Motorcycle Accident Lawyer St. Paul MN

If you’ve been involved in an accident while riding a motorcycle, you might be searching for a top motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN residents would recommend. Even though every accident is different, it’s common for motorcycle accidents to be disastrous compared to other motor vehicle accidents. Every type of vehicular collision can produce fatal injuries, as an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN has to offer might attest. Nevertheless, motorcyclists face a unique set of challenges and risks when they drive.

At Johnston | Martineau, P.L.L.P., we know that motorcyclists may encounter substantial setbacks when they attempt to claim damages after an accident. This might seem surprising, especially considering that motorcyclists injured in crashes can face incredibly traumatic injuries. So why might injured motorcyclists encounter difficulties when attempting to claim financial damages?

There may be an inherent bias against motorcyclists who are injured in accidents. This is because many people know that motorcycles are more dangerous than other passenger vehicles. In a collision, motorcycles are typically less capable of providing protection to the driver. There may also be a general assumption that motorcyclists fail to abide by traffic laws such as speed limits and using turn signals to change lanes. As a seasoned St. Paul, MN motorcycle accident lawyer would agree, there are many motorcyclists who are incredibly careful on the road — possibly even more careful than other drivers. Nevertheless, an inherent bias against them could be a major factor in an injury claim.

Motorcyclists might also face additional difficulties if their injuries are severe and costly to treat. An insurance company might be more likely to dispute a claim or require more evidence of the accident if the claim is for a larger sum of money. Insurance companies operate by making a profit. Even though these companies are intended to protect injured victims of accidents, they may also attempt to negotiate a lower settlement than what the victim deserves. This could increase the risk of an insurer disputing details of the case. As a motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN trusts could explain, these disputes could be minor in the long run but could still cause additional damage to a victim. Simply extending a claim through a dispute could mean that the victim does not have the money necessary for medical treatment.

Are You Owed Compensation if Injured by Another’s Carelessness?

If you are injured due to someone else’s carelessness, it is natural to desire some form of compensation. At the very least, it is reasonable to expect your medical bills to be paid by the person who caused the injury. Fortunately, the law is on the side of the victim. If an injury or accident is caused by carelessness, the one who acted carelessly is, in general, legally required to compensate the victim. Of course, it is more complicated in practice, so you should know exact what to do after being injured.

What To Do After Being Injured

First things first, you should seek medical help immediately after being injured. Your top priority should be your safety, so do not even consider legal recourse until you are stable and not in danger anymore. Once you feel safe and secure, you can start thinking about your next steps. Your first action should always be to contact a motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN has to offer. They will be able to give you advice that relates to your specific situation. Additionally, it is important to realize that every state has slightly different laws. Your motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN community members count on can provide you with information about how a case works regardless of where you live.

Another step you should take early on is to keep notes about everything that lead to the accident. While it is still fresh in your mind, write down your whole account of the event. If possible, you should also get testimonies from anyone who may have witnessed the accident. If you’re not comfortable doing that, try to get the contact details of witnesses and a motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN offers can reach out to them if need be.

Determining Liability

The one who is legally responsible for the accident is the one who has “liability.” They may be required to compensate the victim for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Future loss of earning ability

However, just because you were injured does not necessarily mean someone is liable. To receive compensation, you must prove that the harm was foreseeable and a direct consequence of someone’s action or inaction. The injury needs to be a likely outcome of the carelessness, rather than a random coincidence that was sparked by someone accidentally. The general rule is whether a reasonable person would have been able to anticipate the action or inaction creating a dangerous situation. For example, someone would likely be liable if they forgot to set the parking brake and a car rolled away and caused an accident. Someone would not likely be liable if they were driving, while abiding by all the right laws, and you purposely swerved directly in front of them causing them to hit you. The former case has a direct, foreseeable, predictable connection between the action and the result, but the latter does not. Your motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN families have on their can give you more information during a consultation.

If you are ready to consult a motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN respects, please call Johnston | Martineau, PLLP.

What Happens If I’m Involved in a Left-Turn Accident?

Unfortunately, many vehicle drivers fail to see that there is a motorcycle on the road with them. This can be especially true when the vehicle driver is making a left turn. These are one of the most common – and most deadly – type of motorcycle crashes. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, Minnesota trusts from Johnston | Martineau, P.L.L.P.  to speak with one of our dedicated motorcycle accident lawyers in St. Paul, MN to find out how we can help.

National Statistics

According to statistics collected by the federal government, almost half of the approximately 6 million car accidents that happen each year occur are intersection-related, with most of them involving a driver making an improper left turn. When a vehicle takes an improper left turn and hits another vehicle, although there can be injuries, they are usually not as severe as what can happen when the vehicle that is hit is a motorcycle. Let a St. Paul, MN motorcycle accident lawyer protect you after an accident.

Some of the most common scenarios where these types of crashes can occur include:

•      A vehicle driver runs a red light and smashes into a motorcycle
•      A vehicle driver cuts off a motorcycle (that has the right of way) while taking a left turn
•      A vehicle driver takes a left turn at a yellow light and doesn’t see the motorcycle (that has the right of way)
•      A vehicle driver runs a stop sign, does not come to a complete stop, and takes a left turn, hitting a motorcycle (that has the right of way)

Liability

In order to determine who is liable for a left turn-related crash, state law uses the legal theory of negligence. When a driver gets their driver’s license, they agree to adhere to a duty of care to other commuters on the road, agreeing to always exhibiting safe driving behaviors. When a driver breaches that duty of care, then the law considers them negligent.

When a motorcyclist is injured in a left turn, the burden of proving who was negligent is often on the injured rider and not on the at-fault driver. A St. Paul, MN motorcycle accident lawyer must prove that the other driver was liable based on a legal theory referred to as the “greater weight of the evidence” or the “preponderance of the evidence.” This means that the party who as the more persuasive evidence and argument will win. The jury or judge who decides the lawsuit will find in favor of the victim if they believe the victim’s argument are more likely true than not true.

Unfortunately, there is often a misconception among the general public that most motorcycle riders are daredevil risk takers, and this is why motorcycle crashes occur. This is why many motorcycle accident victims turn to Johnston | Martineau, P.L.L.P. for legal assistance instead of trying to settle their case themselves. If you have been injured, call our office to find out how one of our St. Paul, MN motorcycle accident lawyer can help.

Speak With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer St. Paul MN Residents Can Turn To

When you need a motorcycle accident lawyer in St. Paul, MN you can truly rely on, Johnston | Martineau, P.L.L.P. is here to help. We have provided exemplary legal counsel to many victims of injuries in the past. We believe that when someone has been injured in a motorcycle accident due to another driver’s error, the victim should have every opportunity to collect financial reparation commensurate to the damage caused.

Motorcycle accident injuries may present complex personal injury claims, but it is important for injured victims to receive the assistance and legal counsel that they need. For more information about our law firm, or to speak with a top motorcycle accident lawyer St. Paul, MN trusts, call Johnston | Martineau, P.L.L.P. today.