Motorcycle Accident Attorney In Hattiesburg
Motorcycles are popular in the Hattiesburg area and throughout Mississippi. Riding along I-59 and US-11 can be enjoyable, and there are many country roads that motorcyclists in the area enjoy. However, it is crucial for riders of all experience levels to acknowledge the risks they face on a bike compared to a passenger vehicle. Accidents can happen unexpectedly, and you will need the help of a Hattiesburg motorcycle accident lawyer if another driver injures you.
Experienced Legal Counsel for Motorcycle Accident Victims in Hattiesburg, MS
WaideLaw can provide comprehensive legal representation for all of your proceedings following a motorcycle accident in Hattiesburg. Daniel Waide grew up on a local farm and learned the value of honest hard work, and he strives to live the values taught in Isaiah 1:17, fighting for justice for the injured and oppressed. Faith-led legal counsel has allowed our team to help many past clients recover from painful and damaging vehicle accidents in Hattiesburg.
When you need to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer to assist you with your recovery, it is crucial to find one who has proven experience handling cases similar to yours. WaideLaw can develop an individualized case strategy for each client, helping them build an effective case aimed at securing compensation for their damages. You can expect responsive communication and diligent attention to detail from our team through every stage of your recovery efforts.
Proving Liability for a Motorcycle Accident in Hattiesburg
According to the National Safety Council, motorcycles only account for about 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States, but more than 15% of accident fatalities each year. There were 6,335 deaths from motorcycle accidents nationwide in 2023. According to 2022 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the risk of death is 22 times greater for motorcyclists than for passenger car occupants.
Even when motorcycle accidents aren’t fatal, they have a very high chance of resulting in life-changing injuries. A motorcycle does not provide much physical protection in a crash, and the rider can also suffer serious injuries after being thrown from their bike. In Mississippi, all vehicle accident cases involving multiple drivers are resolved based on fault. This means whoever is at fault for the accident is liable for all resulting damages.
Your Hattiesburg motorcycle accident lawyer can gather the evidence you need in order to establish the fault for the accident. Police reports, cell phone data, and statements from eyewitnesses could be invaluable to your case. You may only have a short time to collect this evidence, so it is crucial that you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer at your first opportunity after your accident.
Some of the leading causes of motorcycle crashes in the Hattiesburg area include speeding, distracted driving, moving violations, and intoxicated driving. Once your attorney has gathered the evidence and witness testimony needed to establish fault, they will then help you calculate the full scope of the damages you are eligible to claim from the defendant who caused the accident.
Recovering Compensation for Motorcycle Accident Damages
It’s possible for a motorcycle accident in Hattiesburg to have life-changing effects. These accidents have a very high chance of causing severe injuries, including broken bones, facial and dental injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and more. Some victims could face very long and difficult recoveries and may be unable to work for the foreseeable future. Some experience permanently disabling injuries.
Mississippi law requires all drivers to have vehicle insurance, and when a driver causes an accident, their policy may compensate you for all resulting damages up to the coverage limits of the policy. However, most insurance companies will do everything they can to minimize claim payouts and will typically look for ways to justify denying or devaluing a claim whenever possible.
You should hire a motorcycle accident lawyer before attempting to negotiate an auto insurance claim settlement on your own. Insurance company representatives are trained to use your own words against you whenever possible, so it’s important to have an attorney negotiate for you. WaideLaw has helped many accident victims secure fair insurance claim payouts, and we are confident we can apply this experience to your claim.
You may need to file a personal injury case to recover your damages. Success with a personal injury case in Mississippi will require proving that the defendant is liable for your damages based on a preponderance of the evidence. This means your evidence must prove that the defendant is likely responsible for causing your claimed damages.
The plaintiff in a personal injury case in Hattiesburg can potentially recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses. Motorcycle accidents can cause devastating injuries that sometimes require extensive ongoing care. The defendant is liable for the cost of any and all medical treatment you will need to reach maximum medical improvement from your injuries.
- Lost wages. If you cannot work while you recover from your accident, the defendant is responsible for the income you cannot earn during this time. If your earning power has been permanently diminished by your injuries, the defendant is also liable for your lost earning capacity.
- Property damage. You can seek compensation for the cost of repairing or replacing your bike as well as any other personal property lost in the accident.
- Pain and suffering. A personal injury plaintiff can seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional suffering the defendant caused, but state law limits this aspect of recovery in most personal injury cases. Your attorney can help you maximize the compensation you receive for your non-economic damages. Generally, more serious injuries yield greater pain and suffering compensation.
Ultimately, you may have grounds to claim more compensation than you may have initially expected. If you want the greatest chance of success with your personal injury case, you need to hire an experienced attorney who can help you maximize your recovery as much as state law allows. Hire a motorcycle accident lawyer as quickly as possible after your accident to have a greater chance of reaching a positive conclusion to your personal injury case.
WaideLaw is ready to help you build a comprehensive motorcycle accident case in Hattiesburg and pursue maximum compensation for the damages you suffered. Our team has extensive experience helping injured accident victims recover from all types of accidents, and we are confident we can guide you to a positive outcome in your case. Reach out to our firm at your first opportunity to learn more about the legal services we can provide after your accident.
FAQs
How Do I Prove Liability for a Motorcycle Accident in Hattiesburg?
You can prove liability for a motorcycle accident in Hattiesburg using a combination of physical and digital evidence, as well as testimony from eyewitnesses who saw the accident happen. An experienced attorney can help gather the evidence you need for your case, identifying the party responsible for causing the accident and proving their liability for your damages.
What Happens if I’m Partially Responsible for a Motorcycle Accident?
If you are partially responsible for a motorcycle accident, you can still recover compensation under Mississippi’s pure comparative negligence rule. You will have a fault percentage assigned, and then this percentage is deducted from your case award. Consult a Hattiesburg motorcycle accident attorney right away if you are concerned that you share fault for causing your recent accident.
How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Motorcycle Accident?
The amount of compensation you can claim for a motorcycle accident will depend on the scope and severity of the damages you suffered. If you can prove another party is directly responsible for causing the accident, they are liable for all resulting damages. You may have grounds to claim compensation for both economic and non-economic losses you suffered because of the defendant’s actions.
Is It Worth It to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Hattiesburg?
Yes, it is worth it to hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Hattiesburg. Even if you believe that the fault for the accident is perfectly clear, the reality is that the legal process of ensuring accountability and recovering compensation for your losses is likely to be more challenging than you expect. Having legal representation increases your chance of success with the case and your chance of maximizing your total compensation.
What Happens if a Motorcycle Accident Is Fatal?
If a motorcycle accident is fatal, the surviving family of the deceased would likely have grounds to file a wrongful death suit against whoever caused the accident. Success with a wrongful death case requires proving that the defendant is directly responsible for causing the death, and it is possible for the victim’s family to recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages.
WaideLaw can provide compassionate legal counsel when you need it most in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident. Our firm knows how damaging these accidents can be and the various legal challenges you are likely to encounter in your efforts to prove fault and recover compensation for your losses. Contact us today and schedule your consultation with a Hattiesburg motorcycle accident lawyer to learn how we can help you recover.
