Have you or someone you love been the victim of a motorcycle accident in or around Louisville? You’re in the right place.
Did you know that the number one cause of motorcycle accidents is the inability of other drivers to see the motorcyclist?
In addition, most motorcycle accidents occur when other vehicles don’t comply with right-of-way rules. We understand that this isn’t your fault. Tragically, many motorcycle accident victims have serious injuries or are wrongfully killed due to negligence or recklessness on the part of the other driver.
At Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, we’re on your side. Based in Louisville, our motorcycle accident attorneys work exclusively with injured clients in Kentucky and Indiana. Our team of investigators will reconstruct the motorcycle accident; gather eyewitness accounts, and use documents and photos to obtain the best possible settlement.
Because motorcycle accidents involve devastating or life-changing injuries all too often, our team may also work with your doctors to determine the compensation you may need for future medical expenses, including those involving recovery and rehabilitation.
We have a proven record of successful motorcycle accident results, including a $1.2 million trial verdict for a 30-year-old male active in the US Military who was driving a motorcycle and was hit by a truck. As a result of the motorcycle accident, our client suffered severe nerve damage and lost use of his arm. Our lawyers fought to get him the settlement he deserved, and we will do the same for you. Tell us about your motorcycle accident and your injuries, so we can help you get every dollar the law allows.
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Kentucky Fault and Negligence Laws
Kentucky is a pure comparative negligence state. This means that damages are allocated among negligent parties based on each party’s proportionate share of fault. If you were partially at fault for a motorcycle accident that caused you injuries, that does not bar you from recovering damages, but it will reduce the amount of damages you can recover, based on the percentage of fault allocated to you in a court of law. Even if it is determined that you were 99% at fault for the accident, you still have the legal right to recover for the losses you have suffered, even though the amount will be reduced accordingly.
Damages Covered in a Motorcycle Accident Claim
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to recover damages. Compensatory damages are designed to compensate you for the losses you have suffered and may include:
Actual damages to reimburse you for out of pocket expenses such as medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages or other income; and
General damages for non-monetary losses such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, and loss of consortium.
Punitive or exemplary damages may also be awarded in certain cases only. These damages are not designed to compensate the plaintiff for losses, but rather to punish the defendant for egregious, intentional, or particularly harmful conduct.
Insurance Bad Faith and Lowball Offers
After a serious motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault, you have the right to seek compensation for your losses. Unfortunately, the at-fault party’s insurance company, or even your own insurance company, may not have your best interests at heart. Insurance bad faith is not an uncommon occurrence in motorcycle accident claims. It may involve:
Failure to promptly and thoroughly investigate a claim
Wrongfully denying a claim
Unreasonably delaying payment
Unreasonable interpretation of the terms of a policy
Insurer’s refusal to settle a claim
Shortchanging the benefits an insured person is entitled to receive under the terms of a policy
The insurance company may also make a “lowball” offer to settle a claim in an effort to minimize the company’s payout. For your own protection, it is important to consult with a knowledgeable Louisville personal injury lawyer before you accept any offer from the insurance company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue the motorcycle operator if I was a passenger on the bike?
If you are riding on the back of a motorcycle and are injured because of the negligence of the bike operator, then you can be compensated for your injuries. The insurance for the bike operator will cover any injuries caused by his or her negligence.
What if I was injured by falling off a motorcycle?
If you were ejected from the bike because of another person’s negligence, then you can get compensation for your injuries. Kentucky law requires anyone who injures another person to pay for reasonable and foreseeable damages.
How long do I have to settle my motorcycle accident claim?
In Kentucky, you have one year to settle your motorcycle claim before you have to file a lawsuit with the court. If you do settle, then you won’t have to go to court, but if the insurance company won’t give you what you think is fair, then you have to file a lawsuit.
Contact a Louisville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer today
We are here to protect your rights and interests. We have the resources to accurately evaluate the full extent of your losses, and the experience to skillfully negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. Our dedicated legal team will aggressively pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve, and fight for your rights in court if necessary. When you call Kaufman & Stigger, you Get The Tiger On Your Side! For more information and a free case consultation, please call (502) 458-5555 or (800) 937-8443.
With the NO FEE PROMISE, you never pay us a fee unless we win or settle your case Call us for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding your rights to compensation after motorcycle accident, can help you and your family rebuild and recover after this traumatic event. Please look over the FAQ’s to get insights about motorcycle accidents. Call Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers to talk about your accident and concerns.
The failure of drivers to see motorcycles is the number-one cause of motorcycle accidents. Over 50% of all motorcycle accidents were caused by a driver violating the motorcycle driver’s right of way. Drivers in accidents with motorcycles most often turned left in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Fewer accidents are caused by mistakes made by riders themselves. An experienced motorcycle injury lawyer knows this, knows motorcycle injury law, and will protect your rights and research all possible claims. Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC attorneys have helped many clients recover medical expenses, future medical expenses, and lost wages after a motorcycle accident.
To determine if you have a case, consult with one of our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers. With the NO FEE PROMISE, the first consultation is FREE. With the help of medical professionals and our team of motorcycle accident reconstruction experts, our lawyers will investigate your claim and determine all of your legal options to make sure you have a full and fair recovery for your injury.
Yes. Each state has a filing deadline for individual types of civil cases, called a “statute of limitations”. If you allow the statute of limitation to expire on your claim, you will be barred from making a recovery. This is why it is important to consult with one of our lawyers as soon as possibleafter your motorcycle accident.
If someone else caused your motorcycle accident, you may have a right to seek money damages from that person and their insurance company for your medical care, hospitalization, medication, medical supplies, lost earnings, future medical care, future loss of earnings, and pain and suffering. Call one of our lawyers as soon as possible after the motorcycle accident to advise you of your rights.
The fairness of any settlement offered by your insurance company should always be reviewed by an experienced motorcycle accident attorney. We recommend you contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers first before trying to settle any case with the insurance company. Do not sign anything or accept any offer without getting a FREE consultation immediately following your motorcycle accident. You may be unaware of additional compensation you are entitled to, which may NOT be included in the original settlement offer. Our team of attorneys have decades of experience with motorcycle accidents. We can help make sure you are fully and fairly compensated for all the money damages the law allows.
If you were seriously injured, handling your own claim would be difficult. We provide a FREE consultation for this purpose. Our attorneys can investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident to determine who should be held legally and financially responsible. Our attorneys can negotiate and fight for a fair settlement on your behalf, including all financial, emotional and physical injuries related to your case. Our attorneys will use their decades of experience with injury cases to insure your rights and interests are looked after.
Every case is different. The value of your claim may vary depending on the severity of injuries, lost earnings, and the future impact that your injuries may have on all areas of your life. It is best to consult with one of our attorneys and discuss your specific motorcycle accident.
State laws can differ, but you may be entitled to payment for medical care, hospitalization, medication, medical supplies, lost earnings, future medical care, future loss of earnings, and pain and suffering. If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for funeral costs, lost future earnings, and loss of companionship.
The majority of injury cases related to motorcycle accidents do not go to trial. Most are settled out of court, meaning the parties reach an agreement without a judge and jury getting involved. Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers handles each client’s case to secure the best possible result. For most cases, we are able to negotiate a settlement. However we are prepared to go to court and have done so when needed to make sure each client is fully compensated for their injuries.
Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC Injury Lawyers handles all motor vehicle accident cases on a contingency fee basis. We call this our NO FEE PROMISE. This means that our clients never pay a fee unless we win or settle their case.
Yes. This means that we charge NO legal fees to our client until we recover monetary damages for our client through a jury verdict, settlement or other means. If we do not recover monetary damages, then the client does not owe us any attorney fees.
Yes. A majority of the cases we handle are in Kentucky and Indiana. Our lawyers are admitted to practice in these states. In some cases we utilize co-counsel to represent clients outside of Kentucky and Indiana.
The insurance company is looking out for their best interest, not yours. Insurance companies may try rush you to sign paperwork for as little payment as possible. Our attorneys have a legal and ethical duty to act in the best interests of our clients, insurance company adjusters do not. We work only for you and part of our job is to advise and protect your interests after a motorcycle accident.
Even if you didn’t have motorcycle insurance on your motorcycle at the time of the accident, you are still entitled to recover damages from a person at fault in your accident. In some cases the at fault vehicle is not insured, but the driver of the at fault vehicle does have insurance. Our lawyers investigate and examine all of the details of the accident to determine all insurance coverage that may be available to fully compensate you after a motorcycle accident.
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