Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Attorney

As a motorcycle rider, you know that no matter how responsible and careful you are, you can’t control how car and truck drivers will behave behind the wheel. Unfortunately, in the event of an accident involving another motor vehicle, you’re the one who will likely suffer more severe or possibly fatal injuries.

At Kocian Law Group, our experienced Connecticut motorcycle injury attorneys know this as well. That’s why we fight aggressively for the rights of motorcycle accident victims all across the state of Connecticut.

You deserve to have your voice heard, and you need a skilled advocate in your corner if you’ve suffered severe or catastrophic injuries due to a careless, distracted, aggressive, or intoxicated motorist. We’ll be here to help, and we will pursue the full compensation you need to pay your medical bills, recover lost wages, repair your bike, and move on with your life.

When motorists fail to give motorcycles and their riders the attention and respect they deserve, our Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyers will be ready to hold them accountable. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and find out why so many others in Connecticut have chosen our firm to help them seek justice.

Why Are Motorcycle Accident Claims More Complicated?

Recovering compensation for these motorcycle accidents can be more complicated and challenging. This is for two reasons: more severe injuries and anti-biker prejudice.

At-fault drivers and their insurance companies frequently play on negative stereotypes about motorcyclists in an attempt to shift the blame. At Kocian Law Group, we know the truth. Most bikers are actually very alert, cautious, and courteous on the road because they know the risk of serious injuries they face each time they hit the road. We won’t let insurance companies get away with blaming the victim.

Motorcycle riders involved in accidents often suffer significant injuries that can take months or even years to fully heal. This can delay the resolution of a rider’s claim for compensation since it will be necessary to calculate or estimate what the rider’s future medical expenses will be. Treating significant injuries is often very expensive, meaning that more money is on the line and insurance companies will put up an even tougher fight.

What to Do after a Motorcycle Accident in Connecticut

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident in Connecticut, there are specific steps you should take to protect your rights and give yourself the best chance of obtaining optimal compensation for your losses.

The first thing you should do following a motorcycle accident is call 911. Accept emergency medical treatment and transport if needed. Now is no time to act tough.

The responding officers will investigate the accident and prepare an accident report, which may provide valuable information for your claim. The accident report will likely list the motorists involved, their contact information, and their insurance information.

You should also obtain the contact and insurance information of all the motorists involved in the accident in the event you need to contact their insurers to file a claim for damages. If there were eyewitnesses to the accident, you should get their contact information as well in case you need to obtain a statement from them for a claim.

If you are able and it is safe to do so, you should also try to take pictures or video of the scene and the aftermath, including the positions of the vehicles, damage to the vehicles, skid marks, traffic controls at the scene, the condition of the road, lighting, and weather.

If you don’t think you require emergency treatment, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident. Some potentially serious injury symptoms will not appear right away. If you wait to seek treatment, you not only risk delaying or reducing your chances for recovery, you could also put your claim in jeopardy.

You should speak with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that important evidence for your case will be lost, and that people’s memories of the accident will fade. A knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney can help you gather all evidence and take the necessary steps to build a solid case in a timely manner.

How Our Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Can Help

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Connecticut, you may be faced with pressure from insurance companies to quickly settle your claims. A quick settlement can be especially tempting when you are out of work and have medical bills piling up.

Keep in mind that the insurance company is not looking out for you. Their goal is to make your claim go away for as little money as they can get away with. Don’t let them do it.

Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side can help protect your rights and give you the best chance at a full recovery of your financial losses stemming from your accident.

At Kocian Law Group, our motorcycle accident attorneys can collect all the evidence and put together a recreation of your accident to explain how it occurred and identify the party or parties that may be responsible. Our attorneys can also identify potential sources of financial recovery, such as multiple insurance policies or layers of insurance policies.

Our attorneys can assist you seeking a prompt, but full recovery of your losses by negotiating with the responsible parties to reach a fair settlement. When a settlement is not possible, our attorneys are prepared to pursue your claims in court. We will ensure that your claims are filed in a timely manner and pursued in court while meeting all necessary deadlines. If your claim makes it to trial, our attorneys will tirelessly advocate your case to seek a favorable verdict.

Severe Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Without the protections afforded by larger vehicles, motorcyclists often suffer catastrophic injuries in motorcycle accidents, particularly when those accidents occur at high speed and involve cars, buses, and trucks.

Some of the common catastrophic injuries that can occur in motorcycle accidents are:

Amputations – Riders may have their extremities severed in the force of an accident or sustain damage to their extremities that is so severe, it requires amputation.
Spinal cord injuries – The force of the impact in an accident can sever the spinal cord, or cause swelling that places pressure on the spinal cord, leading to temporary or permanent paralysis.
Traumatic brain injuries – Riders can suffer head injuries and traumatic brain injuries ranging from concussions to brain bleeding, and even coma or permanent brain damage.
Road rash – Also called road burn, road rash is caused when a rider’s exposed skin slides across the pavement in an accident.
Broken bones – Riders can suffer broken bones throughout the body because of the force of the impact, or by being crushed by the motorcycle or another vehicle involved in the accident.
Internal injuries – Riders can suffer injuries to internal organs, including bruising and internal bleeding caused by blunt force trauma, or tears to organs if the rider suffers a perforation.
Soft-tissue injuries – Riders can suffer muscle, tendon, and ligament tears, especially in the joints, due to hyperextension or crush injuries.

Injuries resulting from a motorcycle crash can be fatal for riders and passengers. When this happens, the surviving family members could be eligible to pursue a wrongful death claim under Connecticut law.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles are more complicated to control than cars or trucks, and in addition, they are smaller and less noticeable to other drivers on the road. Our knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorneys at the Kocian Law Group have extensive experience handling motorcycle accident claims, including those caused by:

Speeding – When a driver speeds, they have less time to react to an emergency situation on the road, increasing the likelihood of an accident that causes more severe injuries.
Driving under the influence – A driver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol greatly increases their chances of causing an accident due to their reduced reaction times and impaired judgment.
Following too closely – Since motorcycles can stop much more quickly than cars or trucks, following a motorcycle too closely can result in a rear-end accident, especially if the motorcycle is required to stop or slow down in an emergency.
Unsafe left turns – Drivers can cause accidents with motorcycles when they fail to signal left turns or make left turns across oncoming lanes or through intersections when it is not safe to do so.
Inexperienced drivers – Inexperienced drivers may fail to notice and account for motorcyclists on the road, which can lead to accidents with them.
Dangerous road conditions – Motorcycles can easily get into single-vehicle or multi-vehicle accidents because of unsafe road conditions such as wet or icy roads, broken pavement, or debris in the road.
Mechanical defects – Motorcyclists can be involved in accidents when their motorcycles or other vehicles in the accidents have some sort of mechanical defect or failure that causes the motorists to lose control.
Lane splitting – Lane splitting is illegal in Connecticut. When drivers fail to give motorcycle riders the full width of the lane, they place those riders at risk for accident and injury as they can easily clip or bump the motorcycle.
Unsafe lane changes – Drivers can cause accidents with motorcycles when they fail to signal lane changes or check side mirrors and blind spots for motorcycle riders.
Opening of car or truck doors – Motorcycle riders can be injured in crashes caused when drivers or passengers in street-parked vehicles open their doors without checking to see if there is oncoming traffic.

Understanding Motorcycle Laws in Connecticut

Connecticut has general traffic laws and specific motorcycle laws to protect riders on the road.

Connecticut requires all riders to wear eye protection at all times, such as goggles or a face shield on a helmet, unless their motorcycle has a windscreen. The law also requires a helmet for all motorcycle riders under the age of 18 and all riders with an instructional permit, regardless of age.

Connecticut law has specific requirements for the vehicles themselves. To be legal, a motorcycle must have handlebars that fall no higher than the rider’s shoulders. All motorcycles are also required to be equipped with mufflers, which cannot have cutouts or straight pipes. Connecticut law also imposes decibel limits on motorcycles, which vary depending on the year of manufacture of the motorcycle. All motorcycles must also have left and right mirrors. If you have passengers on your motorcycle, it must have a separate seat and foot rests designed to be used by a passenger.

Anyone who wishes to ride a motorcycle in Connecticut must have a motorcycle endorsement on their driver’s license. Obtaining a motorcycle endorsement requires a driver to pass a vision test and a written rules test, and it also requires completion of a state-approved motorcycle safety training course. It is possible to obtain an instructional permit while seeking a motorcycle endorsement. Instructional permits are valid for only 60 days.

Connecticut law sets rules of the road that specifically pertain to motorcycle riders. Connecticut prohibits lane splitting, which occurs when a motorcyclist rides between two rows of cars. In addition, no more than two motorcycles can occupy a single lane side by side.

Talk to a Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Now

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault, you deserve fair and full compensation for the injuries and financial losses you have suffered. Don’t wait another day to start the process of seeking the recovery you need and deserve.

Our attorneys offer personalized attention to every client, and we strive to provide exceptional service to you and your family. We know that being hurt in a motorcycle accident can be frightening and stressful. It’s our goal to help you understand your rights, feel comfortable with the legal process, and ultimately get the compensation and justice you deserve.

Contact Kocian Law Group today to schedule a consultation with one of our Connecticut motorcycle accident attorneys to learn more about your rights, options, and how our firm can help you successfully pursue a motorcycle accident claim.