DOTHAN MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

---

Representing motorcycle riders injured in crashes in Dothan, Houston County, and throughout Southeast Alabama. 

 Motorcycle accidents can cause devastating injuries even when the collision occurs at relatively low speeds. Unlike occupants of passenger vehicles, motorcyclists have little protection from the force of an impact and may suffer serious injuries requiring hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and extended time away from work.

Dothan Law Group represents motorcycle riders injured because of negligent drivers in Dothan, Houston County, and throughout Southeast Alabama. We investigate how the collision occurred, identify available insurance coverage, preserve evidence, document our clients' injuries and losses, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue litigation when necessary.

Motorcycle accident claims can present unique challenges. Insurance companies may attempt to blame the motorcyclist or rely on stereotypes about motorcycle riders to dispute liability. Alabama's contributory-negligence law makes a careful investigation particularly important when fault is contested.

Our attorneys handle motorcycle accident cases involving vehicles that turn in front of motorcycles, unsafe lane changes, rear-end collisions, distracted drivers, impaired drivers, failure to yield, speeding, and other negligent driving.

Motorcycle accidents often result in far more serious injuries than ordinary passenger-vehicle collisions. Riders have little physical protection from the force of an impact, and even a relatively low-speed collision can cause broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, road rash, permanent scarring, or other life-changing harm.

Motorcycle claims can also present unique liability issues. Insurance companies may attempt to blame the rider by arguing that the motorcycle was speeding, following too closely, difficult to see, or being operated unsafely. Alabama's contributory negligence rule makes these arguments especially important because an injured rider may be barred from recovering damages if the defense proves that the rider's own negligence contributed to the accident.

For that reason, evidence should be preserved as early as possible. Photographs, video footage, witness statements, vehicle damage, electronic data, police reports, and physical evidence from the roadway can all become important when determining how the collision occurred and who was responsible.

Motorcycle crashes are frequently caused by drivers who fail to see or properly account for motorcycles sharing the roadway. A driver may have only a momentary lapse in attention, but the consequences for a motorcyclist can be severe.

Common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Vehicles turning left in front of an approaching motorcycle 
• Drivers changing lanes without checking blind spots 
• Distracted driving and cell phone use 
• Following a motorcycle too closely 
• Speeding or driving too fast for conditions 
• Failure to yield the right-of-way 
• Drunk or impaired driving 
• Unsafe passing 
• Drivers pulling out from side streets, parking lots, or driveways 
• Road hazards or dangerous roadway conditions 

A motorcycle accident should not automatically be blamed on the rider. Determining fault requires examining what each driver was doing immediately before the collision and preserving the evidence necessary to prove it.

Because motorcycles provide little protection between the rider and the roadway or another vehicle, motorcycle accidents can cause severe and sometimes permanent injuries. Even when protective equipment is used, a rider may face extensive medical treatment, time away from work, and long-term limitations.

Motorcycle accident injuries may include:

• Traumatic brain injuries and concussions 
• Spinal cord and back injuries 
• Broken or fractured bones 
• Shoulder, knee, and other joint injuries 
• Road rash and serious skin injuries 
• Internal organ injuries 
• Nerve damage 
• Permanent scarring or disfigurement 
• Amputation or loss of function 
• Permanent disability 
• Fatal injuries 

The full extent of an injury is not always apparent immediately after a motorcycle crash. Medical documentation, diagnostic testing, specialist evaluations, and evidence concerning future treatment may become important when determining the value of an injury claim.

A person injured in a motorcycle accident may be entitled to recover compensation from the driver or other party responsible for the collision. The damages available depend on the circumstances of the accident, the severity of the injuries, and the losses caused by those injuries.

Compensation in an Alabama motorcycle accident claim may include:

• Medical expenses 
• Future medical treatment and rehabilitation 
• Lost wages 
• Loss of future earning capacity 
• Physical pain and suffering 
• Mental anguish and emotional distress 
• Permanent impairment or disability 
• Scarring and disfigurement 
• Motorcycle and other property damage 
• Other accident-related expenses 

In cases involving especially serious misconduct, punitive damages may also be available under Alabama law. Every claim is different, and the value of a motorcycle accident case should be based on the actual injuries, losses, available insurance coverage, and evidence involved.

Alabama follows the doctrine of contributory negligence. This makes establishing liability particularly important in a motorcycle accident case.

An insurance company may argue that the motorcyclist was partially responsible for the collision in an effort to defeat the claim. Depending on the circumstances, disputes may involve the rider's speed, lane position, following distance, visibility, or actions immediately before the crash.

These allegations should be investigated rather than simply accepted. Witness statements, photographs, surveillance or dash-camera footage, vehicle damage, crash-scene evidence, and other information may help establish how the collision actually occurred.

The steps taken after a motorcycle accident can affect both an injured person's health and the evidence available for a later claim. When possible:

• Call 911 and report the collision. 
• Seek appropriate medical attention. 
• Photograph the vehicles, motorcycle, roadway, and surrounding area. 
• Obtain contact information for witnesses. 
• Preserve damaged riding gear, including the helmet. 
• Avoid repairing or disposing of the motorcycle before important evidence has been documented. 
• Keep medical bills, receipts, photographs, and other accident-related records. 
• Be cautious about giving recorded statements or signing documents presented by an insurance company. 
• Speak with an attorney if you have questions about your rights or the insurance claim. 

Serious motorcycle accidents may require investigation beyond the information contained in the initial accident report. Preserving evidence early can become especially important when fault is disputed.

 The other driver is often the primary responsible party, but some motorcycle accident cases involve additional individuals or companies.

Depending on how the collision occurred, potentially responsible parties may include:

• A negligent car or truck driver 
• The employer of a driver who was working at the time of the accident 
• A commercial trucking or transportation company 
• An owner who negligently entrusted a vehicle to an unsafe driver 
• A manufacturer or seller of a defective vehicle or component 
• Other parties whose conduct contributed to the collision 

Identifying all potentially responsible parties can also be important when a motorcycle accident causes catastrophic injuries and the at-fault driver's insurance coverage is insufficient.

Sometimes the driver who causes a motorcycle accident has no liability insurance or does not have enough coverage to compensate the injured rider fully. In those situations, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide an additional source of recovery.

Determining available coverage can require reviewing more than one insurance policy. Depending on the facts, an injured person may have coverage available under policies that are not immediately obvious after the accident.

Alabama generally provides a two-year limitations period for personal injury claims arising from negligence. In many motorcycle accident cases, this means a lawsuit must be filed within two years after the claim accrues. Different rules and deadlines may apply depending on the nature of the claim and the parties involved.

Waiting until the deadline approaches can also make a case more difficult to investigate. Video may be overwritten, witnesses may become harder to locate, vehicles may be repaired or destroyed, and other evidence can disappear over time.

For those reasons, a person seriously injured in a motorcycle accident should consider having the claim and applicable deadlines evaluated well before the limitations period expires.

Do I have a case if a driver turned left in front of my motorcycle?

Possibly. Left-turn collisions are a common type of motorcycle accident. Liability depends on the circumstances, including the vehicles' positions, right-of-way, speed, traffic controls, visibility, and actions of both drivers immediately before the collision.

What if the driver says they never saw my motorcycle?

A driver's failure to see a motorcycle does not necessarily excuse the collision. Drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles with reasonable care. The circumstances should be investigated to determine whether the driver failed to maintain a proper lookout, failed to yield, made an unsafe turn or lane change, or was otherwise negligent.

Can an insurance company blame me because I was riding a motorcycle?

The fact that someone was riding a motorcycle does not itself establish negligence. An insurer may nevertheless argue that the rider's actions contributed to the collision. Because Alabama recognizes contributory negligence, evidence concerning how the crash actually occurred can be especially important.

What if I wasn't wearing a helmet?

Alabama law generally requires motorcycle operators and passengers to wear protective headgear meeting applicable requirements. A helmet issue does not automatically answer who caused the collision, although the particular facts may create additional issues concerning an injury claim. The circumstances should be evaluated individually.

What if the driver who hit me does not have enough insurance?

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide an additional source of compensation in some cases. The applicable insurance policies should be reviewed because available coverage is not necessarily limited to the at-fault driver's liability policy.

What if I was injured by an 18-wheeler while riding my motorcycle?

A collision involving a commercial truck can present additional issues involving the truck driver, motor carrier, vehicle ownership, maintenance, electronic data, and other evidence. Dothan Law Group also handles serious commercial truck accident claims.

How much is my motorcycle accident case worth?

There is no reliable formula that determines the value of every motorcycle accident claim. The severity and permanence of the injuries, medical treatment, lost income, future medical needs, liability evidence, insurance coverage, and effect of the injuries on the person's life may all be relevant.

How much does it cost to hire Dothan Law Group?

Dothan Law Group handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency-fee basis. There is no upfront attorney's fee, and we only receive an attorney's fee if you recover money in your case. The initial consultation is free.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Dothan, Houston County, Southeast Alabama, or elsewhere in Alabama, contact Dothan Law Group to discuss what happened.

Our attorneys can investigate the collision, evaluate the available evidence and insurance coverage, deal with the insurance companies, and explain your legal options.

Free consultation. No upfront attorney's fee. We only receive an attorney's fee if you recover money in your case.