Motorcycle Accidents at Intersections
Motor Vehicle Crash Lawyers Serving the Memphis Area
At one time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that almost 50% of all motorcycle accidents occur at intersections. With lots of moving vehicles passing through and making turns, intersections can be dangerous, especially during rush hour and other periods of high traffic. If another driver caused a motorcycle accident at an intersection that injured you, you may have grounds to bring a personal injury claim for the damages you sustained in the crash. At Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, our Memphis motorcycle accident attorneys are ready to take your call today. We are the largest Tennessee-based plaintiff’s personal injury law firm, and our lawyers have recovered over $1.5 billion in compensation for clients through judgments, jury verdicts, and settlements.
Proving Liability for a Motorcycle Accident at an Intersection
It is not uncommon for liability to be contested after a wreck at an intersection. They often turn into word versus word cases, with both drivers claiming they had the right-of-way. This can be tricky if there were no independent witnesses to the crash. One example is both parties claiming they had the green light and that the other person ran the red light. If the intersection is a four-way stop, both parties may claim the other ran the stop sign.
An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer in the Memphis area can assist you in gathering the proof needed to assert your claim. The first step is normally to review the police report and evidence gathered by the responding officer. Some officers will take photographs or measurements at the scene, and they may file a separate report containing those figures. The police report will also list witness information. If there were no independent witnesses to the crash, liability may be established in other ways. A nearby business may have captured the footage on security cameras, which could be obtained through discovery. In complex cases, an accident reconstruction expert may be retained to visit and inspect the crash scene. This will allow the expert to opine on speed and evasive action taken by the parties to determine the cause of the collision.
Proving the defendant was liable for the crash, such as by making an illegal left turn , can shift the focus to damages. Motorcyclists often suffer severe injuries after an accident, especially if they are thrown from the bike. Many cyclists will suffer broken bones and permanent scarring, both of which may require extensive hospitalization and medical treatment. Tennessee law allows victims of motorcycle accidents at intersections to recover compensatory damages for injuries caused by the defendant’s negligence. Damages can include medical bills for emergency room care, primary care physician appointments, physical therapy, surgery, and the like. Damages may also include lost wages and potentially future loss of earning capacity, depending on the extent of permanency. Non-economic damages may be available to compensate the victim for pain and suffering and long-term scarring.
Retain an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney in the Memphis Area
After a motorcycle wreck, you may start seeing medical bills pile up. Even worse is when you are unable to return to work in order to pay those bills or co-pays in a timely fashion. For severely injured cyclists, retaining a Memphis lawyer to assert a claim against the responsible party is the only way to recover what was lost. Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz is the largest plaintiff’s personal injury law firm based in Tennessee. We represent clients throughout the South in Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas, including in Caruthersville, Hayti, Oxford, Starkville, Grenada, Columbus, Tupelo, Meridian, Jackson, Little Rock, Jonesboro, Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Nashville. Please call Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz at 800-LAW-4004 or complete our online form for a free consultation with one of our auto collision lawyers.
