Decatur motorcycle accident lawyers

Decatur Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Advocating for injured riders in Morgan County

If you ride a motorcycle here in Alabama, you’re probably aware that many accidents tend to be the fault of other vehicles. Often, cars and trucks will turn in front of bikes, fail to see them in nearby lanes, or just generally disregard a motorcyclist’s right to share the road. And, because of a motorcycle’s small size in comparison to other passenger vehicles, an accident can end up being extremely serious for the biker.

The personal injury attorneys at Martin & Helms in Decatur have been helping victims of motorcycle crashes for decades. We can help you, too. If you were injured in a crash, let’s talk about your situation – we’ll investigate your accident and determine if you have a strong claim.

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How many motorcycle injuries are there each year?

The Alabama Department of Transportation (DOT) reports that, in 2017, there were 1,918 motorcyclist-involved accidents. These accidents resulted in 1,222 injuries and 79 fatalities for the bikers.

With the number of roads and highways here in the Decatur area, it may not be surprising that there are so many accidents. Decatur is, after all, the biggest city in Morgan County. We’re surrounded by many roads and highways, including Interstate 65, Interstate 565, U.S. Highway 31 (6^th Ave.), U.S. Highway 72 Alternate, AL-20, AL-24, and AL-67 (Beltline Road). Then there are all the local roads and side streets.

Causes of Decatur motorcycle accidents

If you ride a motorcycle, you understand how enjoyable it can be to take out your bike on our Alabama roads on a great weather day. Unfortunately, your pleasure ride can end in tragedy if someone else is driving carelessly or recklessly. As we talked about earlier, a motorcycle offers little protection in the event of an accident, so it’s important to understand the possible causes and risks for motorcycle crashes:

Inattentive drivers. The small size and footprint of motorcycles can make them somewhat more difficult to spot. When other drivers aren’t paying attention to traffic conditions around them, they can miss a bike’s headlights or brake lights.
Blind turns. Because of their small size, motorcycles need to take care when navigating turns, especially sharp or blind turns. Some motorists don’t remember to or don’t bother looking for motorcycles when coming around a turn, causing head-on, deadly collisions.
Distracted driving. Although Alabama currently has a ban on texting and driving, some drivers do it anyway – causing serious motorcycle and car accidents. Performing any activity behind the wheel that takes a driver’s eyes off the road can make the driver oblivious to a motorcycle near his or her vehicle.
Drunk driving. Drivers under the influence are some of the most dangerous drivers on the road. They display poor judgment, delayed reflexes, and unpredictable behavior. For any motorcyclist unlucky enough to get near a drunken or impaired driver, a serious accident or tragedy can occur.
Rear-end crashes. With cars or SUVs, a fender-bender is typically a minor accident. But if a motorcycle is rear-ended by a passenger vehicle, it gets more serious. A rider can be thrown completely from the bike, suffering severe injuries.
Reckless driving. Speeding or road rage can quickly turn tragic for all drivers involved. Aggressive and reckless drivers can tailgate, swerve, and otherwise act unpredictably. Police and state troopers always warn never to engage aggressive drivers and avoid them instead. However, you may still end up involved in an accident due to the other driver’s behavior.
Road conditions. There are times when accidents aren’t caused by another driver at all, but by hazardous road conditions. Things like road debris from storms, potholes, or spilled truck cargo can take you by surprise and cause a wreck.

Motorcyclists will rarely leave the scene of an accident without injury, even when an accident wasn’t their fault and even when they follow all rules of the road. As with any type of accident, you simply can’t protect yourself against someone else’s carelessness or negligence – and his or her recklessness can leave you injured or disabled for life. When you’re hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you deserve compensation for your injuries.

Common Morgan County motorcycle accident injuries

Whether your Decatur motorcycle crash is considered minor or serious, you can still experience injuries that can put you out of commission from weeks to years. These accidents can leave you with physical injury, chronic pain, emotional trauma, or – in the case of a loved one – wrongful death.

Motorcyclists and their passengers tend to suffer the same types of injuries in accidents, including:

Abrasions and lacerations
Amputations
Burns and road rash
Chronic pain
Fractured and broken bones
Pain and suffering
Scarring and disfigurement
Spinal cord injuries
Traumatic brain injuries
Wrongful death

The likelihood and severity of head injuries can be greatly reduced in the event of an accident by wearing a helmet. Alabama has a mandatory universal helmet law.

Types of compensation for Decatur motorcycle accidents

Even when you wear your helmet, ride only in the best weather, and drive as safely as possible, you may still encounter a careless driver. And if that driver causes an accident, it’s likely that you, as the motorcyclist, will suffer the consequences of the crash.

The motorcycle accident attorneys at Martin & Helms can help you after you’re injured by someone else’s recklessness. We hold him or her responsible. Our team understands all the aspects of these types of cases, and can help you seek compensation for your losses, including:

Medical bills, current and future
Lost wages and earning capacity
Pain and suffering

We know that many people have a bias against motorcyclists. When we take your case, know that we are on your side. We protect your rights and we advocate for you, ensuring a thorough investigation into your accident and working to hold the negligent party responsible.

Contact a dedicated Decatur motorcycle accident lawyer today

The stress and pain after a motorcycle accident can be overwhelming. The Decatur motorcycle injury attorneys at Martin & Helms can help. If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, we’ll protect your right to compensation and find out who is accountable. To set up a consultation in our Decatur office, call us at 256-361-1140 or fill out our contact form, we're just a 1 minute drive from Cook Museum of Natural Science.