Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Lawyer 

Were you injured in a motorcycle accident in Lafayette, LA? If someone else caused the accident through negligence, you could recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other harm. 

An experienced Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyer can review your case and help you develop a plan for moving forward. Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to fight for justice in your Lafayette, LA, motorcycle accident case.

Contact us online or at (337) 473-2991 to schedule a free consultation with one of our Lafayette motorcycle accident attorneys. 

How Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Lafayette

Our clients appreciate our results-oriented and down-to-earth approach. 

Our Lafayette motorcycle accident attorneys have received the following recognitions for their work:

• Super Lawyers – Louisiana Rising Stars
• The National Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers
• Super Lawyers – Louisiana
• Acadiana Profile “Top Lawyers” in Personal Injury
• Lafayette Volunteer Lawyers’ Outstanding Attorney Award 

You’re in good hands when you hire a Lafayette personal injury attorney from our firm. 

We’ll manage your case from beginning to end by taking the following actions:

• Listening to your story
• Investigating the accident
• Discussing your options
• Developing a case strategy
• Gathering evidence
• Assessing the full extent of your damages
• Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
• Taking your case to court, if necessary

We’ll help balance the scales between you and the insurance company. According to some studies, you’ll recover more compensation if represented by an attorney. 

If you need a skilled Lafayette personal injury lawyer, contact Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers. We have several offices, including one in Lafayette, LA. 

How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Lafayette, LA?

In 2021, 5,932 motorcyclists were killed, amounting to 14% of all traffic fatalities. 82, 686 riders were injured. There were 83 motorcyclist fatalities in Louisiana that year.

Motorcycles account for a small portion of vehicles on the road, but motorcyclists are overrepresented in crashes causing severe or fatal injuries. While motorcycles represent only 2% of registered vehicles in the state, in 2020, motorcyclists represented 11% of all traffic fatalities and 21% of total driver fatalities.

What Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?

Many factors will influence the value of your motorcycle accident claim:

• The circumstances of the accident
• Whether you were partly at fault
• The extent of your physical injuries
• The expected future consequences of your injuries
• The insurance policy limit
• The extent of your other damages

You need to review these factors to calculate the potential value of your case. An experienced Lafayette motorcycle accident attorney can explain how these factors impact your claim. 

What Kinds of Damages Are Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims?

Damages are legal remedies that are intended to make the victim whole or return them to the position they were before the accident. Damages can be split into two main categories: economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages compensate individuals for the financial losses they suffered because of the accident. These are tangible losses that usually relate to specific transactions—like a doctor’s appointment or an auto body repair service. 

Economic damages include:

• Property damage
• Vehicle damage
• Other property damage
• Lost wages or income
• Reduced earning capacity

Economic damages are also known as special damages or tangible damages. Economic damages are straightforward to calculate if you have documentation for your expenses. Future expenses, like future medical bills, are more difficult, though. 

Non-Economic Damages

Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages compensate individuals for the intangible losses they suffered because of the accident. They don’t usually relate to specific transactions. Instead, they concern the plaintiff’s subjective experience after an accident.

Non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Loss of companionship or loss of consortium
• Disability
• Disfigurement or scarring
• Loss of quality of life

Non-economic damages are also known as general damages or intangible damages. They can be harder to calculate than economic damages, but a seasoned Lafayette personal injury lawyer will assess the extent of your damages.

In addition, punitive damages are available in rare cases where the plaintiff proves that the defendant acted egregiously. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant, not the plaintiff. 

How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?

Personal injury lawyers earn their fees by winning verdicts or favorable settlements for their clients. They charge a contingency fee, usually a percentage of the client’s ultimate financial award. Typical contingency fees are between 33% and 40%. 

Under a contingency fee arrangement, the attorney doesn’t get paid unless you do. You don’t have to pay any legal fees upfront, so you can hire an attorney regardless of your financial situation. 

Another perk of a contingency fee arrangement is that your interests are aligned with your attorney’s. They only get paid if you do, and they get more if you get paid more. You don’t have to worry whether your attorney is charging you by the hour without any results. 

Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?

Don’t be surprised if the opposing party argues that you were partly to blame for the motorcycle accident. Louisiana has a pure comparative negligence law, which means you can recover compensation from an at-fault party even if you were partly responsible. 

Under Louisiana’s pure comparative negligence law, responsibility is apportioned to all the parties involved in the accident. Your compensation will be reduced in direct proportion to your degree of blame. 

If you suffered $10,000 in damages and were found to be 10% at fault, you could recover $9,000, or 90% of your damages.

Of course, if you’re found to be 0% at fault, this will not impact your financial recovery.

We’ll Fight To Recover Compensation for All of Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcyclists are more likely to be injured or killed in an accident than other motorists. This is largely due to the lack of an enclosure on a motorcycle.

Common injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident are:

• Broken bones
• Amputations
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Road rash
• Lacerations
• Burns
• Spinal cord injuries
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Emotional distress
• Catastrophic injuries
• Death

We’ll fight to recover compensation for all of your motorcycle accident injuries or those of your loved ones.

What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents in Lafayette, LA?

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Lafayette and around the country are:

• Speeding
• Lane switching
• Car doors
• Road conditions
• Distracted driving
• Intersection accidents
• Driving under the influence (DUI)
• Alcohol or drug use

Many of these common causes relate to driver error of either the motorcyclist or the other motorist.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?

To prove the other driver was negligent, you must prove the following four elements:

Duty of Care

The at-fault driver owed you a duty of care. You also have to show what the standard of care was in your case. It is usually a duty to act the way a reasonably prudent person would under the circumstances, though a heightened standard of care may apply in some cases. 

Breach

The at-fault party breached or violated the standard of care. In most cases, this means showing that the defendant acted unreasonably. 

Causation

The defendant’s actions or inactions caused you to be injured. 

Damages

The at-fault driver caused your injuries. 

Proving that another person acted unreasonably is not easy. Your attorney will help develop the arguments and evidence to establish these elements. 

How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?

Every state imposes a time limit for filing personal injury lawsuits. As of 7/01/2024, Louisiana requires these cases to be filed within two years of the accident. However, if your motorcycle crash happened before that date, you may have just one year to take legal action.

You must file your lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. Your attorney can help you calculate the precise filing deadline and file your case on time. 

Personal injury claims usually end with a settlement before a case proceeds to trial or before a lawsuit is filed. However, if the insurance company isn’t reasonable during negotiations, you may need to file a lawsuit. It’s vital that you know when the filing deadline is in your case. 

Contact our Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Lafayette, LA, that someone else caused, you can pursue compensation for the injuries and other losses you suffered. The personal injury process can be complex, but an experienced Lafayette personal injury lawyer can help you through it. 

You can count on the attorneys at Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to fight for you to receive a good outcome in your case.

Contact our Lafayette, LA office today to schedule your free consultation with one of our Lafayette motorcycle accident attorneys. 

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Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Lafayette, LA

Mansfield Melancon Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
1318 Camellia Boulevard, Suite 206, Lafayette, LA, 70508
(337) 473-2991

Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Blogs

• How Is Louisiana Law Different from Other States? 
• What Is The Average Settlement For A Personal Injury In Louisiana?

Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Resources

• Economic Damages
• Non-Economic Damages
• Property Damage 
• Punitive Damages

Hospitals in Lafayette, LA

• Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics – 1318 Camellia Blvd Suite 206, Lafayette, LA 70508
• Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center – 4801 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Lafayette, LA 70508
• Acadiana Rehabilitation Hospital – 314 Youngsville Hwy, Lafayette, LA 70508

*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.