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While vehicle accidents of any kind can lead to life-changing injuries, if you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, your injuries could be particularly traumatic.
While there are steps riders can take to reduce their risk of injury, the risks can never be eliminated entirely. Injuries happen, some of them severe, and when they do, you need a lawyer who will fight to get you the most money possible. The personal injury lawyers at Hughes & Coleman are here to help.
Speak with a member of our legal team today for free.
Call us at 800-800-4600.
Get it done.
Experienced Lexington motorcycle accident attorneys can help you put your life back together after a motorcycle accident.
We have over 40 years of experience handling motorcycle accident claims and know how to deal with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries. At Hughes & Coleman, we have a singular focus: doing what is in your best interest.
Revised in June of 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides some of the most comprehensive data behind the causes of motorcycle accidents throughout the country. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes include:
There can be many different causes of a crash that a Lexington motorcycle accident lawyer can uncover through investigation, witness statements, and evidence gathering. In many situations, an experienced attorney can also discover multiple causes for the crash, helping to establish fault for the injured victim.
A motorcycle crash can be devastating, or even life changing. Without the protective features found in cars and trucks, such as seatbelts, airbags, or a steel frame, a motorcycle leaves the operator and passengers vulnerable to the full brunt of a collision. For that reason, motorcycle wreck injuries are often debilitating and can cause permanent disability, and the fatality rate for motorcycle accident victims is much higher than for other motorists.
The most common injuries that an attorney help with include:
In a Lexington motorcycle accident, victims often suffer catastrophic injuries and require long-term care, and when it comes to motorcycle accidents, even a seemingly minor pain can quickly turn into a severe injury. A Lexington motorcycle accident attorney will work to understand the full extent of your injuries so that your personal injury lawsuit is comprehensive for your present and future needs.
Fatal motorcycle accidents should also be handled by a wrongful death lawyer who is experienced in these types of cases.
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Experienced motorcycle accident lawyers will ensure you get every dollar you deserve from the insurance company. If the insurer does not agree to a fair settlement, we will not hesitate to file a lawsuit and argue your case before a jury.
Though every injury claim is different, our previous clients have received significant settlements, including some or all of the following types of damages:
Under personal injury law, these damages are commonly distinguished by two categories, which include economic (financial) and non-economic damages (subjective, non-financial). Injury lawyers will work to account for short-term and long-term damages in your claim to ensure you recover maximum compensation.
According to NHTSA, the most significant factor contributing to fatal accidents involving motorcycles is collisions with other motor vehicles in transit, accounting for 55% of the 5,715 cases in 2021. Among these two-vehicle collisions, 76% of the motorcycles involved in fatal accidents were struck from the front, while only 7% were struck from the rear.
Once you retain a Lexington motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm, we get to work immediately, gathering evidence and assembling it to make your case thorough and compelling. The evidence we collect to help you obtain maximum compensation may include:
This evidence can prove invaluable when negotiating for maximum compensation with the insurance company. It can ensure that the facts of the accident are thoroughly documented by a variety of sources. One of these pieces of evidence is helpful, but collectively, they become extremely powerful when proving fault and ensuring you recover as much compensation as possible.
Mr. Coleman is now the Managing Partner and majority owner of Hughes and Coleman Injury Lawyers, a firm he co-founded in 1985 with J. Marshall Hughes. The firm has grown for over 40 years, and we currently have over 30 attorneys and multiple offices across Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as an affiliate firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Mr. Coleman’s efforts and accomplishments have been widely recognized, including being named as a Kentucky Super Lawyer in Personal Injury since 2012, and being awarded an AV Rating, the highest rating given, by the nation’s preeminent Attorney Rating service, Martindale- Hubbell®.
To collect compensation for any type of motor vehicle collision, one typically must go through an insurance company. That is because your compensation will likely come from either your insurer, the other driver’s insurer, or a combination of both. How you handle the negotiation process with the insurance company will determine how much compensation you receive.
It is common for insurance companies to offer far less than what injury victims deserve and what their claim justifies. Many times, the insurance claim amount that is offered will not be enough or even take into consideration long-term medical expenses and other needs.
Let an experienced Lexington motorcycle accident lawyer handle negotiations with the insurance company to ensure you receive every dollar you’re entitled to. Our attorneys know what your claim is worth from years of experience and will fight for that amount throughout the injury claim process. If the insurance company doesn’t agree to a fair settlement, our team will not hesitate to argue your case in trial.
As of September 2023, motorcyclists and passengers who are 21 years or older and have operated a motorcycle for 1 year or more are not required to wear a helmet. Persons under 21 or those who have held their license for less than one year must wear protective headgear. Motorcycle helmet laws also cover operators with a motorcycle instruction permit.
Mopeds, defined by the state as having an engine displacement of 50 cc or less, brake horsepower of 2 or less, and maximum speed of 30 mph, are not covered under this law, and drivers or passengers are not required to wear a helmet.
As of September 2023, there is no law in Kentucky that prohibits lane splitting or riding between rows of stopped or moving vehicles. However, it is also important to note that if police believe a rider to be driving recklessly or in an otherwise unsafe manner, they can still issue citations for this activity. Additionally, riders that engage in lane splitting, or lane filtering, should do so cautiously and be aware of other drivers’ intentions and the unpredictability of vehicle lane changes in a gridlock scenario.
The operator must have one of the following before operating a motorcycle on any public roadway in Kentucky:
It is also important to note that a motorcycle operator authorized to operate a motorcycle on an instruction permit is not authorized to carry passengers.
If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident, it’s essential to take several immediate and follow-up steps to ensure your safety, well-being, and protect your legal rights. Here’s a concise list of steps to follow:
Check for Injuries: First, assess your own injuries and those of any passengers or others involved. Seek immediate medical attention for anyone injured.
Call 911: Report the accident to the police. Even if injuries appear minor, having an official report can be crucial for insurance claims and legal matters.
Move to Safety: If possible, move yourself and your motorcycle to a safe location, away from traffic and any potential danger.
Exchange Information: Exchange contact and insurance information with the other party or parties involved. Include names, phone numbers, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and insurance details.
Gather Evidence: If it’s safe to do so, take photos of the accident scene, your motorcycle, and any visible injuries. Note the position of vehicles and any road hazards.
Witness Information: Collect contact information from any witnesses of the accident. Their statements may be valuable later.
Contact an Attorney: If you sustained significant injuries or believe someone else was at fault, consult with a motorcycle accident attorney to understand your rights and explore potential legal action.
Obtain the police report: Lexington traffic accident reports and collision reports can be obtained from the Lexington Police Department online for a $10 fee, as a walk-in for a $5 fee, or by mail for a $5 fee. If a Kentucky State Police Officer responded to the collision, you can obtain the report from the State Police Department through an open records request.
Notify Insurance: Contact your insurance company to report the accident. Provide them with the necessary details and cooperate with their investigation. Be concise but be cautious of what you say. Insurance companies can and will use anything you say against you when negotiating your claim.
Medical Evaluation: Even if you don’t have immediate or obvious injuries, it’s crucial to seek medical evaluation. Some injuries may not be apparent right away.
Document Injuries: Keep detailed records of your medical treatment, including doctor’s visits, prescriptions, and any recommended therapies.
Preserve Evidence: Keep all documents related to the accident, including medical records, repair estimates, and correspondence with insurance companies and legal professionals.
Follow Medical Advice: Adhere to your doctor’s recommendations and attend all necessary medical appointments. This can help with your recovery and strengthen your case.
Our Lexington office is conveniently located on E. New Circle Road. When you call for a free, no-risk case evaluation, our compassionate team can address any additional questions you might have about your accident and recommend steps you can take to put yourself in the best possible position moving forward.
The Hughes & Coleman Lexington motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to get to work for you today. We will fight aggressively for the compensation you deserve and hold the responsible party accountable. Call us today at 800-800-4600. Get it done.
An experienced lawyer does more than make promises; they deliver results. We founded Hughes & Coleman to get hard-earned results for each and every one of our clients. We fight hard every day and for every case.
Helmet Use: Always wear a DOT-labeled helmet to protect against head injuries. Ensure your passengers do the same.
Proper Helmet Fit: Check your helmet’s fit for optimal protection.
Protective Gear: Wear sturdy jackets, pants, boots, and gloves for added protection and comfort.
Visibility: Use high-visibility colors and reflective materials to increase visibility to other drivers.
Sobriety: Don’t drink alcohol or use impairing drugs when riding.
Awareness: Be vigilant for motorcyclists.
Blind Spots: Motorcycles can hide in your blind spots due to their smaller size.
Distance and Speed: Be cautious when judging the distance and speed of motorcycles.
Following Distance: Maintain a safe following distance; motorcycles may not activate brake lights when slowing down.
Lane Changes: Be aware that motorcyclists may change lanes to avoid road debris.
If you have any other questions, reach out to our team today. We are available 24/7 to take your call and can help you understand your legal rights.
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Top notch firm. Christina Martin and Mariana Goff have been awesome. Always super nice and both explain every question in detail, so believe me when I say if you’re in a wreck, please don’t try to go it alone.
I cannot recommend Hughes & Coleman and their team highly enough. After my auto accident, I was overwhelmed, in pain, and unsure of what to do next. From the very first consultation, they were compassionate, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable.
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Passengers injured in Lexington motorcycle accidents may hesitate to hire an attorney, often because the motorcycle driver is a friend or family member. It’s important to note that in such cases, lawsuits typically target the insurance company for compensation, not the motorcycle driver. Whether the wreck is the motorcycle driver’s fault or due to negligence by another vehicle’s driver, passengers should take a similar course of action as the driver following a crash to ensure they are properly represented for any injuries they may have sustained by contacting an experienced motorcycle attorney.
When trying to understand how much an average motorcycle accident claim is worth, some may turn to sites that host a “motorcycle accident settlement calculator” or some other form of advertising that is meant to lead victims to think that these types of tools are a good indicator of the compensation they may receive. The truth is that many factors need to be considered before the worth of a personal injury claim can be determined. Experienced personal injury attorneys can evaluate your case independently to uncover all of the damages you may be entitled to. This is especially true when a severe injury is involved. Therefore, there is no reliable average motorcycle accident settlement amount because each claim and circumstance is different. The best way to find out how much financial compensation you’re entitled to is to contact a motorcycle accident law firm that is well-versed in motorcycle accident cases.
Kentucky follows a pure comparative negligence system. This means you can seek compensation from the other driver, even if you share some of the blame for the accident. Even if you were mostly at fault, you can still pursue damages as long as the other driver shares some responsibility. However, your share of fault reduces the amount of compensation you can receive. Motorbike lawyers can help reduce the amount of fault assigned to you, thereby increasing the compensation you may be entitled to.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured, please fill out the form below for your free consultation or call us at 800-800-4600.
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