Fayetteville Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycles let their riders reach their destination much more quickly than they would in a traditional vehicle—but some drivers do not possess the experience to safely navigate roads with motorcyclists on them. As a result, our lawyers have helped many bikers claim compensation for their injuries after their on-road accidents with negligent vehicle drivers.

If you have experienced an accident while riding your bike, contact our Fayetteville motorcycle accident lawyers at Osborne & Wilmoth to learn everything you need to know.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Fayetteville?

Whenever a driver fails to drive safely and causes an accident that injures you while on your bike, you have the right to file a personal injury claim to cover your costs. As with traditional vehicle collisions, distracted driving, speeding, reckless driving, and failure to yield top the list of motorcycle accident causes. Many of our clients have collided with larger vehicles that either failed to see or yield to them.

What Injuries Are Most Common in Motorcycle Accidents?

Due to the lack of protection, motorcyclists often sustain injuries that seriously impact their quality of life. Even with helmets, many riders in the Fayetteville area have sustained injuries that dramatically impacted their quality of life.

For instance, when an accident flings a rider off their motorcycle and their head collides with the pavement, the cranial impact could cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that leads to tinnitus, chronic migraines, PTSD, and other debilitating conditions.

If they sufficiently protect their head from the blow, riders might still bear the brunt of the impact in other parts of their body, which can result in spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and internal damage.

These injuries can force a rider to seek long-term medical care or rehabilitation. Some motorcyclists deal with permanent disabilities.

What Steps Should You Take After a Motorcycle Accident in Fayetteville?

Immediately after your motorcycle accident, get out of the road as far as possible to keep yourself safe from traffic flow. Call 911 to seek medical attention and report the accident to the police. Even if you do not feel any injuries, you may have internal damage that you cannot see.

After receiving medical attention, report the accident to your insurance provider. Be careful about volunteering any information they do not ask for, as the insurance adjuster could use your words to lower any claim offer you might receive.

As tempted as you might be, avoid speaking about your accident on social media. Anything you say on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok could be used by opposing insurance companies or attorneys to minimize your injuries and decrease your payout.

How Is Fault Determined in a Motorcycle Accident?

Every motorcycle accident case is unique; your lawyer will help determine who is at fault. To substantiate your case, you will need police reports, eyewitness accounts, traffic camera footage, and possibly the testimony of accident reconstruction experts.

Arkansas courts follow the legal principle of modified comparative negligence, which means that as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault for your accident, you can collect compensation for your injuries. However, the court will reduce compensation according to your percentage of fault. For instance, if the court finds that you did not slow down enough to minimize your injuries and contributed 10 percent to your collision, you will see a 10 percent reduction from the award.

Because of modified comparative negligence, insurance companies and opposing counsel will often attempt to place any blame on you that they can. They will accuse you of speeding, weaving between lanes, and ignoring traffic laws, all to minimize their payout.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Motorcycle Accident?

After a motorcycle accident, riders can demand various compensation. The exact amount will depend on how badly you were injured and the circumstances of your collision. Generally, you can collect economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages cover quantifiable costs related to your collision. Medical bills, lost wages, and property damage would fall under economic damages. Non-economic damages seek to pay you back for losses that do not have a specific dollar value. This includes pain and suffering.

In rare cases, the court can award punitive damages if the at-fault party behaved particularly recklessly or egregiously. This additional compensation attempts to punish the at-fault driver and dissuade them and others from behaving similarly in the future.

Protect Your Rights With the Fayetteville Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Osborne & Wilmoth Law Firm

Motorcycle collisions can feel overwhelming and traumatizing. Let the Fayetteville motorcycle accident lawyers at Osborne & Wilmoth Law Firm handle the legal stresses so you only need to worry about healing from your injuries. We will help gather all necessary evidence, negotiate with the insurance adjusters, and build your strongest possible case in court. Call our Fayetteville, Arkansas office at 479-521-7727 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. We serve clients in the surrounding areas. We have helped many motorcycle accident victims claim the compensation they were owed—let us help you, too!