Motorcycles can be a thrilling and unique way to experience travel and leisure. Unfortunately, not all motor vehicle drivers uphold their responsibility to watch out for motorcyclists and give them the space and respect they deserve on the road. Sometimes, these failures result in catastrophic and completely preventable accidents.
When you are injured while riding because another driver was irresponsible around you, you may have grounds to demand substantial civil compensation from them, and a skilled personal injury attorney’s help could be crucial to doing that effectively and efficiently. No matter how your crash happened or what injuries it caused you, a Chandler motorcycle accident lawyer with over three decades of experience handling cases like yours around the Phoenix metro area could be the ally you need to obtain the restitution you deserve.
Establishing Liability for a Motorcycle Crash
The courts do not automatically assume a driver who hits a motorcyclist is legally at fault for the incident. Instead, the injured biker will still have the burden of proving that a specific reckless or careless act by the driver was the main and direct cause of their accident, and, accordingly, of the injuries and losses they sustained because of that wreck.
It is also worth noting that another negligent driver may not be the only person who holds legal liability for a motorcycle crash, or even the one who holds a majority of total fault. For example, if a driver rear-ends a motorcycle stopped at a traffic light because the driver’s brakes unexpectedly failed, the fault for the collision would likely lie with a third-party mechanic or manufacturer more than the driver themselves. A Chandler motorcycle accident attorney could provide crucial help with sorting through the available evidence and building the strongest possible claim after the people truly to blame for a particular incident.
Recovering Fairly While Avoiding Comparative Fault
Legal counsel can also play a key role in contesting allegations of “comparative fault” made against a motorcycle crash victim—in other words, accusations that they were negligent themselves in a way that contributed to causing or worsening their injuries. Any such accusation that holds up in court could be used as grounds to proportionately reduce the total compensation available to that injured person based on their share of total fault for their accident, in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes § 12-2505.
Fortunately, Arizona state law does not “cap” how much total compensation someone can demand from another person found at fault for injuring them, so it may be possible to recover fully for both past and future losses like:
- Medical expenses
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Physical discomfort and pain
- Psychological and emotional suffering
- Lost work income and/or working ability
- Personal property damage, including motorcycle replacement/repair costs
A motorcycle injury lawyer in Chandler could help identify damages which may be recoverable for a specific person and demand fair compensation. If settlement talks do not yield satisfactory outcomes, our team is not afraid to take the matter to civil court to fight for what our clients need.
Contact a Chandler Motorcycle Accident Attorney for Assistance
Motorcycle crashes can cause devastating injuries and losses even at low speeds, and they are very often life-threatening at higher speeds. Regardless of the specific circumstances your wreck happened under, though, you deserve to be compensated fairly for any harm you experienced because another driver or someone else around you failed to act responsibly and caused you to get hurt as a result.
Assistance is available from a capable and compassionate Chandler motorcycle accident lawyer. Call the Phillips Law Group today to discuss your options.
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