Motorcycle riders have very little protection when riding in traffic. Any accident — especially at high speeds when the car or truck driver “did not see” the motorcycle — can cause serious or catastrophic injuries. If you were in a motorcycle accident in Meriden, contact our Meriden motorcycle accident lawyer for a free consultation via our online form or by calling (203) 265-2035.
Your first step if you are an injured motorcycle driver or passenger is to get the medical care you need and follow your treatment plan. At Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., our first step if you retain our services is to identify available insurance coverage for your motorcycle accident injuries. Our Meriden personal injury attorneys can help. Contact us today to get started.
Our Meriden motorcycle accident attorney will help you navigate complex legal procedures on your behalf, such as handling intricate paperwork, managing the claims filing process, conducting accident investigations, and gathering evidence, thus allowing you to concentrate on your recovery journey.
Other drivers (and their insurance companies) often try to blame the motorcycle rider. At Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., our Meriden motorcycle accident lawyers examine the evidence, including police reports, witness accounts, and the accident scene. When necessary, we work with experts to create accident reconstruction reports to prove liability.
In many situations, a motorcycle accident victim will need lifelong compensation to deal with severe injuries. The driver who caused the accident may have minimal liability insurance — as little as only $20,000 per person and $40,000 per incident. Our motorcycle accident lawyer in Meriden will examine the underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy and explore other creative solutions to maximize your compensation.
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It is important to take certain steps after a motorcycle accident to protect your legal rights. When an insurance company investigates your claim, it will check to see what you did and did not do in the aftermath of your crash to determine your eligibility for benefits.
If you can, take these 10 steps:
Before you speak to an insurance adjuster about your accident or injuries, consult with a Meriden motorcycle accident lawyer at Loughlin & FitzGerald, P.C. We can take care of the claims process for you while you conserve your energy and concentrate on healing from your injuries.
In Connecticut, state law restricts an injured victim’s right to file a personal injury lawsuit to a certain timeframe. If you wait too long and miss your deadline, you will most likely forfeit the right to seek financial compensation. Connecticut General Statutes Section 52-584, the personal injury civil statute of limitations, states:
“No action to recover damages for injury to the person, or to real or personal property, caused by negligence, or by reckless or wanton misconduct, or by malpractice of a physician, surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, advanced practice registered nurse, hospital or sanatorium, shall be brought but within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered, and except that no such action may be brought more than three years from the date of the act or omission complained of, except that a counterclaim may be interposed in any such action any time before the pleadings in such action are finally closed.”
This law gives motorcycle crash victims a maximum of two years from the date that the injury occurs or is discovered, with a statute of repose of three years from the date of the accident.
Even if you do not discover your injuries immediately, you have no more than three years total to file a claim. Certain situations can shorten or extend the filing deadline. Contact an motorcycle accident attorney in Meriden without delay to meet your time limit.
In Connecticut, a legal action brought for negligence could lead to economic and noneconomic damages awarded to the plaintiff, or injured party.
Section 52-572h of the Connecticut General Statutes defines economic damages as: “compensation determined by the trier of fact for pecuniary losses including, but not limited to, the cost of reasonable and necessary medical care, rehabilitative services, custodial care, and loss of earnings or earning capacity excluding any noneconomic damages.”
Noneconomic damages are defined as: “compensation determined by the trier of fact for all nonpecuniary losses including, but not limited to, physical pain and suffering and mental and emotional suffering.” You may be eligible for financial compensation for your past and future financial losses as well as emotional harm caused by a motorcycle crash. Discuss the potential value of your case with our attorneys before you accept an insurance settlement.
According to the Connecticut Department of Transportation, more than 50 motorcyclists in the state lose their lives in fatal accidents each year. Hundreds of others suffer serious, life-changing injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported 6,084 motorcyclist deaths in 2021 – the highest number ever recorded.
A motorcycle rider can suffer a wide range of injuries in an accident, including:
Loughlin & FitzGerald, P.C., can help if you or a loved one suffered any type of injury in a preventable motorcycle crash in Meriden. We will make sure you receive the medical care you need and provide the legal representation you deserve during the claims process. Our attorneys can help you get your life back as much as possible. If you loved one passed away due to a motorcycle accident, our Meriden wrongful death lawyer can help asses your case.
In Connecticut, all motor vehicle operators must obey state traffic laws and rules of the road. Any violation of these laws could lead to a preventable motorcycle collision. Human error is the number one cause of motorcycle accidents in Meriden.
Motor vehicle drivers can make many mistakes that endanger the lives of motorcyclists, including:
Motor vehicle drivers are required to maintain liability insurance in Connecticut to pay for the accidents that they cause. Motorcyclists are also vulnerable to dangerous road and weather conditions, such as:
State and local government agencies are responsible for regularly inspecting public roads and remedying discovered defects or hazards to protect road users. Failing to do so could make the government liable for a related crash. Our attorneys can investigate your accident to determine its cause and take legal action against the responsible party on your behalf.
Motorcycle accident consultations are always free at the Loughlin FitzGerald, P.C., law firm. Reach out to our motorcycle accident attorney in Meriden today. You will owe us no legal fees unless we achieve a settlement or verdict on your behalf. Contact us online or call toll-free (203) 265-2035.