Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits: A Guide (2025)

Who Is Responsible for Your Motorcycle Accident?

All drivers are responsible to other road users, including motorcycles. They must operate their vehicles responsibly and follow traffic laws. If they drive recklessly or disobey traffic codes, they may be negligent and at fault in your motorbike accident claim.

But drivers may not be solely liable for your accident claim. Road hazards, road maintenance issues or defective motorcycle or auto parts may contribute to accidents. When you face this situation, your motorcycle crash lawsuit may also include manufacturers and government entities as defendants.

Potential At-Fault Parties in a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit

Possible defendants in a motorcycle accident lawsuit may include:

• Other Drivers. Another driver may be responsible if they were speeding, driving distracted or violating traffic laws when they caused your accident.
• Vehicle Manufacturers: When a manufacturing defect or faulty part in your motorcycle causes an accident, you could seek compensation from a manufacturer and other third parties.
• Government Entities. If your motorcycle accident occurred due to inadequate signage, poor road maintenance or other road hazards, you could sue the government entity responsible for roadway maintenance.
• Businesses: If the driver who caused your accident was on work time, you may be able to hold their employer accountable for your damages.

Determining who is liable for your damages can be tricky and may involve a detailed investigation into the crash. The evidence required to prove fault can include police reports, witness statements, expert opinions, traffic camera footage and other material.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

Motorcycle accidents result in 15% of all traffic fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 6,218 motorcycle riders died in vehicle accidents in 2022.

Many of these fatalities arose from motorcyclists' vulnerabilities. Riders lack a steel cage around them, and motorcycles don’t have airbags or seatbels. Also, even with armored clothing and DOT-compliant helmets, high-speed crashes and impaired drivers can end in a deadly encounter for a motorcycle rider.

Common causes of motorcycle crashes include:

• Speeding. Failure to observe speed limits or adjust speed to weather or road conditions can lead to accidents. In addition, higher speeds typically cause more severe injuries due to the higher-force impact.
• Right of Way Violations. Car drivers may fail to yield to motorcyclists when merging or making turns, causing side-swipe accidents.
• Driving Impaired: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can lead to reduced reaction time and increased risk-taking.
• Unsafe Lane Changes: Drivers can cause accidents by abruptly changing lanes, failing to check blind spots or neglecting to signal when changing lanes. This scenario becomes especially dangerous if lane splitting is legal in that state.
• Texting and driving: A driver who texts while driving may fail to see motorcycles in blindspots or rear-end them due to the distraction. Since motorcycles are much smaller, they are easily overlooked –especially by inattentive drivers.
• Motorcycle defects: A manufacturer or mechanic may fail to properly design or repair essential safety equipment, like brakes. Also, a transmission that shifts incorrectly may stall a motorcycle and make it a freeway target.

This list is incomplete, and accidents are often unique. But if your collision occurred due to another driver's negligence, a motorcycle accident lawsuit may compensate you for your damages.

You Could Be Entitled to a Motorcycle Accident Settlement

Depending on the specifics of your motorcycle accident and damages, you could qualify for compensation:

• Healthcare costs
• Rehabilitation
• Medical devices (crutches, neck braces, wheelchairs, etc.)
• On-going care costs
• Modifications to your home and vehicle
• Lost income and future loss of wages
• Pain and anguish
• Emotional distress
• Loss of life enjoyment

Factors Influencing Your Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit Compensation

It is difficult to ascertain an average settlement in motorcycle accident claims. Your damages depend on the details of your crash, including:

• Extent of Injuries. More severe or life-changing injuries typically result in higher compensation for steep medical expenses and other costs.
• Lost Income. If you cannot work temporarily or permanently, your settlement may include wages lost during recovery and potential future earnings.
• Property Damage. Repair or replacement of the motorcycle and any other items destroyed in the accident may factor into settlement calculations.
• Available Insurance Coverage: The coverage limits of the at-fault party’s insurance policy may cap the amount of compensation available to you. If your claim value is larger than those limits, you might need to pursue the at-fault party’s assets to receive a full recovery.
• Liability: Depending on state laws, your settlement may decrease if you are partially at fault for the crash. This legal theory is known as comparative negligence.
• Legal Representation: Working with a skilled motorcycle accident attorney can significantly impact your settlement. A lawyer can negotiate for maximum compensation and even take an insurance company to court if they refuse a fair settlement.

Should You Hire a Lawyer for Your Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit?

An accident occurs in a split second but can impact your life and your family for years. Unfortunately, insurance companies are not your friends.

The opposing insurance company may be more interested in their bottom line than adequately compensating you. Insurers may even use manipulative tactics to downplay your injuries or get you to say something they can use to deny or reduce your claim.

For these reasons and more, hiring an experienced attorney who specializes in motorcycle accident laws can be crucial for getting what you deserve. Here’s how an attorney can help:

• Handle all the legal aspects of your case
• Gather and organize evidence to build a strong case
• Communicate and negotiate with insurance companies
• Level the playing field and advocate strongly for your rights
• Take your case to trial and fight for maximum compensation

Most importantly, hiring an attorney to handle your case from beginning to end allows you to focus on your recovery and well-being.

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