New Haven Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Getting on a motorcycle can be a thrilling experience and an exciting way to explore the beautiful Connecticut countryside. However, motorcycles offer much less protection for their riders than those who are operating other motorized vehicles, and if you suffer an accident while on your motorcycle, the injuries you could receive can be severe and even fatal. A New Haven motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover damages.

At Sorrentino Legal, our personal injury attorney has helped clients facing a wide range of injury claims for almost a decade. These cases can present many legal difficulties, and it can help mitigate the stress you are feeling by ensuring you have someone on your side who can handle all the legalities of your claim so that you can focus on your own rest and well-being.

A personal injury accident can be a stressful and overwhelming situation. You might be facing mounting medical debt while you find yourself unable to work due to a temporary or permanent disability. Hiring an attorney to help you obtain compensation is vital to your own physical and financial health.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents can happen for a wide range of reasons in the state of Connecticut. Many of these accidents can cause debilitating and even fatal injuries. Motorcyclists are more likely to lose their lives in a crash with another vehicle due to the lack of protection most other vehicle occupants have. In New Haven, Connecticut, the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Car doors. When a driver is operating their motorized vehicle, they are responsible for ensuring that the road is clear before exiting their vehicle when it is parked on the side of a roadway. If a driver opens their car door up into the path of oncoming motorcycles, severe accidents can occur.
• Lane splitting. This can happen when a motorcyclist rides their bike between two lanes of traffic. While this can be legal in some states, many vehicle drivers will not know how much space to give motorcycles between lanes and can cut them off. Lane splitting can result in injuries and even death.
• Driving under the influence. It is illegal in the state of Connecticut for individuals to operate their vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When a driver operates their vehicle while impaired, they are a danger to everyone else on the roadway. Impaired driving can lessen reaction times, cause slow or impaired judgment, and increase a driver’s likelihood of taking part in behaviors such as speeding.
• Speeding can be considered one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents. Speeding while driving can greatly reduce your ability to respond to emergency situations, cause you to lose control of your vehicle, and cause serious injuries and damage.
• Distracted driving. When a driver takes part in any action that takes their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road, they are considered to be driving distracted. Distracted driving can include texting and driving, eating, drinking, adjusting the radio, reaching for something in the vehicle, or interacting with other passengers in the vehicle.
• Unsafe lane changes. In the state of Connecticut, drivers are expected to make only safe lane changes. They can do so by signaling their intent and checking their blind spots. When drivers fail to do this, they can put motorcyclists at risk, as many motorcyclists can fit into blind spots.

Injuries Often Seen in Motorcycle Accidents

The drivers of motorcycles who are involved in an accident can face a wide range of injuries and even death. The most common kinds of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in New Haven, Connecticut, include the following:

• Road rash. This is often the most common injury suffered in a motorcycle accident and can range from being a very minor injury to being extremely severe. Rod rash is a skin abrasion that happens when a motorcyclist is thrown from their bike and makes contact with the pavement or gravel on the roadway. Road rash can result in nerve damage and infections.
• Head and neck injuries. Most motorcycle accidents come with a higher risk of head and neck injuries, especially for individuals who forgo the use of a helmet. Though a rider over the age of 18 does not need to wear a helmet on a motorcycle in Connecticut, wearing one can protect you from head injuries that could result in brain damage, death, and disfigurement.
• Spinal injuries. One common injury in a motorcycle accident is to the spine. Spinal injuries can lead to severe and chronic pain conditions, paralysis, nerve damage, and even death.
• Broken or fractured bones. Another common injury sustained in motorcycle accidents includes broken or fractured bones, especially in the forearms, shins, and pelvis bones.
• Arm and hand injuries. In a motorcycle accident, injuries to the arms, hands, and wrists are also common. In severe situations, these injuries can lead to the paralysis of the entire arm and a loss of your normal range of motion.
• Abdominal injuries. Riders of motorcycles also have an increased risk of injuries to their abdominal region. These injuries can include lung lacerations, rib fractures, and even heart lacerations in severe cases.
• In cases where a motorcycle’s gas tank spills during a crash, a rider can receive severe burns. Because of the severity of many of these injuries, an accident victim may need to seek skin grafts in order to recover.

Damages Recoverable in Personal Injury Claims

When you file a motorcycle accident claim in New Haven, you will most likely be seeking compensation or the recovery of certain damages you have suffered because of the accident and the liable party’s negligent or reckless behavior. The most common kinds of damages recoverable in a personal injury claim, such as a motorcycle accident case, include the following:

• Medical costs. In most motorcycle accident cases, a large portion of your compensation claim will include medical bills and the costs of necessary treatment. These costs can include hospital or doctor bills, future anticipated treatment, physical therapy, prescription medication, and travel to and from necessary appointments.
• Motorcycle damage. If your motorcycle suffered damage in an accident, you may be able to seek compensation for necessary repairs. It is vital, in these instances, that you save all quotes, receipts, and invoices to demonstrate your need for compensation for repairs.
• Lost wages. If you were employed before your motorcycle accident occurred and you are now out of work in order to recover from your injuries, you can include these lost wages in your personal injury claim. You will want to keep track of how much time you have missed from work and any bonuses, raises, or other forms of income you would have otherwise obtained.
• Non-economic damages. These damages are those for which it is more difficult to assign an actual monetary value. These can include any physical or emotional pain and suffering, mental anguish, fear, humiliation, depression, anxiety, the loss of the enjoyment of life, emotional distress, or the loss of consortium.
• Wrongful death damages. If a death occurs, certain family members of the deceased, such as a spouse or child, can bring forward a wrongful death claim. In these claims, family members can seek compensation for medical expenses, mental and physical pain suffered by their loved one, their loved one’s lost wages, and any funeral or burial costs.

FAQs

Speak with a Compassionate Injury Lawyer Today

If you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident in New Haven, Connecticut, Sorrentino Legal is here for you. Contact our office today to learn more about our services and to set up an initial consultation.