Have you gotten into an accident on your motorcycle due to another driver’s or party’s negligence? You may have the right to hold at-fault parties accountable for the harm and losses you’ve suffered because of a motorcycle accident. However, injured riders frequently face obstacles to pursuing compensation for accident injuries. If you need experienced legal counsel in your corner, turn to the Waterbury motorcycle accident lawyers of The Flood Law Firm for help.
Our firm has helped accident victims across Connecticut stand up to at-fault parties and their insurance companies to seek financial compensation for life-altering injuries for over a decade. We have seen the devastating consequences motorcycle crashes have on the lives of people like you.
Our attorneys will work tirelessly to protect your rights and interests and relieve you of stress. Reach out to our firm for a free initial consultation to learn more about how hiring our Waterbury motorcycle accident attorneys could give you peace of mind.
- Why Choose The Flood Law Firm to Help With Your Motorcycle Accident Claim?
- How Can a Waterbury Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Make a Difference in Your Case?
- Waterbury Motorcycle Accident Statistics
- Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
- Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
- What Makes Motorcycle Accident Cases Different From Other Kinds of Motor Vehicle Accidents?
- Financial Compensation Available in Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
- What Actions Should You Take After Suffering Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident?
- How Do You Prove Fault for a Motorcycle Accident?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents
- Contact The Flood Law Firm for a Free Case Review To Discuss Your Options With Our Waterbury Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Why Choose The Flood Law Firm to Help With Your Motorcycle Accident Claim?
You need maximum compensation to get your life back on track after a motorcycle accident in Waterbury. An experienced attorney can help you seek the financial relief and justice you deserve for your injuries.
For over a decade, injured motorcycle riders throughout Connecticut—and even other lawyers—have turned to The Flood Law Firm for legal help because:
- Our lawyers take the time to get to know clients, understand their goals, and keep them updated on the progress of their cases
- We have an established reputation for getting results inside and outside the courtroom, including millions of dollars recovered in verdicts and settlements
- We have experience standing up to big insurance companies to get them to settle for more money
- Our attorneys have extensive litigation experience and will not hesitate to go to trial if necessary
- We do everything we can to assist clients in healing from their injuries, including handling all the details so they have time to rest
- Our extensive resources and support staff allow us to take on the most complex cases and take on the largest corporations and insurers
- We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you never need to pay money upfront to hire us for your motorcycle accident case, and we only get paid if we obtain compensation in a settlement or verdict
How Can a Waterbury Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Make a Difference in Your Case?
Having the experienced attorneys of The Flood Law Firm on your side can give you the best chance of obtaining fair compensation in your motorcycle accident case.
Our legal team will take care of every aspect of your legal claims, including:
- Recovering evidence from the accident through an in-depth investigation
- Identifying the at-fault motorists and other parties you can hold responsible for your losses
- Documenting your injuries and losses to help you seek the compensation you need
- Keeping you up-to-date on developments in your case and answering your questions about your legal options
- Communicating with the insurance companies on your behalf to pursue maximum compensation in a settlement
- Taking your case to trial if necessary to fight for the best possible outcome to your motorcycle accident claim
Waterbury Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository, one year saw 55 motorcycle accidents in Waterbury, including one fatal crash and 45 suspected or possible injury accidents.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Many motorcycle accidents occur due to other motorists’ negligence, recklessness, or carelessness.
Some examples of driver behavior that often leads to motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating/following too closely
- Passing a motorcycle in the same traffic lane
- Reckless driving, especially excessive speeding, street racing, or darting in and out of traffic
- Road rage
- Disregarding stop signs and traffic lights
- Failing to yield the right-of-way
- Changing lanes without signaling or checking mirrors and blind spots
- Unsafe or illegal turns or lane changes
- Drowsy driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Distracted driving
- Inadequate vehicle maintenance
Other contributing factors to motorcycle accidents include poor road conditions, low visibility, adverse weather conditions, and unsafe highway or intersection designs.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle riders can suffer many kinds of injuries in collisions with other vehicles.
Common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Lacerations
- Abrasions and road rash
- Degloving injuries
- Burns
- Joint dislocations
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Muscle and tendon strains and tears
- Whiplash
- Spinal disc herniations
- Internal injuries and bleeding
- Facial injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Traumatic amputation, dismemberment, or limb loss
What Makes Motorcycle Accident Cases Different From Other Kinds of Motor Vehicle Accidents?
Motorcycle riders can face obstacles when pursuing compensation after an accident.
Factors that can make motorcycle accident cases complicated include:
- Motorcycle riders can suffer severe injuries. Motorcycle riders may sustain catastrophic injuries in accidents due to their lack of protection from crashes. Serious injuries can delay a case if the injured motorcyclist waits to complete treatment before filing a claim. Furthermore, injured motorcyclists may need to negotiate for a settlement that includes future medical expenses if they pursue a claim while continuing to treat their injuries.
- At-fault drivers may have limited insurance coverage. In Connecticut, drivers must have $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident of bodily injury liability coverage, plus $25,000 of property damage coverage. Drivers who carry only the minimum required liability insurance often cannot fully compensate riders injured in motorcycle accidents. Riders may need to pursue additional sources of compensation to cover their medical expenses.
- Drivers and insurers rely on stereotypes about motorcyclists to deflect liability. At-fault drivers and insurers may try to avoid liability for motorcycle accidents by alleging that the motorcycle operator’s negligence or recklessness caused or contributed to the accident. These allegations may rely on biases and negative stereotypes about motorcyclists, requiring an injured rider to obtain more evidence to demonstrate the other party’s fault for the crash.
Financial Compensation Available in Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
Your motorcycle accident claim can compensate you for your losses from the crash.
Let The Flood Law Firm advocate to pursue financial relief for:
- Repair bills to fix the damage to your motorcycle or reimbursement for your totaled motorcycle
- Medical bills and rehabilitation expenses
- Costs of long-term care and support after suffering permanent disabilities
- Lost wages or income if you cannot work or earn the same level of income during your recovery
- Loss of future earnings and job benefits if you become permanently impaired and can no longer work
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life because of disabilities or visible scarring or disfigurement
What Actions Should You Take After Suffering Injuries in a Motorcycle Accident?
You can take steps after a motorcycle accident to preserve your legal rights and put yourself in the best position to pursue compensation.
After a motorcycle crash:
- Photograph the accident scene as soon as possible.
- Seek prompt medical treatment to diagnose your injuries and begin the healing process.
- Report the accident to your motorcycle insurance provider.
- Request a copy of the police crash report and copies of your medical records from the treatment of your accident injuries.
- Keep copies of bills and invoices of your expenses, including medical expenses and motorcycle repairs.
- Gather your pay stubs or income statements to calculate your lost wages if you experienced a reduction in income after the motorcycle accident.
- Keep a journal or diary to record the physical pain and difficulties you experience from your injuries and how they affect your daily life.
- Avoid posting on social media, as the insurance company may use your posts, photos, or videos to undercut the credibility of your claim.
Finally, contact The Flood Law Firm to get help with your case from our dedicated Waterbury motorcycle accident attorneys.
How Do You Prove Fault for a Motorcycle Accident?
A driver might claim that you bear responsibility for an accident, so your attorney may need substantial evidence to prove the other driver’s fault for the crash.
Some of the evidence our lawyers might gather includes:
- Police crash reports
- Accident scene photos and videos, including vehicle damage, visible injuries, skid marks, traffic signs/signals, visual obstructions for motorists, and weather/lighting/traffic/road conditions
- Eyewitness testimony
- Accounts of the accident from the motorists involved
- Vehicle event data recorder (“black box”) logs
- Traffic light and road sensor data
- Surveillance/traffic camera or dashcam/helmet cam footage
- Driver cell phone records
- Driver alcohol/drug screen results
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Post-accident vehicle inspections
- Accident reconstruction expert reports
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents
Here are straightforward answers to some of the common questions that motorcycle accident victims have about their cases:
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584 requires you to file a lawsuit within two years of the motorcycle accident. If you file suit after the statutory deadline, the trial court may permanently dismiss your case. If so, you could lose your right to seek compensation in civil court, so reach out to a Waterbury motorcycle accident lawyer from The Flood Law Firm as soon as possible.
Do I Need a Lawyer for an Insurance Settlement?
Although not required to file an insurance claim or accept a settlement, having legal counsel could help you maximize your compensation after a motorcycle accident.
At The Flood Law Firm, our Waterbury motorcycle accident lawyers have extensive experience dealing with insurers. We know what tactics insurance companies use to undervalue or deny injured riders’ claims. We use our legal knowledge and firm resources to calculate your ongoing and future expenses and advise you if an insurance settlement offers you fair compensation.
If necessary, we will vigorously negotiate with the insurance company to push for a better settlement offer.
How Long Will It Take to Recover Compensation in My Motorcycle Accident Case?
Each motorcycle accident case will have a different timeline. Although some cases can settle in just a few months, others take a couple of years to reach a trial and verdict.
Factors that may influence the timeline of your motorcycle accident claim include:
- The injuries you suffered in the crash
- Whether your injuries result in permanent disabilities
- The duration of your medical recovery
- Whether you miss work or can no longer be gainfully employed
- The amount and complexity of the evidence supporting your claim
- The number of other people injured in the accident
- The number of liable parties
- Whether the at-fault parties dispute their respective shares of liability for your injuries
- Whether you bear any responsibility for causing the accident
- The policy limits of any applicable insurance coverage
- The responsiveness of the insurance company
- Whether you need to file a lawsuit to pursue financial recovery in your case
- The schedule imposed on your court case
Will I Need to Go to Court?
Although most motorcycle accident claims settle rather than go to trial, you may need to pursue litigation in certain circumstances. You might file a lawsuit if the at-fault driver and their insurer dispute liability for the crash or the losses you incurred due to your injuries and property damage.
Can I Still File a Motorcycle Accident Claim if I Partly Caused the Crash?
Connecticut’s comparative negligence law in Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-572h allows you to file a motorcycle accident claim if your share of fault for the crash does not exceed the responsibility of the opposing party or parties.
Contact The Flood Law Firm for a Free Case Review To Discuss Your Options With Our Waterbury Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
You deserve financial compensation and justice for injuries you suffered due to the carelessness of others. Reach out to The Flood Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call us at (203) 575-1153 or fill out our contact form to speak with our Waterbury motorcycle accident attorneys about how we can help you with your case.
THE FLOOD LAW FIRM - WATERBURY OFFICE
144 Buckingham St
Waterbury, CT 06710
P: 203-575-1153