The Townsley Law Firm
3102 Enterprise Boulevard
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Did you suffer injuries in an accident while riding your motorcycle? Was it due to the negligent actions of another driver? If so, contact The Townsley Law Firm to discuss what we can do for you. You might be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other costs.
Motorcycle accidents can cause debilitating injuries to the riders. Without an airbag, seatbelt, or another safety device, motorcyclists are often ejected from their bikes and land on the hard pavement. They can get run over by a car and suffer injuries from flying debris. The aftermath of a motorcycle crash can be scary and overwhelming. You need an experienced legal team by your side to get you through this traumatic experience.
At The Townsley Law Firm, we have the experience and resources to handle every aspect of your case. We can investigate the collision to determine who should be held liable and obtain all available evidence to prove what happened. We will file a claim on your behalf and negotiate for a settlement we believe is fair. If the insurance company refuses to settle for an adequate amount of money, we’re not afraid to proceed with a lawsuit and take your case to court.
The Lake Charles motorcycle accident attorneys of The Townsley Law Firm will take over every step of your case, so you’re not burdened by any responsibility. You should only focus on your recovery while we handle the complicated tasks that go into pursuing the money you need. You can depend on us to advocate for your rights and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Call The Townsley Law Firm for your free consultation at (337) 377-0584 today.
A helmet is the only protection you have while riding your motorcycle. Unfortunately, a helmet doesn’t always provide the protection a rider needs during an accident. The violent impact of a collision between a motorcycle and a car can knock you to the ground. Many people become airborne or slide across the pavement and suffer significant road rash.
Multiple scenarios can occur when a motorcycle ends up in an accident. The most common types of motorcycle accidents include:
Head-on collisions are one of the most fatal types of accidents that can occur, especially at high rates of speed. Distracted driving commonly causes a driver to drift into oncoming traffic and in the path of an approaching motorcyclist.
Turning left requires drivers to look for oncoming vehicles. They must slow down or stop if someone approaches from the opposite direction. Unfortunately, if a motorist turns left without looking, they could end up in the path of a motorcycle rider.
Parked cars can be just as dangerous as moving cars. When someone parks, they should look for anyone approaching their vehicle before opening their door. If they’re not aware of their surroundings, they could open their door into the path of an approaching motorcyclist.
A T-bone collision occurs when the front of one vehicle crashes into the side of another vehicle. Intersections are common places where T-bone accidents happen. Typically, a driver decides to run a red light or stop sign and collides with a motorcyclist already in the middle of the intersection.
A rear-end accident is often the result of tailgating. Following someone’s vehicle too closely doesn’t allow much space to slow down or stop when necessary.
If you sustained injuries in any of these types of motorcycle accidents, do not hesitate to contact The Townsley Law Firm.
Even if drivers proceed with caution around other vehicles, they might ignore motorcycles. Motorcycles are much smaller than cars and trucks. They’re a lot harder to see on the road and in blind spots. If a motorist changes lanes abruptly because they can’t see you, they can run you off the road.
It’s almost impossible to avoid injuries when you end up in an accident while riding your motorcycle. You encounter reckless drivers, adverse weather conditions, dangerous roadways, and additional factors that place you in harm’s way. You also don’t have the same protections as the occupants of cars. You’re at the mercy of environmental factors and your surroundings.
The most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
Traffic signs and signals are necessary for the safe flow of traffic. If a driver ignores a stop sign or doesn’t see the stoplight turning red, they could collide with a motorcyclist already entering the intersection.
Most people know the dangers of texting and driving. However, you might not realize other distractions that can lead to an accident. Anything that redirects a person’s focus, hands, or eyes to something other than the task of driving causes distracted driving.
Driving at excessive speeds is reckless. A speeding driver could lose control and crash. It’s more challenging to control a vehicle traveling at high speeds. Additionally, speeding on dangerous roads and in poor weather conditions prevents the motorist from maneuvering their car where they want it to go and makes it much more difficult to avoid a motorcycle they didn’t see until it was too late.
Changing lanes, turning, and merging require drivers to check their blind spots first. A blind spot is an area on either side of a vehicle that motorists can’t see. If the driver doesn’t look at their blind spot before merging into the next lane, they could sideswipe a motorcyclist traveling alongside.
Following a motorcycle too closely prevents the driver from coming to a complete stop when necessary. If the motorcyclist slams on their brakes, the person traveling behind them likely won’t have enough time to react and stop or swerve to avoid a collision.
The driver responsible for the crash made a dangerous error that caused your injuries. Whether they were speeding or became distracted at the wheel, you have a right to hold them accountable for their actions.
The emotional and physical trauma suffered in a motorcycle accident can be long-lasting. If you require ongoing medical treatment, you’ll end up with expensive medical bills. You might not have the financial means to afford these expenses and end up in debt. The other driver should be financially responsible for your incurred costs if they were entirely at fault for the crash.
When you get hurt in a motorcycle accident, you should take immediate action. What you decide to do in the aftermath of a crash can determine whether you receive the compensation you deserve for the losses you suffered.
Motorcyclists often sustain debilitating injuries. You probably can’t get up and walk around to gather evidence at the scene or exchange insurance information with the at-fault driver. Instead, you should focus on the weeks and months ahead.
You or someone else should call 911 and ask for an ambulance to transport you to the hospital. It’s unlikely you’re able to drive yourself. Once you arrive at the emergency room, the physician should examine you and determine the type of injury you sustained. If they recommend follow-up care or ongoing treatment, listen to their instructions.
Insurance companies are never on the claimant’s side. Their goal is to save money. If they can find a valid reason to deny your claim, they will. It’s critical to seek immediate medical care and attend all of your doctor’s appointments until you heal. Skipping your appointments or waiting several weeks before your initial doctor visit could give the insurance company the evidence they need to show your injury isn’t serious and deny your claim.
Hire a motorcycle accident attorney in Lake Charles, LA, from The Townsley Law Firm immediately following the crash. While you’re treating your injuries, we can focus our attention on the legal aspects of your case. We will review the available insurance coverage, file a claim, and negotiate an adequate settlement. If the insurance company refuses to settle or denies your claim entirely, we have the resources to file a lawsuit.
You should also maintain copies of all documentation you receive after the motorcycle accident. If the insurance company mails you letters or your physicians provide you with medical records and bills, hold onto them. Evidence is vital in motorcycle accident cases. The evidence you collect could help prove what happened.
Louisiana is a fault state. That means the negligent driver can become financially responsible for your injuries and resulting losses if they were at fault for the accident. You could file a claim with their auto insurance company. Every motorist must carry liability coverage with minimum limits of:
When you file your insurance claim, you can seek a settlement to compensate you for your past and future losses suffered from the crash, such as:
The Townsley Law Firm knows how to maximize the value of a motorcycle accident victim’s claim. You can count on us to evaluate your losses to determine the compensation you deserve from the negligent driver. Should it become necessary to take your case to trial, you can also count on us to counter any anti-biker bias that could potentially reduce the amount of compensation you could be awarded. We know that the media depiction of motorcyclists as renegades and lawbreakers may work against you, but we are prepared to fight those stereotypes for you.
The Lake Charles motorcycle accident attorneys of The Townsley Law Firm have represented clients like you since 1995. We believe in fighting for people who have been injured by the wrongdoings of others.
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident due to another person’s negligence, call The Townsley Law Firm at (337) 377-0584 right now for your free consultation.