This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by JR Krebs following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. JR Krebs, the Founding Partner, has years of legal experience as a bankruptcy attorney. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.
When you get hurt in a motorcycle crash, a Huntsville motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get money for your injuries. Motorcycle crashes can cause very bad injuries like broken bones, head trauma, and spinal damage. These injuries can cost a lot of money to treat.
Medical bills add up fast after a motorcycle wreck. You might also lose money by missing work while you heal. The pain and suffering from a motorcycle crash can last for months or even years.
Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers helps motorcycle riders who get hurt in crashes around Huntsville. We know the laws that protect riders in Alabama. Our team explains your options below.
A motorcycle accident attorney Huntsville riders trust can make a big difference in your case outcome. Alabama laws are tough on accident victims, and insurance companies often try to pay as little as possible. Legal help protects your rights when dealing with these complex matters.
This strict rule makes having a strong legal strategy very important. A skilled lawyer knows how to gather evidence, work with accident experts, and build a case that fights against claims that you were partly at fault.
Many motorcycle collisions in Huntsville could be avoided if all drivers followed traffic laws and stayed alert. Motorcycle riders face higher risks on the road because they lack the protection of a car's frame, airbags, and seatbelts.
Driver inattention: Car and truck drivers often fail to notice motorcycles on Huntsville roads. This happens when drivers text, talk on the phone, adjust the radio, or eat while driving.
Unsafe lane changes: Drivers sometimes switch lanes without checking their blind spots where motorcycles might be riding. These sudden moves give bikers little time to react or find a safe path.
Speeding around motorcycles: Fast-moving vehicles near motorcycles create dangerous air turbulence that can push riders off balance. Cars and trucks passing too closely at high speeds leave no room for error.
Weather and poor visibility: Rain-slicked roads in Huntsville reduce traction for motorcycle tires. Fog, heavy rain, and nighttime conditions make it harder for other drivers to see motorcyclists.
Failure to yield right-of-way: Many crashes happen at intersections when cars turn left in front of oncoming motorcycles. Drivers often misjudge the motorcycle's speed or simply don't look carefully enough before turning.
Distracted pedestrians: People sometimes step into the street while looking at phones, forcing riders to swerve suddenly. These unexpected obstacles can cause a rider to lose control.
Road hazards: Potholes, loose gravel, and uneven pavement affect motorcycles more severely than cars. A small road defect that a car might drive over without issue can cause a motorcycle to crash.
Alabama follows one of the strictest fault rules in the country, which can prevent you from receiving any compensation after a motorcycle crash. Under this rule, if you are found even 1% at fault for your accident, you cannot collect any compensation from the other driver. An alabama motorcycle accident lawyer knows how to protect your case from these harsh rules that have been part of Alabama law for many years.
Gather solid evidence of other driver's fault. Take photos of skid marks, vehicle damage, and road conditions right after the crash. Ask nearby businesses for security camera footage that might have caught the accident.
Document every detail to reduce blame. Write down exactly what happened while it's fresh in your mind. Keep a journal of your injuries and how they affect your daily life.
Work with a lawyer who understands local precedent. Courts in Huntsville may handle motorcycle cases differently than other Alabama cities. A local attorney knows how judges in Madison County typically rule on these cases.
Collect witness statements quickly. People forget details as time passes. Get contact information from anyone who saw the crash and ask them what they observed.
Follow all traffic laws when riding. Insurance companies look for any sign that you broke even a minor rule. Always use turn signals, wear required safety gear, and follow speed limits when riding in Huntsville.
Money you can get after a motorcycle wreck goes beyond fixing your bike. The law allows victims to seek payment for many different types of losses that happen because of the crash.
Medical care and rehabilitative expenses: This covers hospital bills, ambulance rides, surgeries, medicine, physical therapy, and doctor visits. It also includes future medical treatments you might need for ongoing injuries.
Lost wages and missed work: You can ask for money to replace paychecks you didn't get while recovering. This also covers lost earning ability if your injuries stop you from doing your job like before.
Pain, suffering, and emotional distress: These damages pay for physical pain and mental suffering caused by the crash. This includes anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and changes to your daily life.
Motorcycle repair or replacement costs: This covers fixing your damaged motorcycle or buying a new one if yours can't be fixed. It also includes helmets, riding gear, and other personal items damaged in the crash.
Property damage beyond your vehicle: Sometimes accidents damage other things you own like phones, watches, or special equipment you carried on your bike.
Disfigurement and scarring: Motorcycle crashes often cause road rash, burns, and cuts that leave permanent marks. Money can be available for these lasting visible injuries.
The first hours after a motorcycle wreck in Huntsville can affect both your health and your legal case. Taking the right steps helps doctors treat your injuries correctly and creates a record of what happened. Your actions right after the crash can make a big difference in how your case turns out.
Call 911 right away so police and ambulance can come to the scene. First responders will help injured people, direct traffic around the crash, and create an official accident report that documents what happened.
Take pictures of the crash site, all vehicles involved, your injuries, and the road conditions if you can safely do so. Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses, the other driver, and the police officer who responds to your Huntsville motorcycle accident.
Go to the doctor or hospital even if you feel okay, as some serious injuries don't hurt right away. Motorcycle crashes often cause hidden injuries like internal bleeding or concussions that may take hours or days to show symptoms.
Tell your insurance company about the crash, but be careful about what you say when discussing a Huntsville motorcycle accident. Give basic facts about when and where the crash happened without guessing about fault or downplaying your injuries.
A lawyer who knows about motorcycle wrecks in Huntsville can protect your rights while you focus on healing. An experienced attorney understands how to handle evidence, deal with insurance companies, and build a strong case that fights against Alabama's strict fault rules.
Alabama law gives you two years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time limit, known as the statute of limitations, gives you a set period after your motorcycle crash to begin your legal case, so it’s important to act without delay.
Filing promptly preserves crucial evidence. Important items like broken motorcycle parts, skid marks on the road, and damage to vehicles can disappear or change over time.
Witnesses are easier to locate early. People move away, change phone numbers, or forget important details about what they saw as time passes.
** Waiting too long might mean losing your right to ask for any money, even if someone else clearly caused your crash.
Medical records stay connected to your accident. Filing soon after your crash helps doctors link your injuries directly to the motorcycle wreck rather than to something else that happened later.
Insurance companies take timely claims more seriously. When you act quickly, insurance adjusters have less reason to question whether your injuries really came from the motorcycle accident.
Motorcycle insurance in Alabama often has gaps that leave riders with less protection than they expect after a crash. Many basic motorcycle policies only cover the minimum required by law, which doesn't pay for your own injuries or bike damage when someone else causes an accident but doesn't have enough insurance.
A Huntsville motorcycle accident attorney helps find all possible sources of money after a crash, especially when the other driver has little or no insurance. They can look into your own policy for underinsured motorist coverage that might pay for medical bills when the at-fault driver's insurance isn't enough. Your lawyer can also check if other policies might apply, such as coverage through family members or employers that could help with your motorcycle accident in Huntsville.
Not wearing a helmet can affect your case under Alabama's contributory negligence rule, as courts might consider this a factor in your injuries. Each case has unique details though, and an attorney can evaluate how helmet use might impact your specific situation.
Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can pay for your damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little coverage. This optional coverage on your own policy protects you when the responsible driver cannot pay for your injuries.
A fair settlement covers all your medical bills, compensates for missed work time, and includes money for your pain and suffering. The amount should reflect both current expenses and any future costs related to your motorcycle accident injuries.
Krebs Personal Injury Lawyers helps riders who face tough challenges after motorcycle crashes in Huntsville and across Madison County. Our team works hard to protect your rights while you focus on healing from your injuries.
We offer free consultations to talk about your motorcycle accident case with no upfront costs. Our local attorneys know Huntsville roads, Alabama laws, and the courts where your case might be heard. You can schedule a free consultation today to learn about your options after a motorcycle wreck in Huntsville.
J.R. is dedicated to providing personalized representation, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. He tailors his strategy to the unique challenges and needs of each client and case, ensuring focused and individualized attention.
His practice mainly covers Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, including car and 18-wheeler accidents, slips and falls, dog bites, defective products, and wrongful death. He also handles commercial disputes on contingency, with experience in contracts, construction, and probate. For any dispute headed toward litigation, J.R. develops an aggressive strategy to maximize your recovery through negotiation, arbitration, or trial.
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