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Motorcycle riders in Jonesboro enjoy cruising down Highland Drive and hitting the scenic back roads around Crowley’s Ridge. Unfortunately, the negligence of other drivers can involve even the most safety-conscious riders in a serious accident.
If a motorcycle crash in Jonesboro or the surrounding areas injured you or a loved one, you need an experienced Jonesboro motorcycle accident lawyer on your side.
Caddell Reynolds Law Firm helps injured motorcycle accident victims get the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Jonesboro Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Guide
- How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Arkansas?
- Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
- Who May Be Held Liable in a Motorcycle Accident Case?
- What Compensation is Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims?
- Contact the Jonesboro Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Caddell Reynolds Today
Why Choose Caddell Reynolds Law Firm for Your Jonesboro Motorcycle Accident Case?
When you’re suffering from serious injuries after a motorcycle wreck, you need a law firm with the resources, experience, and tenacity to take on the insurance companies. Caddell Reynolds is one of Arkansas’s leading personal injury law firms, and we have recovered millions of dollars for injured motorcycle riders.
Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined legal experience. We are committed to meticulously investigating every motorcycle accident case and building the strongest possible argument for maximum compensation. We’re not afraid to take cases to trial when the insurance company refuses to make a fair settlement offer.
At Caddell Reynolds, our Jonesboro personal injury lawyers treat every client like family. You’ll work directly with your attorney, who will make themselves available to answer your questions, address your concerns, and provide guidance through each stage of the legal process. Your peace of mind is our top priority.
How Common Are Motorcycle Accidents in Arkansas?
Motorcycle accidents in Arkansas are considerably more common compared to the national average, placing the state among the most dangerous for riders. According to the QuoteWizard Most Dangerous States for Motorcycle Riders indicate Arkansas consistently ranks high in motorcycle fatalities per capita. Last year, 85 people died in fatal motorcycle crashes in Arkansas, according to the Department of Public Safety, a 51% increase in the past three years.
What Makes Motorcycle Accidents So Dangerous?
Motorcycle accidents tend to be especially dangerous and lead to severe injuries. Unlike occupants of enclosed vehicles, motorcycle riders have very little protection against them in a collision other than helmets and protective gear.
There are no steel frames, airbags, or crumple zones to absorb the forces of impact. This leaves riders extremely vulnerable to being thrown from their bikes or struck directly by other vehicles.
Motorcycles are much smaller than passenger vehicles, weighing only a fraction as much. When a motorcycle collides with a larger vehicle like a car or truck, the size and weight disparity put the rider at a major disadvantage. The shear forces involved can be catastrophic.
The smaller profile of motorcycles also makes them less visible to other drivers, increasing the risk of drivers not seeing and yielding to a motorcycle, especially in intersections or when changing lanes.
For these reasons, motorcycle accidents have a much higher rate of serious injury and fatality compared to other vehicle collisions. Injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, road rash, broken bones, and internal injuries are common. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer understands the potentially life-altering consequences riders face.
Do I Have a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Negligence is the failure to exercise the proper level of care that a reasonable person would under the same circumstances. It is the legal basis for most personal injury claims, including those involving motorcycle accidents.
To have a valid negligence claim after a motorcycle crash, you must establish the following four elements:
- Duty of Care: The party you are filing a claim against (the defendant) owed you a legal duty of care. All drivers owe a duty to others on the road to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner and obey traffic laws. This includes motorcycle riders as well as drivers of passenger vehicles, trucks, and commercial vehicles.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant breached or violated their duty of care through a negligent act or failure to act. Common examples of a breach of duty in motorcycle accidents include:
- Speeding
- Drunk or impaired driving
- Distracted driving (texting, eating, applying makeup, etc.)
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Improper lane changes
- Following too closely (tailgating)
- Driving recklessly
- Causation: The defendant’s breach of duty was the direct and proximate cause of the accident and your resulting injuries. Proximate cause means the breach was a major factor that logically led to the motorcycle crash. There is a direct link between the defendant’s negligence and the harm you suffered.
- Damages: You suffered actual compensable damages as a result of the defendant’s negligence. These damages can be economic (medical bills, lost income, property damage, etc.) or non-economic (pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, etc.).
If you cannot establish these four negligence elements, you likely do not have a valid motorcycle accident claim. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can evaluate the facts of your case and help prove each of these elements to recover fair compensation.
Who May Be Held Liable in a Motorcycle Accident Case?
In motorcycle accident cases, there are often multiple potentially liable parties. An experienced personal injury lawyer in Jonesboro will investigate to identify all sources of insurance coverage and maximize the compensation recovery.
Other parties that you could potentially hold liable for a motorcycle accident include:
Other Drivers
The driver(s) of other vehicles involved in the crash are frequently the primary at-fault parties.
Common types of driver negligence that can cause motorcycle wrecks include:
- Speeding
- Impaired/drunk driving
- Distracted driving (texting, eating, etc.)
- Failure to yield right of way
- Improper lane changes
- Tailgating/following too closely
- Running red lights/stop signs
- Reckless driving
Vehicle Owners
If the at-fault driver was operating a vehicle they did not own, the vehicle’s owner may be vicariously liable under certain circumstances through the legal doctrine of negligent entrustment.
Employers of Negligent Drivers
When a negligent driver causes a crash while operating a vehicle for work purposes, you can hold their employer liable. You can hold employers liable for negligent hiring, supervision, or training of their employees.
Vehicle Manufacturers
If a defective vehicle or component part (brakes, tires, fuel system, etc.) contributed to the cause of the motorcycle crash, you can hold the manufacturer liable under product liability laws.
Automotive Repair Shops
If a mechanic or repair facility performed faulty maintenance or repairs that led to equipment failure and a crash, they may bear liability.
Government Entities
In some cases, a city, county, or state government agency could be liable if poorly maintained roads, missing/obscured street signs, debris, or other hazardous road defects contributed to the motorcycle wreck.
Premises Owners
You can hold property owners liable if their negligence, such as a poorly designed parking lot or hazardous ground defects, contributed to the crash.
What Compensation is Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims?
Damages in the context of a motorcycle accident lawsuit refer to the compensation awarded to victims or their families for losses and harms suffered due to the accident.
These damages include economic and non-economic damages. Additionally, in tragic circumstances where the accident leads to death, the loved ones can pursue wrongful death claims.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are tangible losses that have a specific monetary value associated with them. These damages cover the financial burdens the victim has incurred or will incur because of the accident.
Common economic damages include:
- Medical Expenses: This can cover everything from emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medication costs, and any ongoing physical therapy or rehabilitation needed due to injuries sustained in the accident.
- Lost Wages or Income: If the victim is unable to work while recovering, compensation for lost wages can be claimed. This includes the loss of income from the time of the accident until the victim can return to work.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: In more severe cases, if the victim suffers from long-term disabilities that affect their ability to work in the future, they may be entitled to compensation for loss of earning capacity.
- Property Damage: This typically covers the cost of repairing or replacing the motorcycle and any other personal property damaged in the accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for intangible losses that don’t have a specific dollar amount easily assigned to them. These subjective damages offer compensation for the impact of the accident on the victim’s life and well-being.
Common types of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and Suffering: This compensates the victim for the physical pain and discomfort experienced as a result of their injuries from the accident.
- Emotional Distress: Victims can receive compensation for the psychological impact of the accident, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If the injuries prevent the victim from enjoying hobbies, recreational activities, or other pleasures of life they once participated in, they may be compensated for this loss.
- Loss of Consortium: This applies to the victim’s spouse or close family members and compensates for the loss of companionship, affection, and support caused by the injuries.
Wrongful Death Claims
In cases where a motorcycle accident results in the death of the rider, the victim’s family may pursue a wrongful death claim. These claims seek compensation for the family’s losses due to their loved one’s untimely death.
Compensation might include:
- Funeral and Burial Expenses: Costs associated with funeral services and burial or cremation can be recovered.
- Loss of Financial Support: If the deceased was a primary provider, compensation for the loss of their expected earnings can be claimed.
- Loss of Consortium and Companionship: This compensates family members for the emotional and relational loss experienced due to their loved one’s death.
- Medical Costs Incurred Prior to Death: If the victim incurred medical expenses related to the accident injuries before passing away, these costs might also be recoverable.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can assess the full extent of damages and pursue the maximum compensation the victim or their family deserves after a motorcycle accident.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Arkansas?
Yes, Arkansas imposes a statute of limitations that sets a strict time limit for filing motorcycle accident lawsuits.
In most cases, the statute of limitations in Arkansas is three years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. For fatal crashes, the family typically has three years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim.
There are some exceptions and circumstances where the deadline may be extended or shortened, which is why you need to consult a Jonesboro motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. If you miss the filing window, you will lose your right to recover compensation, no matter how strong your case is.
At Caddell Reynolds, we ensure all claims are filed before the statute of limitations expires. However, the earlier you contact us, the sooner we can begin building your case while the evidence is still fresh.
How Can a Lawyer Help With My Jonesboro Motorcycle Accident Case?
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle crash, you’ll need an experienced attorney on your side. The lawyers at Caddell Reynolds have extensive experience protecting the rights of injured motorcyclists in Jonesboro and throughout Arkansas. Here’s how we can assist you:
Investigation
We’ll launch a thorough investigation into your accident right away. This includes carefully reviewing police reports, interviewing witnesses, analyzing any video evidence, consulting accident reconstruction experts, and more. Our goal is to gather all available evidence to build the strongest possible case.
Identifying Liable Parties
Our legal team will work diligently to determine all potentially liable parties, which may include other drivers, vehicle owners, employers, manufacturers, government entities, and more. We’ll identify every possible source of insurance coverage.
Dealing With Insurance Companies
You can be confident the attorneys at Caddell Reynolds will handle all negotiations and communications with the insurance companies involved. We know their tactics and will fight aggressively to ensure you receive maximum compensation—not a lowball settlement offer.
Calculating Your Damages
Our lawyers understand the wide-ranging impacts a serious motorcycle wreck can have. We’ll carefully calculate all of your damages, including current and future medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. No cost will be overlooked.
Meeting Deadlines
In Arkansas, you only have a limited time to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires. We’ll file all paperwork properly and miss no legal deadlines.
Taking Your Case to Trial
While many motorcycle accident cases are resolved through settlements, we prepare every case from the start as if it will go to trial. Our seasoned litigators are not afraid to fight for you in the courtroom if the insurance company refuses to pay fair compensation.
Contact the Jonesboro Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Caddell Reynolds Today
Were you or a loved one hit by a careless or reckless driver while riding your motorcycle in Jonesboro? Let our attorneys review your case for free and advise you of your legal options. You may recover significant compensation for your injuries, property damage, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Caddell Reynolds is committed to aggressively fighting for the rights of injured motorcyclists and their families in Jonesboro and throughout northeastern Arkansas. We have the skills, dedication, and resources to take on even the toughest motorcycle accident cases against large insurance companies.
Don’t try to handle a complex injury claim on your own after a serious motorcycle wreck. Our Jonesboro motorcycle accident lawyers will be your advocates and champions from start to finish. Contact us today at (870) 410-4681 or through our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and options for financial recovery.
Caddell Reynolds Law Firm – Jonesboro Office
740 Southwest Dr, Jonesboro, AR 72401
WHY CHOOSE US?
If You Have Been Injured, We Are Here for You
AVAILABLE FOR HOME & HOSPITAL VISITS IF YOU CANNOT TRAVEL
CLEAR & CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
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COMMITTED TO MAXIMIZING THE RECOVERY YOU DESERVE
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RECOVERED FOR OUR CLIENTS
OVER 100 YEARS OF COMBINED LEGAL EXPERIENCE
AVAILABLE TO ANSWER YOUR CALLS & EMAILS 24/7
CLEAR & CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
AVAILABLE FOR HOME & HOSPITAL VISITS IF YOU CANNOT TRAVEL
COMMITTED TO MAXIMIZING THE RECOVERY YOU DESERVE
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RECOVERED FOR OUR CLIENTS
OVER 100 YEARS OF COMBINED LEGAL EXPERIENCE
