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Louisville Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Strong advocacy for motorcycle operators and passengers in Kentucky
Riding a motorcycle is much more dangerous than driving a car or a truck. At Crandall & Pera Law, we have more than 50 years of combined experience fighting for motorcycle accident victims when another vehicle strikes their motorcycle or causes a rider to fall. Our Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers are skilled at showing who is responsible and fighting for all the compensation you deserve.
In one illustrative case, we obtained a $4.7 million settlement for a motorcyclist who was permanently paralyzed after the driver of a car struck our client’s motorcycle. We were able to show that the driver made an illegal left turn and was distracted because he was eating. The settlement for our client and his family does more than just compensate him for his medical needs and pain and suffering.
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Table of Contents
- How dangerous are motorcycle accidents?
- What causes a motorcycle accident in Louisville?
- What types of crashes do your Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers handle?
- What injuries from motorcycle accidents do you handle?
- What motorcycle laws must drivers obey in Kentucky?
- Who do you hold accountable for motorcycle accidents?
- How much is my Louisville motorcycle accident worth?
How dangerous are motorcycle accidents?
According to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, in 2022, more than 1,600 motorcycles were involved in accidents. Nearly 100 of these accidents were fatal. Nationally, according to the National Safety Council (NSC), motorcycle riding accounted for 14.6% of all traffic fatalities and 3.5% of all injuries in 2022.
Traveling by motorcycle is more dangerous than driving a car or truck because motorcycles provide no protection for the rider. There’s no roof, hood, trunk, or doors to protect riders. When a motorcycle accident occurs in Louisville, the rider will likely suffer multiple impacts – the first with another vehicle or a roadside object – and the second with the hard ground.
What causes a motorcycle accident in Louisville?
Our Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers work with the police, our own investigators, motorcycle product safety experts and others to show how your accident happened and why it was preventable.
In many accidents, the driver of a car, truck, Uber, bus, or other large vehicle is responsible. If the motorcycle operator is responsible, we represent any injured passengers. Motorcycle operators may also have their own claim if their accident was due to a defective motorcycle part.
At Crandall & Pera Law, we’re skilled at showing your accident was due to one or more of the following causes:
- A lack of respect for motorcycles. Many drivers fail to look for motorcycles, fail to respect their right to be on the road and fail to react properly when they see a motorcycle.
- Driving under the influence. Drivers of cars, trucks, and motorcycles can cause accidents if they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Many drunk driving accidents are fatal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 27% of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved a driver whose blood alcohol content (BAC) level was .08 or higher.
- Distracted driving. Drivers should have their hands on the steering wheel, eyes on the road, and minds on traffic at all times. Texting, using a mobile phone, eating, drinking, looking at a GPS, or any other type of driver distraction is extremely dangerous.
- Lack of motorcycle driving experience. Operating a motorcycle isn’t easy. Drivers need to understand how to ride in curves, in groups, around larger vehicles, and on uneven roads. All new drivers should take motorcycle driver education courses. Experienced riders should update their skills, too.
- Speeding and other traffic violations. Many accidents happen because drivers fail to yield, pass improperly, drive through red lights, and violate Kentucky’s traffic laws. Motorcycle drivers should also know what driving laws apply to them, such as lane-splitting laws.
- All other causes. These include driver fatigue and driving too fast for weather or traffic conditions.
What types of crashes do your Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers handle?
At Crandall & Pera Law, we represent drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and families when the following types of motorcycle accidents happen:
- Head-on accidents
- T-bone accidents / broadsides
- Rear-end accidents
- Passing and merging accidents
- Improper handling of curves
- Intersection accidents
- Potholes, roadkill, gravelly roads, wet roads, and roads that aren’t smooth for any reason
- Lane-splitting accidents
- Accidents due to defective clutches, brakes, electrical systems, and other motorcycle parts
Other common types of motorcycle accidents, according to RideApart, include:
- A car turning left in front of a motorcycle
- Cars changing lanes in front of a motorcycle
- The front brakes lock
- Other riders in a group behaving irresponsibly
- A driver opens their doors in the path of a motorcycle
What injuries from motorcycle accidents do you handle?
Our Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers handle all types of personal injuries, including catastrophic injuries that require a lifetime of medical care, permanent injuries, and injuries that take time and medical expertise to heal. At Crandall & Pera, we handle:
- Traumatic brain injuries and any type of head injury
- Traumatic amputation / loss of limb
- Spinal cord damage, including paralysis
- Fractures/broken bones
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Nerve and muscle damage
- Burns
- Tendon, ligament, and tissue damage
- Shoulder, neck, and back pain
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional damages
- Vision and hearing loss
- Pelvic injuries
A few injuries that are more common to motorcycle riders than other vehicle injuries include:
- Road rash, which is a skin condition that occurs when the rider slides along the road. Skin grafts and plastic surgery may be required. Road rash victims may suffer infections. Road rash can result in unsightly scars
- Facial injuries, including dental injuries
- Leg and foot injuries
What motorcycle laws must drivers obey in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, motorcycle riders must wear a helmet if they are under 21, have a motorcycle instruction permit, or have a motorcycle license for less than one year. Motorcycles have the same roadway rights and privileges as all other vehicles.
The state of Kentucky recommends that all motorcycle riders:
- Wear protective gear, including a US Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved helmet, at all times
- Wear bright clothing and/or a reflective vest to be more visible
- Use their turn signal and hand signals when changing lanes
- Get proper training
Other motorcycle laws include:
- Operators must have a valid driver’s license with a motorcycle operator endorsement
- Passengers can only ride if the motorcycle has a permanent seat or footrest
- Wear approved eye protection
- Motorcycles have the proper equipment, including a rearview mirror, “one headlight high and low beam,” a taillight, a horn, and many other features
Who do you hold accountable for motorcycle accidents?
At Crandall & Pera Law, our Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for your accident, including:
- Car drivers
- Truck drivers
- Other motorcycle drivers
- The employers of any drivers
- Vehicle owners if the owners and operators are different
- Motorcycle parts manufacturers
- Other defendants, depending on how the accident happened
How much is my Louisville motorcycle accident worth?
At Crandall & Pera, we work to make you whole again. We demand compensation for all your current and future:
- Medical costs, including ER care, hospitalizations, surgeries, doctor visits, rehabilitation, medications, and assistive help
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Lost wages, earnings, benefits – for every day you can’t work
- Property damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- The inability to use a body part
- Loss of life’s pleasures
- Loss of consortium
In some cases, such as when your accident was caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to punitive damages.
At Crandall & Pera, we also represent families when a close relative dies in a Louisville motorcycle accident.
Get help from our experienced Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers now
Please contact us as soon as possible so we can answer your questions, begin our investigation, and review your medical care. At Crandall & Pera Law, we understand how frightened you are. Instead of enjoying your life, you now have to spend time with your doctors, live with pain, and may not be able to pay your bills. Our Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers are respected for our strong record of verdicts and settlements in personal injury cases. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We’re ready to meet you in Kentucky.