St. George Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Request Free ConsultationSt. George’s scenic routes make it a popular place to ride a motorcycle year-round. Unfortunately, riders share the road with drivers who do not always watch for them, and even a low-speed collision can cause life-changing injuries.
If a negligent driver or another party caused your crash, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical care, lost income, and the ways your injuries have disrupted your life. A St. George auto accident lawyer from We Win Injury Law can help you hold the responsible party accountable while you focus on healing.
Why Choose Our Motorcycle Accident Attorney in St. George
Motorcycle accident claims often come with an added challenge: insurers and even jurors may assume the rider was reckless. At We Win Injury Law, we work to counter that bias with clear evidence and a thorough presentation of your case. When you choose our firm, you can expect the following:
- Our partner attorneys work on your case together. Pooling their knowledge helps us anticipate the defense’s arguments and prepare a strong response.
- We have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. We bring that same determination to every motorcycle case we accept.
- You can speak with an attorney 24/7. If something comes up with your treatment or the insurance company, you won’t have to wait for answers.
- We handle cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront, and we only collect legal fees if we recover compensation for you.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a preventable motorcycle accident in St. George, our team of attorneys can help. Call today for a free and confidential case evaluation.
How a St. George Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help You
A St. George motorcycle accident lawyer handles the insurance and litigation processes so you can focus on your recovery. This starts with investigating the crash, which may include reviewing the police report, locating witnesses, and obtaining video footage or data from the vehicles involved. Your lawyer can also work with accident reconstruction professionals to determine how the collision happened, which is often necessary when the other driver claims you were speeding or riding unsafely.
Once the facts are clear, your lawyer can determine which insurance policies apply, including the at-fault driver’s liability coverage and your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. They will document your injuries, calculate your current and future losses, and present a demand to the insurance company. If the insurer refuses to offer a fair amount, your lawyer can file a lawsuit and represent you in court.
How Much Is My Motorcycle Accident Case Worth?
The value of a motorcycle accident claim depends on how severe your injuries are and how they will affect your future. Motorcycle crashes often cause injuries that require multiple surgeries, months of rehabilitation, or lifelong care, which can significantly increase the value of a claim.
Utah’s insurance rules also shape what your case is worth. Motorcycles are exempt from the state’s personal injury protection (PIP) requirement under Utah Code § 31A-22-302, so unless you purchased optional coverage, you likely won’t have no-fault benefits to cover your first medical bills. However, you also don’t have to meet the tort threshold that limits many car accident claims, so you can pursue the at-fault party for your full losses from the start.
Recoverable damages in a motorcycle accident claim may include:
- Emergency care, hospital stays, and surgeries
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Future medical treatment and in-home care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Motorcycle repair or replacement, including custom parts
- Scarring and disfigurement from road rash or surgery
- Emotional distress and loss of enjoyment of life
Why Motorcyclists Face Greater Risk of Serious Injury
Motorcyclists face a far higher risk of serious injury than people in cars and trucks, even when they ride carefully. A motorcycle has no enclosed cabin, seat belts, or airbags to absorb the force of a collision, so the rider’s body takes the full impact. Riders are often thrown from the bike and strike the pavement, other vehicles, or roadside objects. Even if the initial crash causes only minor harm, they can suffer secondary injuries from sliding across the road or being struck by other traffic.
A motorcycle’s smaller profile also makes it harder for drivers to see, especially when changing lanes or turning left at intersections. When a driver doesn’t notice a rider until the last second, neither has much time to react, and the rider has few options to avoid the vehicle’s path. Additionally, road hazards that barely affect a car, such as gravel, potholes, or uneven pavement, can cause a rider to lose control. Because of these risks, motorcycle crashes frequently result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, fractures, and severe road rash.
Our attorneys at We Win Injury Law know the greater risks riders face. One of our partners, Jim Park, is an active rider himself. On our roadways, only 1/3 of motorcycle accidents were due to the rider’s negligence. In fact, most accidents involving motorcycles are caused by motor vehicles violating the motorcycle rider’s right of way.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a St. George Motorcycle Accident Case?
Many motorcycle crashes are blamed on the rider, but a thorough investigation can reveal that someone else caused or contributed to the accident. Holding every liable party accountable gives you access to more sources of insurance coverage, which can help pay for costly medical care and other damages.
Potentially responsible parties include:
- Motor Vehicle Drivers: Drivers who make unsafe left turns, change lanes without checking blind spots, or follow too closely often cause motorcycle crashes. They may be liable for your injuries even if they claim they never saw you.
- Commercial Vehicle Companies: If a delivery van, rideshare vehicle, or semi-truck caused your accident, the company that employs or contracts with the driver may share liability. These companies typically carry larger insurance policies than individual drivers.
- Government Agencies: Cities, counties, and the Utah Department of Transportation are responsible for maintaining safe roads. Unrepaired potholes, missing signage, and poorly marked construction zones can lead to a claim against the agency responsible for the road.
- Motorcycle and Parts Manufacturers: Defective tires, brakes, or throttle components can cause a rider to lose control without warning. The manufacturer or seller of a defective product may be liable for the resulting crash.
The purpose of compensation in personal injury cases is to “be made whole”. This is a legal concept that essentially means that a claim should put you in as close a financial position as possible as though the accident had never happened. For injuries that cannot be fixed, financial compensation is available, including for disfigurement, disability, and a variety of other potential motorcycle accident injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim in Utah?
Your ability to file a claim or lawsuit to collect damages associated with your injuries has an expiration date, known as the statute of limitations. If you do not file your claim or case within the time allowed by the statute of limitations, you forfeit your ability to ever attempt to collect compensation for your damages. This means that you and your family will be left to cover bills and lost earnings linked to your injuries out of your own pockets.
Under Utah Code § 78B-2-307, you have four years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline will likely prevent you from recovering compensation, no matter how clear the other party’s fault may be. If a loved one died in the crash, you have two years from the date of their death to file a wrongful death lawsuit. To protect your case, contact a St. George motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Call Our St. George Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in St. George or anywhere else in the state of Utah, our personal injury attorneys in St. George can help. You don’t have to go through this troubling time alone, We Win Injury Law can help you recover the compensation that you need to move forward. Contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.