Have you been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Gretna, Louisiana? These accidents can be devastating, and victims are often left dealing with the effects of gruesome injuries. If someone else caused your accident, they might owe you compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering.
Motorcycle accident victims often need an experienced lawyer to help them get the compensation they are owed. Insurance companies will downplay injuries and do everything they can to avoid paying what a claim is worth. The team at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help after your motorcycle accident.
We have 26 years of combined experience helping injury victims get the justice they deserve, and we have helped them recover millions of dollars in compensation. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Gretna motorcycle accident lawyer who is ready to go to work for you. Call us now at (504) 323-6000 to get started.
How Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Gretna
Motorcycle accident victims in Gretna, LA, are often left feeling hopeless and on their own after their accident. You likely have medical bills piling up, and you may still be unable to work because of your injuries. The insurance company may not be returning your calls, and you may be wondering where to turn for help.
Thankfully, Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers can help you stand up to the insurance company and get the compensation you are owed.
Our Gretna personal injury attorneys can help by:
- Investigating your accident: Our team can perform an independent investigation of your accident to determine what caused it and exactly who was responsible.
- Gathering evidence: We will interview witnesses, take photos, uncover potential surveillance footage, and use experts as necessary to help prove your case.
- Handling all paperwork: Let us take care of all the paperwork associated with your claim while you focus on your health.
- Negotiating a settlement: We will work with your doctors to understand the full extent of your injuries, put a proper value on your claim, and negotiate a settlement that compensates you for all your damages.
- Filing a lawsuit: Sometimes, the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer. When that happens, we will file a personal injury lawsuit and take your case to a jury.
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident, contact us today to ensure that you do not miss your chance to get compensation. Schedule a free consultation now with a Gretna personal injury attorney.
What Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
It is understandable that accident victims want to know how much their case may be worth. After all, victims of motorcycle accidents often suffer serious injuries and significant financial losses. There is no exact formula for calculating the specific value of a motorcycle accident case.
However, there are several factors that can influence your case’s value, including:
- How severe your injuries are
- The amount of time it took you to recover from your injuries
- Any permanent or long-lasting effects from your injuries
- How much time you miss from work
- Your ability to return to work after the accident
- How the accident affected your relationships with others
- How much insurance coverage is available
Cases involving severe or catastrophic injuries will almost always be worth more than those involving only minor or moderate injuries. Not only are the financial losses in those cases more significant, but victims who suffer severe injuries are entitled to more pain & suffering damages as well.
Since motorcycle accidents can cause devastating injuries, these cases are sometimes worth six or even seven figures. The best way to determine how much your case is worth is by seeking help from an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. Let the team at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers evaluate your claim and help you determine how much your case is worth.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims?
Victims who have been hurt in a motorcycle accident because of someone else’s negligent behavior may be entitled to recover both economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party. This means that they can recover compensation for their financial losses as well as their physical and emotional pain and trauma.
Economic damages are used to compensate victims for their financial losses. These losses have a specific monetary value, and they are usually quite easy to prove.
Common examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future lost earnings capacity
- Property damage
- Physical therapy
- Home health care expenses
Non-economic damages are much more subjective.
These damages compensate victims for things such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- PTSD
Calculating the value of the non-economic damages in these cases can be challenging. You often need help from an experienced lawyer to put a proper value on these damages. Otherwise, you might be undervaluing your claim and not getting all the compensation you deserve.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Hiring a motorcycle accident lawyer after your crash will not cost you any money up front. Almost all motorcycle accident lawyers use contingency fees. This means that the lawyer’s fee is contingent upon them winning the case. Instead of requiring an upfront payment, they get paid with a portion of any money awarded to the client.
If the lawyer does not win the case, they do not receive a fee. The typical fee in a motorcycle accident case may range from 33% to 40% of the total financial recovery, depending on the complexity of the case and the lawyer’s experience level. Additionally, cases that settle out of court typically have lower fees than those that go to trial.
After an accident, you already have lots of unexpected bills and financial stressors. The last thing you want to think about is something else you have to pay for. However, hiring a lawyer after your accident is often crucial to getting fully compensated for your injuries. At Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers, you never owe us a fee unless we collect money for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and let us get started on your case.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Being Blamed for a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?
Yes, you can still recover compensation in Louisiana even if you are being blamed for your accident. Louisiana follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means that accident victims can still recover some portion of their damages even if they share fault for their accident.
Your recovery will simply be reduced by your portion of the responsibility. For instance, if you are found to be 30% responsible for your accident, you could still recover 70% of your damages. In pure comparative fault states, there is no limit to the amount of fault that bars your recovery. So, technically speaking, you could still recover some compensation even if you were 99% to blame.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle riders almost always get the short end of the stick when an accident occurs. Even with the best protective equipment, riders often suffer devastating injuries in these accidents.
Some common injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents include:
- Brain injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Severe road rash
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputation
- Wrongful death
Let the team at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers work with your doctors to understand the full extent of your injuries. We will fight diligently to ensure that you are compensated fully and fairly for all the injuries you suffered.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents in Gretna, Louisiana?
It is no secret that riding a motorcycle is dangerous. Negligent automobile drivers are responsible for many motorcycle accidents because they are simply not watching closely enough for motorcycles.
Some common reasons that motorcycle accidents occur are:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence
- Failure to look before changing lanes
- Failure to check blind spots
- Wet or slippery roads
- Equipment failure, such as tires or brakes
- Drowsiness
We can help investigate the cause of your accident to determine all the potential defendants. This can help maximize your recovery and ensure that you get all the compensation that is available.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Motorcycle Accident in Louisiana?
Accident victims in Louisiana generally have two years from the date of their accident to file a lawsuit. Failure to bring a claim for damages before this deadline can forever bar you from getting compensation for your injuries.
You should also know that there are a few special circumstances that can shorten or extend the deadline. This is why it is so important to get help from an experienced lawyer after your accident. Let the team at Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers help you determine the filing deadline for your claim to ensure that you do not lose your chance to get compensated for your injuries.
Contact Our Gretna Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Gretna, Louisiana, contact Santana & Blanchard Personal Injury Lawyers today. You do not have to go through this difficult and confusing time alone. Our Gretna motorcycle accident lawyers will be there with you every step of the way, fighting to get you the justice you deserve. Call us now to schedule a free consultation and let us put our experience to work for you.