Riding a motorcycle can be fun, but also extremely dangerous. When accidents happen, riders are often left with severe injuries and sometimes long-term disabilities.
Victims of these crashes should consider meeting with an experienced lawyer to discuss whether they may be eligible to pursue compensation for their damages. Phillips Law Group offers a free consultation to motorcycle crash victims.
In more than 27 years, we have been able to obtain over $1 billion in compensation for accident victims, including numerous recoveries for motor vehicle accident victims. We obtained $7.6 million for a motorcycle rider who suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident. Our founding partner Jeffrey Phillips has obtained verdicts in several Arizona counties and is a Top 25 member of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association.
Call today to learn more about how our Prescott motorcycle accident attorneys may be able to assist you. We charge no upfront fees for our services and you can contact our firm anytime, night or day.
Our attorneys need a chance to discuss the specifics of your accident to determine if you may have a claim against another party, often another driver.
Generally, our attorneys must prove an accident resulted from another’s negligence. There are four parts of negligence and each one must be proven for victims to have a chance of recovering compensation:
Duty of Care Was Owed to You
This means the at-fault party had a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to keep you from suffering an injury. It is reasonable to expect other drivers to obey the rules of the road and avoid dangerous behaviors like speeding.
Duty of Care Was Breached
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by reckless drivers who fail to obey the rules of the road, such as right-of-way laws. Violating these or other traffic laws could be an example of breaching the duty of care.
Causal Link Between Breached Duty and Injuries
Your attorney needs to provide evidence of how your injuries would have been avoided if the duty of care was upheld. In other words, a direct link between your injuries and the breached duty must be established. For example, a rider likely would not have been thrown off his or her bike without being rear-ended by a car at a stoplight.
Damages Suffered
Accident victims must prove they suffered damages as a result of the accident. This could include things like medical bills for treatment of injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
You can review your accident with a licensed Prescott motorcycle accident attorney in a free consultation. We are prepared to pursue full compensation if you have a case and hire us to represent you.
We are here to answer your legal questions. 602-222-2222
What if I Was Not Wearing a Helmet?
You can still seek compensation for damages if you were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. You may still be eligible if you were under the age of 18 ”“ Arizona law requires minors to wear motorcycle helmets.
This is a complex issue you should discuss with a qualified lawyer. The Prescott motorcycle accident lawyers at Phillips Law Group have detailed knowledge of Arizona motorcycle laws and how they may affect injury claims.
What is a Motorcycle Accident Claim Worth?
Generally, the value of a claim is based on the damages suffered and how long they may affect the victim. This is an issue our attorneys are prepared to evaluate carefully to determine what your claim may be worth.
Damages that often result from motorcycle accident injuries include:
Medical costs ”“ Treating a motorcycle accident injury can quickly become very expensive. Injuries from these accidents are often severe and long-lasting. Victims may need surgery, physical therapy, ongoing rehabilitation, prescription medications, follow-up doctors’ visits, imaging tests and other medical interventions.
Lost wages for missing work ”“ Treatment often results in victims missing work. This includes time away because victims are physically unable to work, and times they must leave work to meet with doctors for further treatment. Fortunately, our attorneys may be able to pursue compensation for wages lost as a result of your injury. We understand how important this type of compensation can be for families struggling to pay bills after a significant injury.
Pain and suffering ”“ The physical pain from a serious injury can be intense and last quite a long time. The pain can make everyday life very difficult to manage. The psychological damage from the injury can be just as bad, if not worse. Victims may experience depression, post-traumatic stress, sleep disturbances and other issues.
The damages vary based on the specifics of the claim. Call our Prescott motorcycle accident attorneys to discuss the damages you suffered and how they are affecting your life.
Motorcycle accident cases are often resolved by filing an insurance claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Arizona uses a fault-based system for assigning financial responsibility for an accident victim’s damages. That means the at-fault driver is responsible for the victim’s damages.
$15,000 in bodily injury coverage for each crash victim
$30,000 total bodily injury coverage per accident
$10,000 in property damage coverage
These pay for damages from an accident caused by the policyholder. However, it is important to note many drivers purchase more than the minimum required coverage.
When we take a case, our lawyers review the available insurance coverage. We are prepared to pursue the full value of victims’ damages, up to the limits of the policy. We are also prepared to file a lawsuit in case the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.
What if the Other Driver Does Not Have Enough Coverage?
Unfortunately, sometimes at-fault drivers do not have enough insurance coverage to pay for the victim’s damages. There are also cases where at-fault drivers do not have any insurance at all.
Fortunately, in these situations, our Prescott motorcycle accident attorneys may be able to pursue compensation through your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Motorcycle riders are required by law to purchase $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in this type of coverage.
This is a complex issue that should be discussed with a licensed attorney. There are specific requirements that must be met before filing this type of insurance claim.
Call today for a free consultation to ask your legal questions. Phillips Law Group: 602-222-2222
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim?
The short answer to this question is two years from the date of the accident, as stated in Arizona’s personal injury statute of limitations. If you miss this two-year deadline, you may lose your chance to file a claim.
While this is the standard deadline, there may be exceptions in certain situations. Victims who were under the age of 18 at the time of the accident have until two years from their 18th birthday to file a case. There is also something called the discovery rule, which says the two-year clock does not start to run until the date the victim discovers he or she has an injury.
Our Prescott motorcycle accident attorneys are prepared to discuss this issue with you in a free consultation. The clock could already be running on your potential claim, so contact us as soon as possible.
What if I Was Injured as a Motorcycle Passenger?
Passengers may not want to file a claim because they do not want to sue the driver, who may be a friend or family member. However, if you pursue compensation you would be filing a claim with the rider’s insurance company, not them personally.
The rider’s insurance policy should provide coverage for your damage, up to the limits of the rider’s coverage.
We welcome the chance to discuss this situation with you. Free consultation.
Common Reasons for Motorcycle Crashes
One of the most common reasons for motorcycle accidents is driver negligence. There are numerous examples of ways drivers operate their vehicles with reckless disregard for others on the roadway.
Examples of recklessness could include:
Texting and driving
Eating while driving
Failing to check blind spots before changing lanes
Tailgating
Driving while drunk
Speeding
Drivers are not used to looking for motorcycles, but this is no excuse for a collision with a motorcyclist who was obeying the rules of the road. If another driver was careless, he or she may be financially liable for the motorcyclist’s damages.
Contact a Prescott Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Injured in a motorcycle crash that may have been caused by another’s negligence?
You can discuss the situation with an experienced attorney from Phillips Law Group for free. There is also no obligation to take legal action if we determine you may have a case.
Our firm has been representing Arizona injury victims for more than 27 years, recovering hundreds of millions in compensation for their damages. Founding partner Jeffrey Phillips is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and The National Trial Lawyers Association ”“ Top 100.
Call a Prescott motorcycle accident lawyer for a free consultation. 602-222-2222
