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In the early 1900s, Henry Ford was busy perfecting his assembly lines to roll off the Model T and revolutionize commuting for the entire world. While other car makers quickly got into the industry, a growing number of designers and manufacturers felt two wheels were just as good as four. Motorcycles have been around as long as cars, but they take a bit more skill and come with more risks.
According to data collected by the National Safety Council, motorcycles account for just 3% of all registered vehicles in the country. However, they are also involved in 14% of all traffic fatalities, and the number of crashes has gone up nationwide.
Just because there are more risks, it doesn’t mean cyclists are at fault in every accident. If you’ve been involved in a collision caused by another motorist while riding your motorcycle, you are entitled to be reimbursed for any subsequent financial loss. To secure that reimbursement, you will need the support of an experienced Gulfport Motorcycle accident lawyer.
The attorneys at Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, have helped dozens of clients who were injured while riding a motorcycle. We understand the challenges these clients face and have the necessary negotiating skills to work with insurance carriers to find fair compensation.
Challenges With a Motorcycle Accident Claim
If you’ve been the victim of this type of accident, you must know about the potential challenges you’ll face when seeking compensation for your losses. Consider these issues that you’ll be taking on:
Insufficient Insurance
In 2000, the then-Mississippi governor signed into law the state’s mandatory requirements for auto insurance. These mandates are administered by the Mississippi Insurance Department, which states that every motorist needs to carry the following liability minimums:
- $25,000 per person (limited to a single accident)
- $50,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a driver with minimum coverage, the insurance company will only pay out what the policy allows. What if your medical bills exceed that number? Your attorney can step in and look for alternatives to securing the reimbursement. That could involve filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. When pursuing reasonable compensation, all options should be on the table.
Bias Against Motorcyclists
Whether you drive a car, RV, truck, or motorcycle, you assume a certain amount of risk. The common assumption is that a motorcyclist takes on more risk. In other words, insurers think every crash occurs because the rider lost control. A thorough investigation can reveal that it was the other driver’s fault. Establishing who is liable for the accident is the focus.
Severe Injuries
A motorist who gets into a fender bender accident might experience damage to their bumper, but they won’t necessarily suffer serious injury. A motorcyclist who is tapped by another car can result in a spill. That can lead to fractures, head traumas, and spinal injuries. Those can mean more recovery time, rehabilitation, and lost wages. All of those issues need to be factored into your final compensation amount.

Speak With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Types of Motorcycle Accidents
When filing a claim for a motorcycle accident, it is important to detail the type of accident and who was the at-fault party. When other drivers ignore traffic rules, drive aggressively, are intoxicated, or are distracted, they can cause the following types of accidents:
Left-Hook Collisions
When a car or truck turns left and fails to see a motorcyclist who has the right-of-way, it can “hook” into the motorcyclist. In that scenario, the vehicle is the one that failed to be aware of its driving environment, not the motorcyclist.
Rear-End Crashes
Rear-end crashes can happen when the driver is not paying attention to the traffic ahead. If they are driving too close behind and the cars stop short, it can trigger a collision, leading to a chain reaction of wrecks. A motorcyclist can be caught between those colliding cars and suffer a spill.
Sideswipe Crashes
Sideswipe crashes are another situation where a driver makes a fast lane change without being aware of other cars or a motorcycle approaching the lane. If a vehicle sideswipes a motorcycle, it is a safe bet that the biker will be knocked over.
T-Bone Crashes
A T-bone crash happens when a driver blows through an intersection without stopping for traffic lights or signs, failing to yield the right-of-way. A motorcyclist who is involved in a T-bone collision can suffer severe injuries because they have no protection from the full impact of a vehicle.
There can also be instances when a motorcycle spins out because of road conditions. If it can be proven that the city of Gulfport or any other municipality was negligent in maintaining those roads, those agencies could be held liable for these types of accidents.
How a Gulfport Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Seeks Compensation
Suppose you’ve been involved in an accident while riding a motorcycle. In that case, you will benefit from the guidance of an experienced Gulfport motorcycle accident lawyer to help you receive fair compensation for your losses. That support from an attorney begins with laying out the claim to an insurance carrier. In order to prove another driver’s negligence, you have to establish the following four elements:
- The at-fault driver owed a duty of care
- The at-fault driver breached their duty of care
- The at-fault driver’s negligent conduct caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- You suffered harm as a result of the at-fault driver’s actions
Every driver and motorcyclist should operate under the concept of duty of care. That essentially means being a responsible driver and following the rules of the road. The moment a driver runs a red light, speeds, or drives recklessly, those actions breach the duty. When that causes an accident that creates a financial loss, you have an actionable cause.
Your attorney also needs to apply the principles of comparative negligence. That allows the blame for the accident to be shared by all parties involved in the accident. This is one of the most common arguments in an accident involving a motorcyclist. The insurance company representing the driver will try to shift some of the blame for the accident onto the motorcyclist. A skilled attorney will know how to combat those arguments and help you seek the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.
We Are Ready to Fight for You
The team at Owen, Owen & Smith, PLLC, has successfully negotiated with insurance companies to find fair settlements for the victims of motorcycle accidents. We utilize a network of skilled investigators and medical experts to bolster your version of the accident. If the insurance company denies the initial claim, we are prepared to present your story to a jury.
It is essential to get the claim process started immediately. You don’t have to wait until you fully recover before you schedule a consultation. Call to set up a talk today with our Gulfport motorcycle accident lawyer.
