Gonzales Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Gonzales, LA

Motorcyclists often have an unfair disadvantage because of the unique risks they face. Accidents involving motorcycles can be devastating, so it’s important to fight for your rights after such an incident occurs. Work with an experienced Gonzales motorcycle accident lawyer to make sure you are heard, respected, and given effective support. Use the law as a tool to hold negligent drivers accountable and seek compensation for your losses.

Murphy Law Firm: Your Gonzales Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Standing up for motorcycle victims has been one of our top priorities at Murphy Law Firm. Our office is small and community-oriented, and we believe every client deserves personal attention. You’re not a number at our firm, and we can even come to wherever you are in Louisiana to listen to your story and fight to seek justice on your behalf. Your recovery means everything to us, so we are willing to aggressively argue your case.

We have the experience needed to support you. Our firm has over 30 years of experience serving Louisiana and has achieved significant results in personal injury cases. We have secured more than $250 million for our clients in total. Meet our experienced personal injury lawyers today and get a free consultation to get legal advice.

Motorcycle Accidents in Gonzales

Gonzales and Ascension Parish do not see motorcycle accidents very frequently, but they can be serious when they do happen. In Ascension Parish, there were 36 vehicle collisions that involved motorcycles in 2024. These crashes led to two fatalities and 24 injuries to motorcyclists. There were 38 occupants in total in these crashes.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

One of the most stressful parts of an accident can be working with insurance companies after the incident. These companies are focused on giving you the least amount of compensation possible because it helps the company remain profitable.

They tend to offer victims quick settlements that are significantly undervalued and not truly what their claims might be worth. This is done to get people to settle out of desperation. These settlements usually don’t account for all the damages you might have experienced. Once you accept the settlement, you are unlikely to recover more damages.

Insurance companies could also attempt to argue with you over the severity of the accident or your injuries to pay you less. It’s also possible that they might try to assign you partial fault to reduce your overall compensation amount. This usually involves accusing you of engaging in negligent behaviors, like speeding, lane splitting, or not wearing a helmet. This makes it important to let an attorney handle correspondence with an insurance company.

In some cases, an insurance company might try to deny your entire claim, especially if it is not sure if it is liable for the damages. If the denial is incorrect, an attorney can contest it by filing an appeal. Sometimes, traditional negotiations do not work, so your lawyer might need to escalate your case and take it to trial.

How to Calculate Damages in a Motorcycle Accident Claim

In Gonzales, LA, most of the damages in these types of accidents are either considered economic or non-economic. Economic damages include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Repairing or replacing any damaged property

These are normally based on tangible items or services and can be proven with bills, receipts, or other records.

Non-economic damages are more difficult to prove because doing so is not as easy as showing a receipt or pay stub. If an accident victim was engaging in an activity that was important to them before the crash and they are unable to participate due to their injuries, this could be seen as a type of non-economic damages. The exact amount of damages in a case depends on the severity of the injuries and how much they impact the victim’s daily life.

The Long-Term Impact of Motorcycle Accidents

Injuries related to motorcycle accidents can be more debilitating than other forms of accidents because the crashes tend to be more severe. While two-wheel motorcycles were involved in 0.44% of all vehicle accidents in Ascension Parish in 2024, they were involved in 1.15% of all injury accidents and 6.67% of all fatal accidents. In the United States, motorcyclists had 22 times the fatality rate of passenger car occupants in 2023.

Road rash or a traumatic brain injury can have a deep impact on what the victim can do moving forward. In Louisiana, even if someone experiences a mild injury like a slight concussion, it can still result in permanent side effects that reduce the victim’s quality of life.

A comprehensive legal claim should account for the long-term expenses of a motorcycle accident. A personal injury attorney can help victims plan for the future by securing the maximum compensation possible for all their damages from the accident.

How Can a Gonzales Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help Me During the Claims Process?

A Gonzales motorcycle accident lawyer helps you during the claims process in numerous ways. This includes:

• Investigating what caused your crash
• Determining the party or parties who can be held liable
• Filing your claim with the necessary information within the right time period
• Assessing the total of your damages
• Negotiating with the at-fault party’s insurance company
• Taking the claim to court
• Advocating for your rights during a trial

An experienced personal injury attorney helps along each step of the claims process after a motorcycle accident. They manage your claim and improve its chances of success. They can also advise you upfront about the chances of success. Your attorney helps with your claim so that you can rest and recover.

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Gonzales?

You have a limited period of time to file your motorcycle accident claim in Gonzales. There is a statute of limitations on filing a civil personal injury claim, and there is an even shorter time period to file an insurance claim.

While it varies depending on the company, most insurers require you to file a claim immediately, as soon as you are able to. Negotiations over a settlement can then begin. If you can’t reach a fair agreement, then you should file your civil claim before the statute of limitations expires. Otherwise, you will be barred from recovering compensation.

This is why it is crucial to act quickly after an accident and hire a motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as you can.

FAQs

Q: What Should I Not Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

A: After a motorcycle accident, you should not leave the scene. By leaving the scene of an accident, you could be charged with a hit-and-run, which is a criminal offense. You could also be denied compensation by an insurance company. Additionally, it is a good idea to keep communication with the others involved in the accident to a minimum. Exchange insurance information and contact information, but wait to determine what happened later.

Q: Who Is Responsible for Most Motorcycle Accidents?

A: Who is responsible for motorcycle accidents depends on the specific situation and varies from case to case. However, most motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers who don’t notice the motorcyclist because they are not looking or the motorcycle is in their blind spot. However, it is still possible for motorcyclists to be at fault if they engage in reckless or negligent behavior, like not wearing a helmet, lane splitting, or not following traffic rules.

Q: What Makes a Motorcycle Totaled?

A: What makes a motorcycle totaled is how much it would cost to repair it. The exact amount depends on how much the motorcycle was worth before the accident happened. If the repairs are estimated to make up a large majority of the original value, the bike is usually considered totaled. Common issues include a severely damaged frame, bent forks, or serious engine issues. If a bike is totaled, you usually only get the cash value of the motorcycle.

Q: What Should I Do if There Is a Motorcycle Accident?

A: If there is a motorcycle accident, it is most important to make sure everyone is safe. If there are injured individuals, call emergency medical services as soon as possible. Even if there are minor wounds, it is still a good idea to receive medical care because they might become more serious later. If possible, document the scene by taking photos of the accident, your injuries, and the damaged property involved in the incident itself.

Q: What Information Should I Bring to a Free Consultation With a Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

A: When you have a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, you should bring several relevant documents and evidence about your accident. This includes an accident report, which you may be able to secure from the Gonzales Police Department if they responded to your accident.

You also want medical documentation of your injury, any photos or videos you have of the accident, receipts of other losses, the parties involved in the accident, the insurance information of other drivers, and more.

Get Legal Help From a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer’s Team

After a motorcycle accident, it’s important to have someone in your corner who can fight for your future. The recovery process is usually long and sometimes quite difficult, but it can be made easier with effective legal representation. Schedule a consultation with Murphy Law Firm today to challenge negligent actions and seek your due compensation.

Your Path to Legal Resolution Starts with Murphy Law Firm.

When you choose Murphy Law Firm, you gain access to a team of experienced attorneys with a proven track record of success. We understand the importance of trust, and we strive to build lasting relationships with our clients by delivering exceptional results.

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