motor

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

It is estimated that 90,000 motorcyclists were injured in motorcycle crashes in 2009, with 4,462 of those crashes ending in fatalities. Click here for more information. Motorcycles are naturally less safe than enclosed automobiles, and they are less visible and less stabile than four-wheeled vehicles. But that does not mean that other motorists do not owe you a duty when you are on the road in Mississippi on your motorcycle, and if you or someone you know has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident resulting from someone’s negligence, The Guthrie Firm is prepared to help you.

Motorcycle cases are especially tough. The injuries involved are typically very serious and the cases can be difficult to win. The facts are that most motorcycle accidents take place because of the negligence of automobile drivers or because of debris and unsafe road conditions. Unfortunately, however, insurance companies and juries are often biased against motorcyclists. They blame motorcyclists for their own injuries because insurance adjusters and jurors don’t understand the difficulties of riding with cars on the road. To get the compensation you deserve for your motorcycle accident injury, you need an experienced Mississippi motorcycle accident lawyer — someone to advocate for you, convincing insurance companies and juries to do right by you.

What to Do if You are in A Motorcycle Accident in Mississippi

Clarence published an article in Thunder Roads Mississippi Magazine several years ago on this very topic. It is available here.

Investigation of a Mississippi Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents are typically complex, and in the event of serious injuries learning exactly what happened is very important. Clarence investigated most of his own cases in the Marine Corps, and will personally conduct and direct the factual investigation into your case. A typical investigation involves going to the scene, taking measurements and photographs, tracking down and interviewing witnesses, and mapping your route.

There is a point, however, where a lawyer’s knowledge ends, and expert knowledge is needed in order to maximize the value of your case. The Guthrie Firm has accident reconstruction experts on call in order to help us fill in the gaps and explain what happened. We’ll do whatever is necessary to prove up your case and ensure that you receive full compensation for your injuries.

Damages in a Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Case

While we are investigating your accident, we will also be working on your medical bills, dealing with the insurance adjuster, and taking care of other administrative tasks for you. The overall objective, obviously, is to return you to good health and put you back in the same or a better position than you were before your motorcycle wreck. There are many different categories of damages that will need to be taken into consideration as we prepare your case for trial, or negotiate a settlement. Among these are:

  • Medical Expenses – motorcycle injuries are usually catastrophic, and the medical expenses can quickly add up to a substantial amount. You are entitled to compensation for your present medical bills and expenses caused by the motorcycle accident, and any future medical expenses you will incur. We will obtain estimates of future medical expenses from your doctors and include these figures as we negotiate the maximum recovery for you in your case.
  • Pain and Suffering – the insurance adjuster will want to compensate you for your pain and suffering by merely totaling up your medical bills. But if you are severely injured, your pain and suffering will be a major separate element of damages. We will ensure the other side does not forget this.
  • Emotional Distress – any time you drop your bike you will be “shook up,” but a serious motorcycle crash can leave you with emotional damages, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that cannot be overlooked. Clarence discusses emotional distress damages extensively here.
  • Lost Wages and Loss of Wage Earning Capacity – if your motorcycle wreck causes you to miss work, you are entitled to compensation for the time your missed from work, plus any overtime you likely would have earned. If you have been forced to take sick leave or vacation time, we will be able to count that as lost time at work as well. If the accident disables you and you are unable to return to work, or you cannot do the same job you did before the accident, you are entitled to damages for “loss of wage earning capacity.”
  • Permanent Disability – if the motorcycle wreck leaves you permanently disabled, we will be looking to the insurance company for a substantial sum of money that represents the amount of money you would have made from the date your were injured until the time you would have retired from work.
  • Damage to Your Bike – as soon as possible, we will inventory what you lost in terms of damage to your bike, your safety equipment, your riding gear, etc. We will then look to the other person’s insurance to compensate you for these losses.
  • Loss of Transportation – if you use your bike as your major mode of transportation, you are entitled to a replacement while your bike is being repaired, or if your bike is totaled you are entitled to the value of it being replaced. Even if your bike is repaired to the point where you can ride it again, we will ensure that you are compensated for any loss in value of your bike.

A motorcycle accident in Mississippi may involve personal injury law, products liability law, and possibly insurance coverage issues as well. Clarence has experience in all of these areas, and we’ll attack your case to ensure all avenues of recovery are exploited.

Contact a Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Attorney

We are extremely knowledgeable in this area of law, and will be glad to discuss your motorcycle accident with you for free. This firm has the experience, resources, and the plan to make sure your case is done right.

If you would like to discuss your motorcycle case with us, please call The Guthrie Firm, PLLC at            (601) 991-1099       or contact us online. We are here to help.

Motorcycle and ATV Accident Questions: