Riding a motorcycle offers a sense of freedom, but it comes with risks. If you’ve been in a motorcycle accident and have suffered injuries and financial losses, get legal help. Meet with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Toledo to review your legal options.
At Groth & Associates, our Toledo personal injury lawyers provide aggressive legal representation for those harmed in motorcycle accidents due to other parties’ negligence. We have over 150 years of combined experience, and we’ll work to pursue full compensation for your motorcycle accident injuries and losses.
Give us the opportunity to help you with your motorcycle accident case. To get started, request a free case consultation.
Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Toledo Will Guide You Through the Legal Process
You may feel overwhelmed by the legal aftermath of your motorcycle accident, particularly if you’ve suffered catastrophic injuries.
Our team is able to handle the legal aspects of your case so you’re able to focus on what is most important: healing. Here’s what your Toledo motorcycle accident attorney will do to help you get your desired case results:
- Explain your rights: We’ll teach you about your legal rights and options.
- Handle communication: Your attorney will communicate with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf, reducing your stress.
- Gather evidence: Our team will collect necessary evidence, such as police reports, medical records, surveillance footage of the accident, accident reconstructionist testimony, eye-witness statements, and other forms of evidence, to build a strong personal injury claim.
- Negotiate settlements: Your attorney will negotiate for fair compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
- Represent you in court: If a fair settlement isn’t reached, we will represent you in court to advocate for your interests.
We are familiar with the challenges you will face in your personal injury case, from having to pay medical bills to managing insurance claims.
You don’t have to go through this difficult period alone. Let us help you prove liability and recover the compensation that you need for your tangible and intangible losses.
For a free legal consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Toledo, call (419) 930-3030
Compensation Available to You if You File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Toledo, OH
Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Toledo have helped many riders recover fair compensation. In Ohio, you are entitled to recover the full extent of your damages, including non-economic losses and future losses.
Our team will work hard to get the following types of motorcycle accident compensation for you:
- Emergency room bills, including ambulance fees and medical treatment costs
- All other medical bills as you care for your concussion, broken bones, and other accident injuries
- Any anticipated future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Current and future lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Long-term disability if you are dealing with a spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other catastrophic injuries from your accident
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement
- Loss of limb
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Property damage
As an injured motorcyclist, you deserve compensation that fully covers the extent of your injuries, including future expenses and non-economic damages.
These types of damages are often tough to calculate. Our personal injury attorneys will use all available evidence to show the true extent of your medical costs, lost income, and other losses.
Personal Injury Lawyer Near Me (419) 930-3030
Time Limits for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Toledo, OH
In Ohio, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is generally two years from the date of the injury, according to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) § 2305.10. This means that if you are injured in a motorcycling accident, you will have to file a lawsuit within two years of the incident or risk losing your right to ask for compensation.
Your Toledo motorcycle accident lawyer wants you to file an insurance claim right away. They’ll teach you about the statute of limitations for a motorcycle accident claim in Ohio relative to your case. Once you notify your insurance company about your accident, your lawyer will communicate with your insurer and the insurance providers of other parties on your behalf.
If you receive an insurance settlement offer, you have the option to review this proposal with your attorney. At this time, your lawyer will help you weigh the offer’s pros and cons and answer any questions you have about the average motorcycle accident settlement in Ohio. From here, you’ll be well-equipped to make an informed decision on your settlement offer.
Tactics That Insurance Companies Will Use to Dispute or Deny Your Motorcycle Accident Claim
You believe your insurance claim for your motorcycle accident is valid, and because of this, the insurance company of the liable party will compensate you fairly.
Unfortunately, insurance settlement negotiations are sometimes contentious. Thus, Toledo motorcycle accident lawyers will give you information about tactics that insurers use to contest and reject claims, such as:
- Saying that you were engaged in lane-splitting, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, or other careless or reckless behavior that contributed to your accident
- Downplaying the severity of your injuries
- Offering a quick settlement in the hopes that you’ll accept a proposal worth less than what you’ve incurred in losses
- Arguing that you waited too long to receive medical treatment for your accident injuries
- Monitoring your social media accounts to try to find photos, videos, or other content that they’ll use to claim that you’re not injured as badly as you initially reported
Leave nothing to chance during insurance settlement negotiations after your motorcycle accident. Have personal injury lawyers with a track record of success in cases similar to yours take care of these negotiations. Your attorney will position you to recover reasonable compensation. Or, if necessary, they will be ready to present your case to a judge or jury.
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Who Is Liable for Motorcycle Accidents?
Toledo motorcycle accident attorneys will watch video footage of your crash, interview witnesses who saw the incident, read police reports, and take other measures to investigate.
Based on what your lawyer finds during their investigation, they will advise you to request compensation from any of these parties:
- Motorist
- Motorcycle manufacturer
- Mechanic
- Government entity
Your lawyer will give you insights into how fault is proven for a motorcycle accident. As your attorney prepares your case for trial, they will put together an argument centered on proving negligence.
What Does Negligence Mean to Your Case?
Motorcycle crash attorneys in Toledo will account for negligence, since doing so will help them show a judge or jury why your damages request is valid. In your case, your lawyer will focus their argument on the following elements of negligence:
- Duty of care: The defendant had a legal duty to look out for your safety.
- Breach of duty of care: The defendant breached that duty in some manner.
- Causation: There was a causal connection between their breach and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered real harm as a result of the incident.
Ohio has a modified comparative negligence rule when determining fault in personal injury cases. If you file a lawsuit for a motorcycle crash and are found to be partially responsible, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. However, you are ineligible to recover compensation if you’re 51% or more at fault.
What to Do if You’re Involved in an Accident with an Uninsured Driver
Let motorcycle crash lawyers in Toledo help you if an uninsured motorist slams their vehicle into yours. In this scenario, recovering compensation from this motorist is challenging but not impossible.
If you have uninsured motorist coverage on your insurance policy, this will help get compensation for your medical expenses, vehicle repairs, and other losses. On the other hand, if you don’t have this coverage, your options are more limited. But in some instances, filing a claim against your own insurance or suing the uninsured driver are potential alternatives.
Your lawyer will share FAQs and other legal resources with you as you move forward with your case against an uninsured motorist. Any time you have legal concerns or questions, your attorney will work to address them promptly.
Motorcycle Accident Risks in Toledo
Even if you follow Ohio’s helmet laws and do other things to prioritize safety when you ride your motorcycle, you have no control over others’ actions. In Toledo, motorcyclists face a myriad of risks any time they ride, including:
- Speeding: If a motorist chooses not to comply with the posted speed limit on Interstate 75 (I-75), Interstate 475 (I-475), U.S. Route 24, and other busy roadways in Toledo, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll be able to stop in time to prevent an accident with a motorcyclist.
- Alcohol and drug use: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and dangerous. If a motorist engages in alcohol or drug use before they get behind the wheel, there’s an increased risk that they’ll cause an accident in which motorcyclists and others may be hurt or killed.
- Motorcycle defects: Faulty brakes or other vehicle malfunctions have the potential to contribute to accidents.
- Unsafe lane changes: It’s possible that a motorist who decides to move from one lane to the next without checking their blind spots will crash their vehicle into a rider and cause a serious accident.
Motorcycle collision lawyers in Toledo make no assumptions regarding their clients’ cases. Your lawyer knows you likely take many precautions when you ride. If someone claims you don’t and tries to hold you accountable for your accident losses, your lawyer will stand up for you, advocate for you, and argue as to why your damages request is warranted.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Your motorcycle collision attorney in Toledo will conduct an investigation to identify the cause of your crash. This will help your lawyer begin the process of building your case for compensatory damages.
Common reasons why motorcycle crashes are reported in Toledo include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Speeding
- Left turns at intersections in front of motorcyclists
- Sudden lane changes
- Collisions with stopped motorcycles
- Drivers or passengers suddenly opening car doors
Regardless of why your crash occurred, your lawyer remains focused on getting you adequate compensation based on the harm that you’ve suffered. As such, your attorney will gather evidence from a wide range of sources and take steps to position you to recover damages that serve you well for the foreseeable future.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
While drivers have the safety of seat belts, airbags, and the vehicle’s structure to absorb impacts, motorcyclists are more exposed.
As a result, injuries in motorcycle accidents tend to be more severe than those reported in car accidents. Below are some of the injuries that bikers have reported in accidents in Toledo and other Ohio communities:
- Broken bones and fractures to the hips, legs, and ribs
- Muscle and tendon sprains, strains, and tears
- Dislocated shoulders and collarbones
- Road rash
- Crushing injuries resulting in damage to internal organs
- Severe burns, cuts, and abrasions
- Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and spinal cord injuries that result in partial or complete paralysis
Personal injury attorneys will encourage you to treat your injuries and continue to do so for as long as your doctor recommends. As you do, your lawyer will explore many legal avenues to help you secure compensation for your medical care bills and other losses.
Our Toledo Motorcycle Collision Attorneys Provide Compassionate and Results-Driven Legal Representation
You are unsure about how to respond after a motorcycle accident. If someone else is responsible for the incident, take legal action against them. Speak with Toledo motorcycle collision lawyers, and you’ll be able to find out if you have grounds for suing this party for compensatory damages.
The team at Groth & Associates understands the major impact a motorcycle accident will have on nearly every aspect of your life. If you want to file a motorcycle accident claim or lawsuit, we will provide you with the legal representation you need to recover maximum compensation.
Allow us to help you with your motorcycle collision claim or lawsuit. For more information, schedule a free case consultation.
Call or text (419) 930-3030 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
