Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys in Mobile, Alabama

If you’ve been injured in an Alabama motorcycle accident, you could be facing some of the most severe injuries possible. Motorcycles give you little protection from another vehicle or the road, meaning you could face serious consequences from a crash – both physical and financial.

After a motorcycle crash, it might be difficult to figure out where to turn or what you’re supposed to do next. The experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Hedge Copeland, PC, handle everything on your behalf. We advocate for your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve from the responsible parties. And you don’t pay us anything until we resolve your case, so you don’t have to worry about legal fees. Contact us now to schedule a free consultation.

Motorcycle Accidents Commonly Lead to Serious Injuries

There are nearly 2,000 motorcycle accidents each year in Alabama alone, and a majority of these result in either serious injury or death. Unlike passenger vehicles, where a driver or passenger has the benefit of numerous safety features and a steel frame, motorcycle riders are nearly entirely exposed.

Some of the potential injuries faced by motorcycle riders and their passengers include:

• Brain injury
• Spinal injury
• Broken and fractured bones
• Severe lacerations and cuts
• Paralysis
• Dismemberment
• Disfigurement
• Death

Some of these injuries result in months or years of recovery time, and others are permanent. As an accident victim, your life could be changed in an instant. If the motorcycle crash was due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, you shouldn’t have to deal with the resulting physical, emotional, and financial burden on your own.

Alabama’s Motorcycle Laws

Each state has its own laws relative to motorcycle use, and Alabama is no different. The Code of Alabama Title 32-5A-240-245 addresses motorcycle safety and operation. Some of those laws include:

• All motorcyclists are required to wear helmets.
• Motorcyclists must obey the same traffic laws as other motor vehicles.
• Motorcyclists may not ride more than two abreast in a lane or pass a driver in the same lane, known as “lane splitting.”
• Motorcyclists must use a headlight from thirty minutes after sunset until thirty minutes before sunrise.

Do You Have the Right to Compensation?

Being able to secure compensation for your injuries requires that you first prove that you’re entitled to seek damages. Under Alabama law, you will need to show that your injuries were the result of the negligent or reckless actions of another party.

In motorcycle accidents, some of the common causes we see include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Failure to follow traffic laws, signals, and signs
• Drunk or drugged driving
• Reckless driving
• Failure to maintain a vehicle for safety

In general, if the other driver acted in a way that was unlawful or that would be considered negligent or reckless by a reasonable person, you may have grounds to pursue compensation. These accidents can be incredibly severe, so damages can add up quickly. Some of the typical damages we pursue on behalf of motorcycle accident victims and their loved ones include:

• Medical expenses – past and future
• Lost wages and lost earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Punitive damages (when they are available)

Proving Fault in a Motorcycle Accident Case

Proving fault in a motorcycle accident begins by showing that you were injured due to another party’s recklessness or negligence. If another driver broke the law and was cited, this is a good start, but personal injury cases can be complicated.

Alabama is one of the few states in the nation that will bar an accident victim from recovering damages if they are found to be partially at fault, even just 1%. Called the “contributory negligence” rule, this makes pursuing damages in Mobile, Alabama personal injury cases particularly tough, but not impossible.

There’s a good chance that an insurance company is going to ask you for a recorded statement or to sign a release (probably both) so that they can collect enough information to at least partially blame you for the accident. Don’t let this happen. This is just one of the reasons why it is vital that you discuss your case with a qualified accident attorney as soon as possible.

When we represent clients in motorcycle accident cases, we do everything possible to prove that 100% of the fault lies with the other party. Some of the techniques and tools we use include using:

• Accident reports
• Witness statements
• Accident reconstruction specialists
• Security camera footage
• Driver’s records
• Maintenance records
• Mobile phone histories

It’s also possible that another party might be responsible for your motorcycle accident. For example, mechanical failure or a faulty part could have led to your accident and injury. In this case, you may be able to pursue the manufacturer or installer.

If a road defect was the cause of your accident and injuries, the responsible party might be a government entity. There are particular rules in place for pursuing claims against the government, but we can help.

Our legal team has years of experience fighting for clients just like yourself, and we will put our resources and knowledge to work on your behalf.

What Happens If I Get in a Motorcycle Accident without a Helmet?

As we touched on earlier, Alabama requires that motorcyclists wear a helmet when they are riding. Therefore, if you get into a motorcycle accident and you are not wearing a helmet, this could seriously jeopardize your ability to recover compensation for any injuries that you sustained.

Because of Alabama’s contributory negligence laws, the insurance company for the other side only needs to show that you were partially at fault in order to avoid paying out damages, and failure to wear a helmet (as required by law) could be considered negligence on your part. This is why it is absolutely critical to work with attorneys who have extensive experience successfully pursuing these types of cases, so that they can go to work immediately to develop an effective argument that might be able to overcome this issue.

What Happens If I Get into a Motorcycle Accident While Lane Splitting?

Like most states in the US, lane splitting is illegal in Alabama. But although lane splitting in the Yellowhammer State is against the law, lane sharing is legal. Legal lane sharing in AL means two motorcyclists riding side-by-side in a staggered formation. Three or more motorcycles are not permitted to share the same lane.

If you get into a motorcycle accident in Alabama while lane splitting, you may be cited for a moving violation, which would make it very difficult to successfully pursue an injury claim if you are hurt in the accident. If, on the other hand, the accident occurs while sharing a lane with another motorcycle, you might still be able to recover compensation (for your injuries) as long as you were not speeding, driving recklessly, or doing anything else at the time of the accident that could be construed as negligence.

Speak with an Experienced Mobile Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

The Mobile area isn’t much different than the rest of the country. Sadly, other drivers don’t exercise enough care when sharing the road with motorcycles. Serious motorcycle accidents will continue to happen, and these can be life-altering.

At Hedge Copeland, PC, our Alabama motorcycle accident attorneys are committed to helping motorcyclists and their families recover maximum damages. Our legal team has a successful history of handling claims against insurance companies. While we are skilled negotiators, we won’t hesitate to take your case to court to protect your rights and secure the best outcome possible.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident, you need to file an injury claim as soon as possible. There are time limits for these actions, and evidence can get stale or disappear the longer you wait.

Contact our Mobile office today at 251-432-8844 to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review the circumstances of your case and let you know how our attorneys may be able to help at no upfront cost to you.