Many Tennessee residents choose to use motorcycles as their main mode of transportation because of fuel economy, handling characteristics, or a myriad of other reasons. More people still ride motorcycles on occasion as a recreational activity because they find riding them fun. Unfortunately, some number of those people will get injured in motorcycle accidents. The treatment for such injuries can get quite expensive. Moreover, victims of motorcycle accidents may want to see justice done for their injuries. For those reasons and more, victims of motorcycle accidents file lawsuits.
If you were involved in a motorcycle crash around La Vergne, our lawyers may be able to help. We have the trial experience and professional perseverance you need to be successful in court.
For a free case assessment, contact Howe Law’s motorcycle accident attorneys at (844) 876-4357.
Reasons Motorcycle Accidents Happen in La Vergne, TN
Motorcycle accidents happen for all sorts of reasons. Unfortunately, many people will blame the motorcycle rider for their accident because there is sometimes a perception that people who ride motorcycles are careless or reckless thrill-seekers. Our motorcycle accident lawyers know that this is not true, and we can work to determine the true cause of your motorcycle accident so you can get damages in court.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
Sometimes, a motorcycle will crash seemingly on its own. In these single-vehicle accidents, the actual cause is likely an outside source that is not immediately obvious. For example, if there is a problem with a motorcycle’s brakes, they could malfunction without any bad conduct from a driver or any other source.
Alternatively, what may initially appear as a “single vehicle” accident may not be one in reality. For example, if a motorcyclist takes evasive maneuvers to avoid a dangerous driver and regrettably gets in an accident, the other driver contributed to the accident happening, even if they did not physically hit the motorcycle.
Bad Drivers
Very often, other drivers are the root cause of a motorcycle accident. A very large number of motor vehicle accident lawsuits come down to proving that the defendant-driver made a mistake or did something careless and that caused the plaintiff’s injuries.
The first way that drivers can be negligent and cause motorcycle accidents is by disobeying traffic laws. This includes things like running red lights, speeding, or driving drunk. These actions are considered negligent because there are laws against them, not necessarily because it is dangerous conduct (although traffic rules are designed to prohibit things that are, in fact, dangerous).
Second, drivers can be negligent by not being careful, reasonable motorists. There are countless ways that a driver can be careless on the road. For example, a driver could not check their mirrors thoroughly enough and miss a motorcycle alongside them, or a driver may position their vehicle too close to a motorcyclist and accidentally hit them.
Finally, drivers can get distracted. Between cell phone use, interactions with other passengers, and now partially and fully automated vehicles, there are more ways now than ever before for drivers to become distracted and subsequently get in an accident.
Poor Road Conditions
Poor road conditions, like potholes or defective guardrails, can easily cause motorcycle accidents. Road maintenance is usually the purview of state or local government entities. There are special rules for suing these entities, so it is best to speak with our lawyers if your crash involved dangerous road conditions.
Damages From Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits in La Vergne, TN
When you go to court, what you ask is that the court makes the defendant pay you damages. Damages are the legal system’s way of compensating plaintiffs for their injuries. The idea is to put the plaintiff back in the same position they were in prior to getting injured, or at least as close as possible to that point. When you file your lawsuit, you must, with the help of our lawyers, specify exactly what injuries you are asking the court to award compensation for.
Physical Injuries and Medical Expenses
The most obvious injuries in a motorcycle accident lawsuit will be the ones you receive to your person from the accident. Motorcyclists, even when wearing all appropriate protective gear, are less well protected than the drivers of cars, trucks, and SUVs. Accordingly, motorcyclists can get serious bruises, fractures, and brain injuries – all of which you can request to be awarded compensation for.
Specifically, you get compensation for the medical treatment for those injuries. Surgery, physical therapy, and long-term care can be very expensive, so getting financial compensation for these things is important in your lawsuit.
Pain and Suffering
You can also get compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of your injuries. This is a closely related but separate item to your actual injuries. A good way to think of it is that part of your damages is for the actual injury, and another part is for the pain that injury caused. Additionally, you can also get damages from any mental distress or anguish you felt as a result of your injuries.
Lost Wages and Income
Another thing you can get damages for is lost wages and income. Many plaintiffs who are injured need to focus wholly on recovering from their injuries and, therefore, will likely not be able to work and need to either quit their jobs or take a leave of absence. In these instances, you can get compensation based on the income you would have earned during that time were you not injured in a motorcycle accident. Additionally, if you needed to switch to a less well-paying position because of your injuries, that can also factor into damages.
Talk to Our La Vergne, TN Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
Howe Law has motorcycle accident attorneys ready to help you with your case when you call us at (844) 876-4357.
