. Moreover, it is a good idea to get a medical evaluation in the days following your accident, even if you appear “unscathed.” This is because some injuries may take a couple of days to reveal themselves.
Collect Information
The next important thing to do right after a motorcycle accident is to collect as much information as possible. Photos and videos of the accident can help our lawyers build a case. Additionally, obtain the name, license plate number, and insurance information of anyone involved in the accident, as they may be involved in your motorcycle accident lawsuit as a witness, defendant, or other party later down the line.
Call Our Cookeville, TN Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Right Away
Time is of the essence, so call our motorcycle accident attorneys at Howe Law at the number (844) 876-4357 for a free analysis of your case.
