Even if you wear a helmet, obey all the road rules, and stay fully focused on your surroundings, riding a motorcycle is still much more dangerous than driving a passenger car. Additionally, motorbikes lack airbags, seatbelts, or any other safety features standard in a typical motor vehicle. Sadly, many otherwise responsible drivers can be extremely careless or reckless when driving near motorbikes.
Motorcyclists have the same legal right as any other motor vehicle operator to seek help from a personal injury attorney and demand civil compensation for injuries due to someone else’s negligence. If you are injured in a motorcycle wreck that was not your fault, a Ponchatoula motorcycle accident lawyer from Tomeny | Best could help you pursue a civil claim effectively.
What To Do if You Are Involved in a Motorcycle Wreck
Except for a few minor exceptions, motorcyclists are treated similarly to passenger car drivers in terms of their rights and responsibilities under Louisiana state law. The first thing any motorcyclist should do after being involved in a traffic mishap—unless they need emergency medical assistance—is stop at the scene, move their motorbike out of traffic flow, and exchange contact and insurance information with all other involved parties.
After complying with state laws prohibiting hit-and-run, a motorcycle collision victim should consider collecting and preserving evidence at the scene. Taking photos of the crash scene, gathering contact information from eyewitnesses and dashcam owners, and identifying nearby surveillance or traffic cameras could all be key details for a Ponchatoula motorbike injury attorney to use later. However, receiving medical attention should always be your top priority in an emergency.
Fighting Accusations of Comparative Fault
Evidence can be crucial to establish that another person was directly to blame for causing a motorbike crash and prove that the injured motorcyclist was not at fault. This is especially critical if you have been injured in a motorcycle wreck, since insurance companies, civil jury members, and sometimes even judges may be unfairly biased against motorcyclists and assume they are all reckless thrill-seekers.
Failing to fight against allegations of comparative fault proactively—ideally with the support of a dedicated motorcycle collision lawyer in Ponchatoula—could result in a court reducing the compensation available to a crash victim by their assigned percentage of fault under Louisiana Civil Code § 2323. However, the state takes a pure comparative fault approach to this concept, allowing plaintiffs to seek at least some compensation from other negligent parties, even if they are mainly at fault for their injuries.
Seek Help From a Ponchatoula Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcyclists deserve as much space and respect on the road as any other driver. Nevertheless, many people who drive on public roads act irresponsibly around motorcyclists, which often leads to catastrophic accidents. In such a situation, it can be crucial for you, as a motorcyclist involved in the mishap, to understand and proactively enforce your right to civil recovery.
Working with a Ponchatoula motorcycle accident lawyer from Tomeny | Best could dramatically boost your chances of establishing civil liability for your injuries and obtaining fair compensation. Call us today to discuss your legal options.
