Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me

After experiencing a motorcycle accident, you need and deserve compensation to cover your many losses. You will probably find yourself searching online for a motorcycle accident lawyer near me law firm and perhaps feeling overwhelmed by the long list of results.

When you work with Farnsworth & Vance, you’ll connect with an experienced Anchorage personal injury lawyer on your motorcycle accident case. Our results-driven and client-centered team will provide aggressive representation and compassionate support as we take your claim through the legal process.

The Devastating Consequences of Motorcycle Accidents

Even motorcyclists wearing full protective gear can be severely injured in an accident. A helmet, goggles, and leather may prevent some serious injuries, but are still no match against a violent impact with a vehicle, road obstacle, or the pavement itself.

Physical Injuries

Motorcyclists are susceptible to a range of injuries following a crash. Some may heal with time, medical intervention, and rehabilitation. Other injuries may improve but not fully heal, leaving scars or minor physical limitations that require adjustments to your daily routine. The most serious injuries can leave victims with permanent and severe disability. Some common injuries seen among motorcycle-accident victims include:

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) – These injuries diminish or destroy cognition, motor function, and/or physiological function, and cause immense emotional and psychological suffering for victims and families
  • Spinal Cord Damage – These injuries leave victims with partial or full paralysis, chronic pain or weakness, or other catastrophic effects
  • Amputations – These injuries cause permanent disability and completely changing how victims move through their everyday lives
  • Lacerations, Road Burns, or Bone Breaks – While these injuries are not as life-threatening, they still require expensive care and can lead to other health conditions, such as infection and nerve damage
  • Soft Tissue Damage – Injuries to muscles, nerves, tendons, and other soft tissue can diminish mobility and leave victims with chronic pain

Financial Strain

Seriously injured crash victims typically cannot work while they recover, and those injured catastrophically may never return to work. This loss of income compounds the financial distress caused by motorcycle accident-related medical expenses.

Sometimes, victims have to hire others to manage duties they had fulfilled on their own prior to the motorcycle accident. For example, they may need help with childcare or household maintenance. If they can no longer drive, they will need to pay for transportation.

In some situations, motorcycle accident victims may need to adjust their living environment to adapt to their acquired disability. Making homes accessible comes with massive costs.

Emotional Upheaval

Adjusting to physical injury, especially those with long-lasting or permanent effects, can put victims into a state of emotional chaos. They may feel anxious, intimidated by the challenges of their unexpected and unwanted “new” future, and grieving the one they lost. If they cannot engage in activities they once enjoyed or interact the same way socially, they may feel isolated and depressed.

Financial strain is a major source of anxiety. Victims can easily become overwhelmed with fear, wondering how they will keep food on their table and a roof over their head.

Our motorcycle accident lawyers near you are here to help with these challenges. We will provide unwavering support as we fight to get you compensated for your physical, emotional, and financial losses.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Though motorcyclists are often stereotyped as “lawless” or risky drivers, they are often not to blame for crashes. Speeding, reckless actions, bad road conditions, driver fatigue, and intoxication on the part of third-party drivers are all causes of motorcycle accidents. Sometimes, a mechanical malfunction with the motorcycle or another involved vehicle causes the crash.

Motorcycles are also harder to see, often getting lost in other drivers’ blind spots. Other drivers may misjudge a motorcyclist’s speed, making unsafe left turns and crashing with the oncoming bike. Alaska’s breathtaking scenery is another potential cause of crashes. Drivers travel roads throughout Alaska and the Gulf Coast Region for scenic vistas, and accidents can happen when people get distracted and forget to watch the road.

Dangerous Roads

The features of some roads increase the risk of accidents. Our ranked list of Alaska’s most dangerous roads demonstrates this very real hazard. Roads may have dangerous intersections, curves, and characteristics that diminish visibility. The dangers are compounded by bad weather conditions or intrusions by wildlife.

For example, Sterling Highway gives travelers a full view of the gorgeous Gulf Coast Region, but it can be affected by wildfires. Glenn Highway has steep inclines and covers mountainous terrain. When ice and snow cover the area, a common occurrence, travel conditions become more treacherous. Seward Highway is a winding, two-lane road with steep hills and sharp curves. It is also a favorite of tourists and prone to traffic slowdowns. Road risks are heightened at night when light and visibility are low. Our nighttime motorcycle driving tips in Anchorage, AK can help you make safe riding choices.

Whatever the cause of your crash, a motorcycle accident attorney from Farnsworth & Vance can provide exceptional legal representation and guidance and fight to get you justice. We bring our 45 years of combined experience to every case and are ready to put that experience to work for you.

Motorcycle Accidents by the Numbers

As reported by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), 6,222 motorcyclists died in crashes over a recent year,  representing a 23% increase from data collected three years prior, and tripling the number recorded 25 years earlier.

Motorcyclists are over-represented in traffic-crash data. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports motorcycles make up only 3% of registered vehicles and .07% of vehicle miles traveled nationwide, but motorcyclists account for about 15% of all traffic fatalities and 3.5% of traffic-accident injuries. According to the IIHS, the fatality rate for motorcyclists is about 29 times higher than that of passenger-car occupants involved in crashes, per mile traveled.

Accidents in Alaska

Alaska saw six motorcycle fatalities, representing about 12% of all traffic fatalities statewide over a recent year, according to the State of Alaska Highway Safety Annual Report. This number represents a 2% increase from the year before.

The NSC recognized Alaska as one of four states, plus Washington, D.C., with fewer than 20 motorcycle accidents over a given year. While this is a positive ranking, the few who are injured in motorcycle accidents still deserve justice and need compensation to reach maximum recovery. Farnsworth & Vance is the motorcycle law firm near you that will fight to move you closer to that recovery.

Types of Motorcycle Accidents

No matter what type of motorcycle accident you experience, our local motorcycle accident attorneys can help. We have experience investigating all kinds of accidents to find the cause, pinpoint the negligent party or parties, and build a convincing case.

Single-Vehicle Crashes

Sometimes, the only vehicle involved in a motorcycle accident is the motorcycle. Single-accident crashes do not automatically make the bike operator culpable. A third-party driver may have made a reckless maneuver, prompting the motorcyclists to veer off-road or swerve into traffic and crash.

Road obstacles and debris left uncleared also present crash hazards, as does cargo that flies off a truck bed because of inadequate restraint. Poor road conditions are another danger. Potholes and unmarked uneven surfaces can lead to tire blowouts or loss of vehicle control. IIHS Fatality Facts attributes 37% of fatal crashes to single-vehicle events.

Multi-Vehicle Crashes

Multi-vehicle events account for 63% of motorcycle accidents, according to the IIHS. More common types of multi-vehicle accidents include:

    • Rear-End Collisions: Failing to notice a biker’s brake lights during a traffic slowdown could cause the driver following the bike. Bikers on Seward Highway and other scenic and well-trafficked roads in the Southcentral region can easily face this risk.
    • Merges and Lane Changes: Other drivers may not see motorcycles in their side or rearview mirrors and cause a collision when changing lanes. Roads with lane merges also present opportunities for crashes.
    • Left-Hand Turns: Oncoming bikers can be hit by drivers making left turns. The driver may miscalculate the bike’s speed or fail to see the smaller, slimmer vehicle approach.
  • Sideswipes: Other vehicle operators may attempt to pass a motorcycle but improperly determine the distance needed to complete the maneuver. Distracted drivers may also veer out of their lane and into a motorcycle.

Finding who is at fault for your accident is a critical first step in building a successful case. Our team of skilled, experienced motorcycle accident lawyers near you can handle that step and all subsequent steps once you enter a legal partnership with us.

A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You Can Help

We know you will see a long list of options when searching for a motorcycle accident lawyer near you. While we are confident we are the best choice, we do not expect you to simply take our word for it. Let our client testimonials convince you.

Our clients matter to us. For every case, securing our clients’ future well-being and quality of life is our goal. A motorcycle accident lawyer from Farnsworth & Vance will manage your case with insight, efficiency, and skill from start to finish.

Investigate and Gather Evidence

Our team knows how to uncover every detail in a motorcycle accident. We will speak to witnesses, accident reconstructionists, and other relevant experts, and examine every bit of physical evidence available. We will review any camera footage, perhaps from traffic or security cams mounted nearby, and look into the possibility of any mechanical or equipment defects.

We know what kinds of evidence you need to prove another party’s negligence and will not stop looking until we have explored all potential avenues of information.

File the Injury Claim

Once we have determined the negligent party, we will file your injury claim with the court. Alaska Statute 9.10.070 allows victims two years to file most personal injury claims. Filing protects the victims’ right to fight for justice in court, if necessary. Partner with us quickly so we can determine the negligent party as soon as possible and file within that deadline. A fast partnership also makes evidence collection more productive as physical evidence and camera footage are more likely to be available, and witnesses’ memories are more intact.

Provide Guidance

Knowing what to do and not to do after an accident is important to your case outcome. We can provide you with sound guidance every step of the way. For example, our former experience working for insurance companies gives us an insider’s view as to how those companies operate, and we can explain why you should avoid speaking with insurance after a crash.  Among other guidance, we can help you navigate your medical care and keep track of all bills and documentation.

Value Losses

A motorcycle lawyer near you will determine the dollar value of your losses. Insurance companies look to cast doubt on your claim, questioning the extent of your injuries and other consequences. We will consider every consequence of the accident when calculating a fair settlement demand. Farnsworth & Vance is committed to getting you fair compensation.

Negotiate or Represent

Many motorcycle accident victims receive compensation through a settlement. Settlements are out-of-court resolutions that are achieved when both sides are invested in productive discussions and negotiate a deal. We will hold up our end of that process and work diligently for a fair settlement.

If the other side is not willing to engage fairly, you may need to fight for compensation through a trial verdict. Trials typically take longer than settlements, but may be the only way to get justice. Our skilled, aggressive motorcycle accident attorneys are prepared to represent you, whether at a negotiating table or before a judge and jury.

Contact our Experienced, Dedicated & Compassionate Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me Law Firm

You have the right to seek justice and compensation for the losses someone else’s negligence has caused you. Farnsworth & Vance are here to help you get results. We know how to build strong cases and see them through to the most favorable outcome possible. Count on us to treat you with respect and compassion as we provide experienced and insightful representation. Reach out to our North Star office in Anchorage to schedule a free case consultation with skilled motorcycle accident attorneys near you. We are on your side.