Shreveport Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Motorcycle Accidents in Louisiana

Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in motorcycle accidents throughout Louisiana. According to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS), 82 people died in motorcycle accidents in Louisiana in 2021, and the overall fatality rate for motorcycle drivers involved in collisions hovered just above five percent.

Most motorcycle accidents are completely avoidable. These collisions most often occur as a result of another motorist’s negligent, careless, or reckless conduct. When this is the case, injured victims, as well as the families of those involved in fatal motorcycle accidents, can hold the at-fault motorist accountable.

At The Hall Law Firm, we have been representing victims of negligence since 1975. Our Shreveport motorcycle accident attorneys understand the many unique challenges these cases present, and they know how to effectively advocate for you and the full, fair recovery you are owed. Even if it means taking your case to court, we are prepared to do everything possible to ensure you obtain the justice you rightfully deserve.

Compared to the occupants of typical passenger vehicles, motorcyclists have very little protection. As a result, they frequently suffer catastrophic injuries, resulting in significant and/or permanent disabilities, when they are struck by larger, heavier vehicles. Tragically, many motorcycle accidents are fatal.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists are almost 30 times more likely to die in traffic accidents than occupants of passenger vehicles.

Common motorcycle accident-related injuries include:

• Broken bones/fractures
• Road rash/friction burns
• Serious cuts, abrasions, and lacerations
• Head and brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Accidental amputation
• Internal bleeding
• Organ damage
• Soft tissue injuries

These and other serious injuries nearly always require extensive medical attention, including emergency treatment and ongoing rehabilitative care. Injured victims may be unable to return to work for weeks or months, and some may never fully recover enough to obtain gainful employment.

On top of the physical pain and emotional suffering victims experience, the financial hardships following a motorcycle accident can be extremely challenging for both victims and their loved ones.

By filing a motorcycle accident claim, you can seek compensation for the following damages:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Past, current, and future pain and suffering
• Past, current, and future lost income/wages
• Lost earning capacity due to disability or impairment
• Lost enjoyment/quality of life
• Disfigurement

At The Hall Law Firm, our Shreveport motorcycle accident attorneys can help you file a personal injury claim or, if your loved one tragically died due to a motorcycle crash, a wrongful death lawsuit against the liable party.

Under Louisiana’s fault-based (or “tort”) auto insurance system, injured accident victims typically seek compensation for damages by filing claims with the at-fault party’s insurance provider. This means that, after a motorcycle accident, you must prove that the other person or party was at fault.

Then, you can file a claim with their insurance company for compensation. You may also be able to bring a lawsuit directly against the at-fault party if they do not have sufficient insurance to cover the cost of your damages.

Determining liability in most motorcycle accidents involves proving fault. The other party is likely at fault if they caused the accident by acting negligently or wrongfully, including:

• Driving while distracted, including texting while driving
• Speeding or driving too fast for current conditions
• Driving while intoxicated/under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Failing to check blind spots for motorcyclists
• Failing to yield the right of way to motorcyclists
• Disobeying red lights, stop signs, and other traffic control devices
• Driving while fatigued/falling asleep at the wheel
• Turning, passing, or changing lanes unsafely or illegally
• Following a motorcyclist too closely/tailgating
• Driving erratically, aggressively, or recklessly, including excessive speeds

In some cases, other outside factors could contribute to or cause a motorcycle crash. For example, a poorly maintained roadway containing numerous cracks in the asphalt or potholes could put motorcyclists at serious risk. Poorly designed or constructed roadways containing blind curves or unsafe speed limits could also be deadly.

At The Hall Law Firm, we know how to investigate motorcycle accident claims and determine exactly how the crash occurred. Most importantly, our attorneys know how to evaluate fault and identify the liable party. We often work with accident reconstructionists, medical professionals, and expert witnesses who provide powerful testimony on behalf of our clients.

Anyone who owns or operates a motorcycle in Louisiana should know all of the applicable state laws and follow those laws every time they ride. Doing so could save your life.

Below are some Louisiana motorcycle laws you should know:

• You must obtain a special motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license to operate a motorcycle in Louisiana, and you must register your bike and conduct yearly inspections
• To carry a passenger, your motorcycle must have a dedicated passenger seat and footrests, and passengers must ride properly with one leg over each side of the motorcycle
• Motorcycle passengers must be at least five years old and must wear proper, approved motorcycle helmets when riding
• All motorcyclists must obtain motorcycle insurance that covers at least $15,000/$30,000 in bodily injury liability per person/accident and $25,000 in property damage
• Motorcyclists may not ride more than two abreast (side by side) in a single lane, and you may not pass or overtake a vehicle in the same lane
• Lane-splitting, or driving a motorcycle between vehicles/lanes of traffic, is NOT allowed anywhere in Louisiana
• Motorcyclists must keep both hands on the handlebars when operating a motorcycle and may not engage in any activity that causes them to remove one or both hands from the handlebars

It is also important that you always ride safely and defensively. Avoid speeding or engaging in risky driving behavior, such as weaving in and out of traffic. Make sure that other motorists on the road can always see you, and wear heavy, protective clothing and eyewear every time you ride.

In Louisiana, you must wear an approved motorcycle helmet with adequate padding, a secured chin strap, and protective eyewear any time you are on a motorcycle that is in motion. Regardless of age or the type of roadway you are on as well. If you have a passenger riding on the motorcycle with you or in a sidecar, they must also be wearing a helmet when the motorcycle is in motion. If you choose to not wear a motorcycle helmet while operation a motorcycle, you can be fined $50.

The simple reason that you need to wear a helmet, besides that it's legally required in Louisiana, is that they save lives. When you're in a car or other motor vehicle, you have a great deal more protection than when you're riding a motorcycle. A minor car accident may mostly do damage to the vehicle and little to no damage to the occupants, whereas a minor motorcycle accident can result in serious injuries.

Unfortunately, even the safest rider cannot always avoid an accident. If you are involved in a crash, there are several things you can and should do to protect your safety and your right to file a personal injury claim.

If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, try to do the following:

• Seek immediate medical attention; if necessary, call 911 or go to the emergency room
• Call the police and have them come out to the scene of the accident; file an official police report
• Notify your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible
• Take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries, if possible
• Get the name, contact information, and insurance information of the other driver(s) involved
• Talk to any witnesses who saw what happened and get their name(s) and contact information
• Avoid making any statements or signing anything provided by the insurance company
• Talk to a lawyer with experience handling motorcycle accident claims

We strongly encourage you to speak to an attorney at our firm before talking to the insurance company. Often, insurance adjusters will try to get you to sign paperwork or provide a written or oral statement about what happened. You should always talk to a lawyer before giving an official statement or signing anything provided to you by the insurance company.

In Louisiana, you only have one year from the date of the accident to file a motorcycle accident claim. It is very important that you reach out to our Shreveport motorcycle accident attorneys right away, or you could lose your right to sue the liable party for damages. The sooner we can begin building your case, the better.