Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
If you suffered injuries or your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident in Florence, KY, you need to hire an experienced motorcycle accident attorney right away. You may be entitled to substantial compensation. Without a lawyer on our side, however, getting the money you need to pay for your medical bills and lost wages will be challenging. The insurance company will go to great lengths to minimize your recovery. They may even blame the accident on you.
With more than 200 years of combined experience fighting for the rights of the people of Kentucky, the motorcycle accident lawyers at Young, Reverman & Bolotin know what it takes to help you win your personal injury case. Our law firm will provide you with a free initial consultation, and we handle injury cases on a contingency basis, so you won’t need to worry about upfront fees. When you hire our attorneys, we’ll review your crash to identify all liable parties, review insurance coverages, and help you determine what legal options might benefit you the best.
Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?
Around 1500 motorcycle accidents occur each year in Kentucky. Without the protection of an enclosed vehicle, motorcyclists are often left with serious, and sometimes permanently, disabling injuries even though they were not responsible for the accident. They face lengthy hospital stays, thousands in medical bills, and lost time from work, not to mention the pain and suffering they endure. Fortunately, Kentucky tort law enables motorcycle accident victims to recover compensation for their losses by filing personal injury lawsuits against the at-fault parties. Filing a lawsuit ensures that the negligent driver is held accountable for the harm he or she caused, and helps make sure victims like you can get the medical care they need to move forward with their lives.
To schedule a free consultation with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in Kentucky, call Young, Reverman & Bolotin at (513) 400-0000.
Three Reasons You Should Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
A motorcycle accident lawyer can help make sure that all of your rights after an accident are protected, as well as help you receive financial compensation. When you hire an attorney at our law firm, you’ll receive:
Support and Guidance Through The Legal Process
Our experienced personal injury lawyers understand the intricacies of Kentucky’s traffic laws and personal injury regulations. We’ll answer your questions and address your concerns as your case progresses. Our legal team will also help you overcome complications that may occur during the legal process.
Help Determining and Proving Liability
Your lawyer will help to establish liability for your accident. This may include gathering evidence, interviewing experts or witnesses, and presenting the case in court.
Help Winning Your Lawsuit
If the insurance company has denied your claim, or is not covering all of your expenses, your motorcycle accident lawyer will file a lawsuit on your behalf. The lawsuit will be aimed at recovering your past and future medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering to help ensure you receive fair compensation for your losses.
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What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
The steps you take after a motorcycle accident in Florence, Kentucky will play a significant role in the outcome of your case. Simply apologizing for the crash, talking about it on social media, or missing a filing deadline, for instance, can be detrimental to your recovery. If you suffered injuries or your loved one was killed, our motorcycle accident lawyers recommend that you do the following:
Make Sure You’re Safe and Get Help On the Way
Your safety and wellbeing are priorities after a motorcycle accident. If you are able to move out of the line of traffic, do so right away. Call 911 immediately, and get emergency medical help on the way, even if you don’t think you’re seriously injured. The adrenaline from the crash can mask the symptoms of traumatic brain injuries and other internal injuries that may prove fatal if left untreated.
Get the Contact Information of Everyone Involved
When an accident takes place, you should get the contact information for the other driver and any eyewitnesses that may need to provide statements. You should get the name, phone number, insurance information, as well as license plate numbers and make/model of the vehicle involved.
Gather Evidence
If you are able to do so, gather evidence from the accident scene. Take photos or videos with your cellphone. Include any skid marks, property damage, and debris from the crash. Also photograph the surrounding area, and anything you think you might have contributed to your accident.
Seek Medical Attention
It is important to seek medical treatment after an accident, even if you show no signs of injury at the scene. Some injuries may only begin to show symptoms hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. Seeking medical treatment ensures your wellbeing and documents your injuries in case you need to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
Contact a Kentucky Motorcycle Accident Attorney As Soon as Possible
If you have been in a motorcycle accident, it is best to find a personal injury attorney who has knowledge of Kentucky’s specific laws and regulations as soon as possible. Your attorney will help gather evidence, medical records, and witness testimony to help build a strong case. Evidence can deteriorate and witnesses’ memories can fade after the accident. Getting legal representation right away helps ensure evidence is preserved and your right to recover compensation is protected.
Proving Fault in a Motorcycle Accident
To be able to prove who is liable for injuries in a motorcycle accident, the negligence of the other driver(s) must be established. Kentucky follows the pure comparative negligence system, which means that even if the motorcyclist is partially at fault for the accident, he or she can still recover damages. To establish negligence, the following four elements must be proved.
Duty of Care
All individuals and business entities owe a duty of care to others to act responsibly, avoiding actions that could foreseeably cause harm. The standard of care is defined as what a reasonable party would do in similar circumstances. To be able to prove negligence in a personal injury case, the duty of care that was owed has to be demonstrated. The duty of care forms the foundation for assessing negligence and liability when the actions or inaction of another have caused injury to the victim.
Breach of Duty
In a motorcycle accident case, the plaintiff will have to prove that the defendant failed to uphold the duty of care, and that breach of duty caused harm to the plaintiff. The breach can be established by expert testimony, police or accident reports, physical evidence, photographs of the scene, and eyewitness testimonies.
Causation
Once it has been established that the defendant breached the duty of care, it still has to be proven that this breach caused the plaintiff to suffer injuries due to these actions or inaction. The plaintiff or his or her attorney must prove that plaintiff’s injuries were as a direct result of the defendant’s actions and were not caused by an outside factor. Causation can be broken down into two main components, which are the cause in fact and the proximate cause. The cause in fact shows that if the defendant had acted differently, the victim would not have suffered harm. This establishes a direct connection to the negligence or wrongful actions to the injury. The proximate cause is focused on whether the defendant was able to reasonably foresee the consequences of his or her negligence. If the harm suffered by the plaintiff could not have reasonably been foreseen, then the defendant may not be held liable. Proving causation can be difficult if there were multiple factors that could have contributed to the injury.
Damages
In Kentucky personal injury cases, damages refer to the monetary compensation sought by the victim from the responsible party. There are three types of damages that may be available. Economic damages have direct costs associated with them. Examples include medical bills, lost wages, and property damages. Non-economic damages are subjective losses that have no direct cost. Examples include pain and suffering or emotional distress. Punitive damages may be included in a case if the actions of the defendant are found to be egregious or malicious. These damages are aimed at stopping similar behavior in the future in similar circumstances by the defendant or others in the same situation.
Common Injuries Associated with Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can lead to serious injuries that may require ongoing medical treatment and long recovery times.
Some common injuries from motorcycle accidents include:
bleeding
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Kentucky
Understanding the most common causes of motorcycle accidents can help drivers and bikers avoid getting involved in a crash. While the number one cause of motorcycle accidents in Kentucky is other drivers failing to detect and yield to bikers, this isn’t the only reason these crashes occur.
Some common causes of motorcycle accidents in Kentucky include:
- Distracted driving
- Failure to yield during turns and lane changes
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Driving impaired
- Hazardous road conditions due to weather or inadequate maintenance
- Inexperienced motorcyclists
Motorcycle Accident FAQs
How Much Is the Average Motorcycle Accident Settlement?
Since various factors play a role in determining the value of an injury case, there is no average settlement amount for motorcycle accidents in Kentucky. An experienced accident attorney will be able to provide you with a fairly accurate estimate of the value of your case, however. When determining how much your case is worth, your lawyer will consider the severity of your injuries, your prognosis, your lost wages, and the insurance coverages available.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Cases in Kentucky?
Although victims of most personal injury cases have just one year to file a lawsuit and recover compensation in Kentucky, you typically have two years to take legal action after you have been in a motorcycle accident. To recover for loss of consortium, spouses have only one year. The time limit may be shorter or longer in your particular situation. A personal injury attorney can advise if any exceptions to this statute of limitations may apply to your case.
If I Was Involved in a Motorcycle Accident in Another State, Do I have to Hire a Lawyer From That State?
While you’re not obligated to hire a lawyer from the state where the accident occurred, it’s often practical to do so. Local attorneys are more familiar with state-specific laws and procedures, which can be advantageous in handling your motorcycle accident case effectively.
“Rick Reverman is a consummate professional who help me through the process to have closure. His expertise in his field and keeping me updated really let me know he cared about my situation.”
Motorcycle Accident Statistics
1
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 5,934 motorcycle accidents that resulted in a fatality in 2022.
2
Approximately 1,705 (29%) of motorcyclists who were killed in 2022 had a BAC of 0.8 or higher.
3
August is the most dangerous month for motorcycle riders, with 14% of fatalities occurring in this month.
4
According to Forbes, over 2,000 motorcycle fatalities took place in 2020 due to the rider not wearing a helmet.
Do You Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in Cincinnati, Florence, or Lawrenceburg?
For your convenience, our law firm has several law offices throughout the tri-state area.
