El Dorado Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycle accidents are typically caused by someone’s indifference to specific traffic safety laws and guidelines.

Here are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in El Dorado, Arkansas – as you can see, most of these are avoidable and preventable:

• Speeding
• Failure to yield the right-of-way to a motorcyclist
• Turning in front of an oncoming motorcyclist
• Driving too closely to a motorcyclist
• Failure to signal a lane change in front of a motorcyclist
• Distracted driving
• Faulty mirrors, brakes, or lighting
• Drunk driving or drugged driving
• Failure to pay attention to motorcycles

There are many instances when an accident occurs because the driver of a larger vehicle failed to see the motorcycle in the traffic.

But, sad to say, many drivers do not consider the danger their driving style may have for motorcyclists.

This means they may follow too close and run the risk of a serious collision if the motorcycle has to brake from high speed.

These accidents can be especially dangerous and oftentimes even the protective gear a motorcyclist will often wear cannot save them from the serious injuries of high-speed collisions.

Injuries from even low-speed motorcycle accidents can be very serious due to the dangers of getting thrown from a moving vehicle.

Motorcycle accidents have been known to cause extremely serious consequences.

While protective gear can do much to save a life, especially a helmet to protect the head, there is still a risk of many other injuries that can occur in such an accident.

Some of these include:

Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are swung about in a violent fashion that can injure the joints, muscles, and connective tissues of the neck.

This can cause a wide range of reactions including nausea and confusion.

This is one of the most common injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

Broken Bones

Being thrown from a bike almost always results in a violent impact on the skeletal structure of the body.

This can lead to a wide variety of broken bones including hand and wrist bones, femurs, ulnas, tibias, clavicles, and even broken ribs.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

If the head is impacted, even the presence of a helmet may not be enough to protect from severe concussions and internal hemorrhaging.

Damage to the brain can result in serious and life-long conditions.

Road Rash

Most street-smart bikers will war tough protective gear to protect them if they are thrown onto the hard asphalt.

Road rash can lead to seriously torn skin and flesh and may result in serious scarring.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A violent impact on the back can result in injury to the spinal column protecting the vital spinal cord.

These injuries can lead to the partial or full loss of certain bodily functions and control over movement.

Arkansas uses the rule of modified comparative fault or modified comparative negligence when deciding who is to blame for causing specific injuries.

Here’s a breakdown of what that means:

Negligence

To begin with, negligence refers to actions or inactions that violate a duty one party has to another party.

For example, a driver who is talking on their phone while driving is not upholding their duty of safe driving to all other motorists.

Likewise, a driver who does not use their directional signals is acting in a way that no reasonable driver would.

When a negligent action results in the injury or death of another party, liability can be established against the negligent party.

Courts will award compensation to the injured party at the expense of the negligent party or their insurance provider.

Modified Comparative Fault

Under the law of modified comparative fault, if both parties are found responsible for the accident, the rules of compensation are applied differently.

If a motorist runs a red light and collides with a car in the intersection, they may be found responsible for causing an accident.

But, if the victim was also speeding at the time of the accident, they may also share responsibility in the accident and subsequent injuries.

In such a situation, the responsibility in the accident will be assigned to all parties involved in the form of a percentage.

For example, the driver who ran the red light could be as much as 80% responsible but the speeding victim’s action can account for 20% of the accident.

This will affect the compensation accordingly.

If the damages incurred in the accident amount to a total of $100,000 the at-fault driver will only be liable for 80% or $80,000.

Because the victim was 20% to blame, the $20,000 will be deducted from their responsibility.

Without a full professional examination of your case and its detail, it will be hard to say what type of damages you can expect from your motorcycle accident lawsuit.

During your initial consultation, we can provide you with a better idea of what type of damages apply to your case.

But, there are generally three (3) categories of personal injury damages that can be claimed by the victim or their immediate family:

1. Economic Damages
2. Non-Economic Damages
3. Punitive Damages

1. Economic Damages

These damages can be easily accounted for by collecting receipts, bills, pay stubs, and financial history.

They cover the costs of medical treatment and attention from the beginning of the accident until the victim has completely recovered.

They also take into account how injuries affect earning potential by covering lost wages in the past, present, and future.

2. Non-Economic Damages

These damages can be a bit harder to calculate and will often require the advice and testimony of expert witnesses.

Non-economic damages are compensation for the pain and suffering the victim will experience because of their injuries.

This can also include how their injuries will affect their quality of life.

The consequences of a motorcycle accident can impact every facet of a person’s life from their relationships to their mental states.

These damages will all be given a dollar amount when your claim is negotiated and/or brought to the courts.

3. Punitive Damages

If the courts find the actions of the defendant especially reckless or egregious, they may choose to apply punitive damages to the defendant.

These damages are applied for the sole purpose of punishing the at-fault party.

The amount will be decided by the severity of the defendant’s actions.

If the liable party has insurance, but it has expired or they are in a lapse of service, the claim will be denied immediately.

This can happen to anyone and is a good reason to check and recheck that your policy is valid at all times.

This is an important reason to have full coverage in your policy as well.

Here are some reasons as to why your motorcycle accident claim could be denied:

You Have Insufficient Coverage

If you have full coverage, you will not have to worry about how other people manage their insurance business.

Full coverage includes uninsured motorist coverage.

There is also the underinsured motorist coverage for when the driver at fault has insurance but not enough to cover damages.

The Driver Was Uninsured

There may be times when the driver in the car is not listed in the insurance policy.

In such a case, it will be important to consider the permissive use and non-permissive use section of your insurance policy.

The bare minimum liability policy does not typically include this type of coverage.

Permissive Use

Under Arkansas’ permissive use law, other parties that are not listed in the insurance policy may also drive the car and take advantage of insurance coverage.

This can apply to other family members of the household and even dependent children not living in the same home.

This permission may also be granted to friends who would like to borrow the vehicle if the policyholder has authorized this.

Non-Permissive Use

If a vehicle is taken without permission from the owner or policyholder, this is called non-permissive use.

If your car is in an accident during non-permissive use, you may not be responsible for the damages to other cars, but your property damages will have to come from your insurance policy.

If your friend borrowed the car, they may be able to cover this with their valid insurance policy.

If you want to claim non-permissive use against someone in your household, you will need to provide some proof that you were against their use of your car.

You will also want to check your policy to see who is allowed permissive-use of your car.

They Believe The Accident Was Your Fault

If the claims adjuster believes that the accident is your fault and not the fault of the other driver, then liability is being contested.

This can sometimes result from a lack of solid evidence or a police report taken at the time of the accident.

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you should get the legal process started as soon as possible.

The first reason is that the case will always be stronger when based on lots of fresh evidence.

Furthermore, there is a time limit for personal injury and wrongful death claims in the state of Arkansas:

• Personal Injury: Arkansas has set a time limit of three years from the date the injuries were sustained.
• Wrongful Death: If the motorcycle accident results in a tragic death, the lawsuit must be filed within three years of the death of the victim.