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Have you or someone you love been injured in a motorcycle accident? Contact Dehghani and Associates to find out more about your legal options for seeking compensation. We offer free consultations.

The most common cause of motorcycle accidents is inattentive drivers. When motorists fail to operate their vehicles with extra care and awareness of motorcyclists, the risk of injury-causing and deadly accidents is high.

Our Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyers understand the anger and frustration that accompany a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently reported that motorcycle riders are five times more likely to be injured and 26 times more likely to die in an accident than the occupants of a passenger vehicle. In other words, about 56 of every 100,000 motorcyclists will be involved in a deadly accident.

Most motorcyclists are vigilant and careful drivers. They know they need to keep an eye out for other vehicles, namely those driven by distracted drivers or drivers who are breaking the law. Current weather and road conditions also play a role in a rider’s ability to safely handle a motorcycle.

Improper maintenance and defective parts can also lead to a motorcycle accident. Often, motorcycles stored for the winter are not properly serviced or inspected before they are taken out when the weather turns nice.

If you are involved in a serious motorcycle accident, working with an experienced Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyer can help alleviate some of your financial, physical, and emotional burdens. Our motorcycle accident lawyers will handle all the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on your recovery.

The Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyers at Dehghani and Associates, LLC are dedicated to helping Connecticut motorcycle accident victims get the help and aggressive legal representation they need. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

Liability For a Connecticut Motorcycle Accident

Although motorcyclists are often accused of driving recklessly and even endangering themselves and others, driver negligence is the cause of most motorcycle accidents. Unfortunately, insurance companies have both perpetuated and embraced this stereotype. If you are hurt in a motorcycle accident, it is extremely unlikely you will be treated or compensated fairly until you hire a reputable attorney.

Our Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate your accident and accurately determine who was at fault. Driver negligence can occur in many different ways such as:

  • Speeding
  • Distracted driving, such as texting or otherwise engaging with a cell phone
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way when making a lefthand turn
  • Following too closely
  • Dangerous or illegal merging and lane changes
  • Aggressive driving
  • Opening a car door into the path of a motorcycle
  • Driving while intoxicated

Drivers often cite a lack of visibility as the reason for an accident involving a motorcycle. Although this does not necessarily indemnify the rider, this statement does point to negligence on the driver’s part, not the motorcyclist’s.

A qualified motorcycle accident lawyer will also take into account any other factors that could have contributed to the crash as well as any additional parties that could be liable for your damages. Based on the events leading up to your crash, you might be eligible to bring a claim against:

  • Another driver
  • The driver’s employer, if they were on the clock at the time of the accident
  • The manufacturer of the motorcycle or a motorcycle part if a mechanical defect or failure caused the accident
  • The government agency responsible for maintaining safe roadways if a road hazard caused your accident

If you ride a motorcycle, never assume you are at fault for an accident or let yourself be pressured by an insurance adjuster to make a statement that is not in your best interest. Liability is an extremely complex issue. A qualified Connecticut motorcycle accident attorney will be able to identify all liable parties and ensure that they are held responsible.

Important Evidence in Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Claims

There are several types of evidence that can support your claim against a negligent driver as well as any additional parties that contributed to your motorcycle accident. The most crucial pieces of evidence a motorcycle accident lawyer will need to build a strong case are:

  • Pictures and/or video of the accident, accident scene, and all vehicles involved
  • Witness statements
  • Expert witness testimony
  • Police reports
  • Motorcycle maintenance records and inspection reports
  • Your medical bills and medical records
  • Pay stubs, past tax returns, and other proof of lost wages

Since their injuries are often severe, motorcycle riders are not usually able to exchange information with other drivers and gather evidence after an accident. A Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyer can take immediate steps on your behalf to ensure evidence is collected and preserved.

At Dehghani and Associates, LLC, our Connecticut motorcycle accident attorneys have decades of experience investigating motorcycle crashes. We have also developed strong working relationships with leading specialists in a variety of fields whose expert testimony can help prove liability for your accident, the severity of your injuries, the damages you are entitled to, and much more.

Valuation of a Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Claim

The damages that are recoverable in your Connecticut motorcycle accident claim will depend on the degree and longevity of your injuries and the other damages you sustained. A Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyer from Dehghani and Associates, LLC will closely review all evidence and calculate how much financial compensation you may be owed along with the total value of your personal injury claim. This will include compensation for damages such as:

  • Medical bills
  • Damage to personal property
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of or reduced earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Disability
  • Disfigurement and permanent scarring
  • Diminished quality of life

The value of pain, suffering, and other non-economic damages are considerably more challenging to estimate than economic damages such as the loss of income, and hospital bills. Our Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyers can accurately sum up all of the damages you have accrued, along with any damages you anticipate facing in the months or years to come. Once you know the true value of your motorcycle accident claim, you will know what to expect out of negotiations with the insurance company.

Motorcycle riders are at an elevated risk of fatal injury during an accident. If you lost a loved one, a Connecticut motorcycle accident attorney at Dehghani and Associates, LLC can seek fair compensation via a wrongful death claim.

Connecticut Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Claims

The statute of limitations is a deadline set by the state by which any legal claim must be filed. As with most other kinds of personal injury actions, Connecticut motorcycle accident victims have two years from the day of their accident to bring a personal injury claim. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, there are a few exceptions that could shorten or extend this timeline. It is in your best interest to speak with our experienced Connecticut motorcycle accident attorneys as soon as possible.

Should you fail to file a suit before the statute runs out, you will be barred from collecting any financial compensation for your damages, including your medical bills. The economic losses of a serious motorcycle accident are usually quite substantial, and you do not want to pay for them out of pocket when someone else was responsible for causing them, so don’t waste time seeking the help of an attorney.

Bear in mind that going all the way to trial is not always necessary when it comes to recovering damages for a motorcycle accident. In fact, these claims are usually resolved during settlement negotiations. A very small percentage actually see the inside of a courtroom. Despite this, it is still vital for victims to know the statute of limitations as it applies to their case and make sure that, in the event that it becomes necessary, their lawsuit is filed on time.

Insurance Requirements for Connecticut Motorcyclists 

In Connecticut, motorcycles are classed as vehicles, meaning motorcycle riders are subject to the same auto insurance prerequisites as any other driver.

In terms of auto insurance, Connecticut enforces a 25/50/25 rule. The minimum requirements for insurance coverage are:

  • $25,000 liability for bodily injury per individual
  • $50,000 liability for bodily injury per accident
  • $25,000 liability for property damage per accident

All drivers including motorcyclists are also required to carry uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage. Connecticut drivers must carry a minimum of $25,000 in uninsured motorist/underinsured motorist coverage insurance coverage per individual and $50,000 per accident.

When another driver is liable for a motorcycle accident, their property damage and bodily injury liability insurance should cover your damages. However, if the other driver either fled the scene, does not have insurance, or does not have adequate insurance, your uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance will help cover your losses. Give our law firm a call to talk to a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer today.

Connecticut Motorcycle Helmet Laws

Connecticut does have a motorcycle helmet law although it does not apply to all riders. The law states that any motorcycle driver or passenger who is under 18 years of age is required to wear a helmet. The helmet must meet the criteria outlined in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Additionally, any person with a motorcycle instruction permit must also wear a helmet when operating a motorcycle.

Motorcycle riders who are licensed and of age are strongly urged to wear a helmet. Motorcycle helmets lower your odds of serious head trauma, like a traumatic brain injury, by a significant amount should you be involved in an accident, which greatly improves your chances of surviving. If your loved one rides motorcycles, insist that they wear a helmet at all times.

In that same vein, wearing an appropriate motorcycle helmet could make a significant difference in the amount of financial compensation you can recover. While it is not against the law, failure to wear a helmet could be construed as comparative negligence, particularly if you experienced a head injury. If you are found to share in liability for your motorcycle accident injuries because you were not wearing a helmet, your damages could be substantially reduced.

Dangers of Riding a Motorcycle in Connecticut

The Connecticut Department of Transportation recently released statistics showing that within a 10-year span, the highest number of motorcycle accidents in any single year was 11,000. An average of 300 fatal accidents took place every year within that same 10-year window.

Just like any other type of motor vehicle accident, motorcycle accidents, are commonly caused by the following situations:

  • Traffic congestion
  • Drivers under the influence
  • Reckless drivers
  • Distracted drivers
  • Inclement weather
  • Road hazards and construction zones

Due to their smaller weight and size, what could be considered a minor crash involving a passenger vehicle will have far more serious repercussions when it involves a motorcycle.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

The reason a motorcyclist’s injuries are usually more serious than those sustained by a vehicle occupant should be fairly obvious. Cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs come equipped with huge metal frames and numerous built-in safety features designed to keep vehicle occupants as safe as possible. A motorcycle is little more than a fiberglass or metal frame, two wheels, and an engine.

Injuries commonly sustained by motorcyclists include:

  • Avulsion injuries: When skin makes contact with the road’s surface in a motorcycle crash, it can result in road rash. If road rash is not promptly and properly treated, it can lead to severe infections, such as septic shock and staph infection.
  • Head trauma: Any blunt force impact to the head can result in traumatic brain injuries, the symptoms of which can range from barely noticeable to extremely serious. They include blurry vision, headaches, loss of consciousness, and nausea. Severe traumatic brain injuries can have long-lasting or permanent impacts on a victim’s personality, ability to accomplish routine tasks, concentrate, and ability to remember. Estimates published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that helmets are 37% effective in preventing head trauma, including TBI, and death. So, for every 100 motorcyclists not wearing a helmet during a fatal collision, 37 of them would have lived had they chosen to wear one.
  • Broken bones: When a motorcyclist is ejected from their bike and their body is slammed against the asphalt at a high rate of speed, the result is often broken or fractured bones. The weight of an oncoming vehicle can easily crush, splinter, or snap multiple bones at once.
  • Spinal cord injuries: Although any part of the spine is vulnerable in a motorcycle accident, thoracic spine injuries are the most common. Common spinal cord injuries range from pinched vertebrae and slipped discs to paraplegia and quadriplegia.
  • Nerve and muscle damage: Comparatively minor injuries, like tears, strains, and sprains often require no more than a few weeks for full recovery. If damage to the nerves is severe, however, these injuries could require surgical intervention and years of physical therapy before they are fully healed.

Regardless of the type of vehicles involved in an accident, injuries could potentially be catastrophic. Medical treatment for even the most minor injuries can be expensive and result in you being physically unable to work, adding to your level of stress and frustration.

What to Do After a Connecticut Motorcycle Accident

The first thing you should do after being involved in a Connecticut motorcycle accident is to seek immediate medical attention. Even if you were wearing a helmet and safety gear, the impact could have caused injuries that are not immediately obvious. What you think is just generalized pain caused by the crash could actually signify severe injuries. Regardless of the situation, your health comes first.

If you are not too badly injured, use your smartphone to document the scene by taking as many pictures and videos as possible. This includes taking pictures of the damaged vehicles, any physical injuries, any notable weather conditions or road hazards, and the accident scene in general.

Talk to anyone who witnessed the crash and get their name, phone number, and address if they’ll allow it.  The insurance adjuster or your Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyer can contact them later and take their statement which could help support your claim.

Jot down everything you recall about the accident, such as the time of day, the road conditions, and how the collision happened. Document the details of your injury and the impact it is having on your life and keep any and all receipts, medical directives, bills, prescriptions, and invoices relating to your motorcycle accident injury.

Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Connecticut

The majority of motorcycle accidents end in severe injuries and heavy property damage. Motorcycle accident victims can face multiple expenses arising from the incident such as:

  • Costs related to emergency transportation and paramedic services
  • Medical treatment
  • Additional ongoing medical care, such as physical therapy
  • Lost income from being unable to work
  • Property damage

In more catastrophic cases, riders involved in an accident could sustain serious brain injuries, permanent disabilities, and death.

You should reach out to your insurance company as soon as possible after an accident. Keeping detailed notes, a record of your injuries and treatment, and the contact details of any eyewitnesses will give you a huge advantage when you file your motorcycle accident claim.

Do not forget that most auto insurance policies have limits on settlement amounts for property damage and bodily injury. This limit might not be enough to even cover your medical bills, especially for serious, life-changing injuries such as quadriplegia or a traumatic brain injury. A skilled Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyer can help you fight for the financial compensation you need to cover your expenses and get your life back on track.

The Importance of Working With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will understand the amount of work that is involved in getting the best results possible for their injured clients.

Motorcycle accident claims often involve multiple causes and liable parties. The experienced motorcycle injury lawyers at Dehghani and Associates, LLC will have the background and legal knowledge to ensure that every detail of your case is thoroughly investigated and followed up on. We dedicate as much time and effort as necessary to each individual case to ensure a positive outcome.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Today

When it comes to Connecticut motorcycle accidents, the impacts can be both life-altering and utterly devastating. In the blink of an eye, the financial, emotional, and physical tolls can overwhelm you, leaving you and your family scared, agitated, and unsure of where to turn for the help you need. Trying to cope with the consequences of a serious motorcycle accident can seem like an uphill battle, especially when you are injured, in pain, and dealing with an insurance company that prioritizes its profit margins over your health and well-being.

Our lawyers have decades of experience handling every conceivable type of traffic accident, including motorcycle accidents. We know the laws and regulations as they pertain to motorcyclists in general and your case in particular, and are not afraid to go up against a major insurance company. We also have access to numerous resources that will allow us to build a strong and compelling injury claim that yields the outcome you deserve.

If you were injured or a loved one was killed in a Connecticut motorcycle accident, please reach out to the Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyers at Dehghani and Associates, LLC as soon as possible. We work on a contingency fee basis. This means that if we are not successful in securing you fair compensation through a settlement award or jury verdict, you owe us absolutely nothing for our services. You have nothing to lose.

We provide all personal injury clients with a free, no-obligation case review, so give us a call at (203) 773-9513 or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule your consultation with a CT motorcycle accident attorney today. Let us focus on handling your legal battle for fair compensation while you focus on healing and moving forward with your family.

Dehghani and Associates, LLC is a full service law firm with offices in New Haven, Connecticut. We practice in the area of personal injury and wrongful death, immigration, medical malpractice, inadequate security and criminal defense. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
900 Chapel St 10th Floor
New Haven, Ct 06510
203-773-9513
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