CONNECTICUTMotorcycle Accident Attorney

At Tehrani Law Group, we fight for the rights of injury victims across Connecticut. Our Connecticut motorcycle accident lawyer has the legal experience necessary to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. 

We pride ourselves on being approachable with clients and aggressive in our representation. Working with a Connecticut personal injury lawyer should make your life easier at a time when everything else may seem stressful. Let us focus on the heavy lifting of your case while you focus on healing and getting back to your life. 

The Benefits of a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You 

Recovering from a motorcycle accident can leave you in pain and feeling vulnerable. Navigating an insurance claim and potential lawsuit often only adds to your stress and vulnerability. Insurance companies prioritize protecting their assets and minimizing payouts. Unfortunately, these efforts usually come at the injured party’s expense. 

However, our Connecticut motorcycle accident attorney knows their strategies and is prepared to navigate them to protect your settlement. At Tehrani Law Group, we are skilled negotiators who know how to use leverage in your case to increase the value of your recovery. Some of what we do for motorcycle accident cases includes:

• Investigating the circumstances of your accident 
• Compiling evidence to build your case and make a convincing argument
• Negotiate with the insurance company 
• Take your case to court
• Act as a point of contact for anything relating to your claim or lawsuit

Founder Payman Tehrani Esq. has experience as a trial lawyer handling personal injury cases of all kinds. However, his prior experience representing insurance companies gives him a unique edge in handling your case against the insurance company.

Motorcyclists are required to have a motorcycle endorsement on their license to ride in Connecticut legally. According to the Connecticut DMV, this requires you to pass a written test, a vision test, and an approved motorcycle safety course. 

Connecticut Helmet Laws

One of the most significant factors in the severity of your injuries is whether you are wearing the appropriate protective gear. The state of Connecticut requires riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet at all times on a motorcycle. However, adults are not required by law. 

Lane Splitting

Due to inconsistencies in laws across states, many Connecticut motorcyclists think lane splitting is legal. However, it is prohibited under General Statutes § 14-289b. Lane splitting is a common practice among motorcycle riders who are anxious to keep moving. It involves riding between lanes at traffic lights or when traffic is otherwise still. 

While it may save time for riders, it can make their actions unpredictable and, therefore, more vulnerable to being hit by another vehicle. If a driver does not expect a motorcycle in their blind spot, they are more likely to miss it when checking their blind spot, or they may not check 

Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Accidents come in all shapes and sizes. According to collision data, Connecticut saw 1,269 motorcycle accidents in a recent reporting year. Many of those injured faced an uphill climb to recover. Some accidents happen at high speeds, while others happen in calmer residential areas. Regardless of the type of accident, many bikers end up seriously hurt in a wreck.

We have helped clients injured in the following types of collisions:

Lane-Splitting Accidents: Too many motorists lane split even though it is illegal. You can easily get hit if someone were to open their door or simply adjust their positioning in the lane.

Left-Hand Turn Accidents: These accidents are prevalent. A motorist waiting to make a left-hand turn doesn’t see a motorcycle coming at the tail end of traffic. Because bikes are more minor, many motorists overlook them, leading them to hit them on the side or pull out in front of them.

Head-On Collisions: Motorists can slam head-on into a motorcycle in several situations. For example, a car might move to overtake a vehicle on the left, only to see a motorcycle too late. These head-on collisions are often deadly.

Rear-End Collisions: A driver may cause a rear-end collision by failing to pay attention. Whether they are unable to stop in time or simply overlook the need, the results can be devastating for the rider. 

In our experience, negligent motorists are often to blame. This often includes drivers who fail to check blind spots or follow too closely. Some of the more common situations we encounter include

• Texting and driving
• Eating
• Having an in-depth conversation
• Tending to a pet
• Improper lane change
• Speeding 
• Impatience

Other motorists fail to drive carefully because they are fatigued or possibly intoxicated. With delayed reflexes, they can’t take defensive action to avoid a wreck—and motorcyclists bear the brunt of the consequences in almost any collision. 

Who Is Liable for Your Motorcycle Accident?

Under Connecticut law, anyone responsible for the accident may be liable for the related damages. Most often, responsibility falls on another driver who was careless or negligent behind the wheel. However, depending on the circumstances of your collision, there may be other liable parties. 

If poor road conditions, missing or damaged signage, or similar conditions contributed to your accident, the local municipality may be held liable. Bringing civil actions against a government entity falls under Connecticut Municipal Law and may have different procedures and deadlines. Check with a motorcycle accident lawyer near you to help you determine the liable parties in your unique case.

Comparative Negligence Laws in Connecticut 

You may be concerned about your ability to recover compensation if you contributed to your accident in any way. However, according to section 52.572, Connecticut operates under the modified comparative negligence model. This means you can still recover compensation if you were less than 50% responsible for the accident. 

For example, suppose you were speeding six miles over the speed limit, and another vehicle made a left turn in front of you, causing an accident. The insurance company or court may determine you are 5% at fault for the accident because the increased speed affected the other driver’s ability to gauge their window to turn safely. If your total award is $100,000, what they owe will be decreased by your liability of 5%, meaning you will leave with $95,000 instead. 

Establishing Negligence in Your Connecticut Motorcycle Accident 

Establishing negligence is the key to any successful personal injury case. Demonstrating that the other party was negligent is not necessarily the challenging part, but providing evidence to support the full extent of the damages can often be the source of pushback. While civil cases face a lower burden of proof than criminal cases, our motorcycle accident lawyers in Connecticut must establish at least four things. 

Duty of Care

You must establish that the responsible party had a duty to the injured party. In the case of a motorcycle accident, this will likely relate to their duty to follow traffic laws that ensure safety. 

Breach of Duty 

Next, you must show that the person breached that duty. This may be supported by a citation issued for failure to yield, improper left turn, speeding, or something similar. 

Cause

You must show that this breach of duty caused your injuries. This may be established through photos of the scene, medical records, witness statements, or testimony of friends and family.

Damages 

You must show that those injuries resulted in actual losses or damages. A motorcycle accident attorney near you may also use medical records and bills, pay stubs to calculate lost wages, or witness testimony to support your experience of pain and suffering damages. 

Evidence in Your Motorcycle Accident Case

To make a convincing argument, you must present convincing evidence. Though you may feel helpless in the process, there are a few things you might be able to do from the very beginning that can help your motorcycle accident attorney build your case. 

Photos

If you are able, take photos of the accident site. This should include the road, any damaged structures, and your injuries. If you or someone nearby may have video footage from a security or dashcam, this can be invaluable evidence. 

Seek Immediate Medical Evaluation

You should seek medical evaluation and treatment as soon as possible after the accident. This ensures you have identified all injuries, even if they may not seem evident at first. It also provides documentation of your injuries immediately after the accident. If you delay medical assessment, the insurance company may try to argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident or that you exacerbated them in a different incident after the accident. Immediate evaluation may prevent the success of these attempts to dismiss your injuries. 

Save Your Clothing

After a motorcycle accident, your clothing can provide a surprising amount of information about what happened. Take pictures of your helmet and any clothing at the scene, and keep them afterward. Your attorney may want to use it as evidence for a court or provide it to an expert witness who may use scratches, holes, or other damage to corroborate your narrative of the accident. 

Motorcycles suffer serious injuries because they offer so little protection, and many will suffer permanent disfigurement or disability. Some of the most serious injuries include:

• Abrasions, cuts, or burns: Friction burns and cuts are especially common in areas where exposed skin contacts the pavement or ground 
• Fractures: fractures in the pelvis, legs, and arms
• Head injuries: including concussions or more severe Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Chest injuries: punctured lungs, heart contusion, and fractured ribs
• Back injuries: herniated discs, shattered vertebrae, and spinal cord injury
• Psychological injuries: It is common to experience an increase in depression or anxiety symptoms, as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Motorcycle accident injuries require immediate medical evaluation and treatment to prevent exacerbation. If necessary, call an ambulance to pick you up. In many cases, the sooner you seek medical care, the better your recovery. 

Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Claims

If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you may have legal recourse to support your family through this time and hold the responsible parties accountable. Connecticut statutory rights allow the executor or administrator of the decedent’s estate to file a claim for wrongful death, which will benefit a surviving spouse or heirs. 

You can call a Tehrani Law Group motorcycle accident attorney near you to discuss your eligibility for a wrongful death suit. We know that no amount of money will bring back your loved one, but a wrongful death claim can bring accountability to those responsible and provide a financial cushion while you figure out how to put your life back together. 

A Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You Will Help You Fight for the Compensation You Deserve

The reality of recovering from accident injuries is that it can be incredibly stressful, physically, emotionally, and financially. Working with our Connecticut motorcycle accident attorneys will likely help you assess the value of your case and determine the damages you are eligible to claim. Some of these include:

• Medical Bills 
• Prescription costs
• Travel expenses to and from appointments
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning potential 
• Pain and Suffering

In most situations, you will work with your attorney to value economic damages first. These are damages with an actual dollar amount associated with them, such as medical bills, repair costs, or lost wages. Once your attorney establishes that value, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering can be calculated proportionately. These are commonly determined through a formula, and the amount is based on the economic damages. 

Reach Out to a Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Attorney Near You

You deserve to hold negligent motorists accountable for your injuries. The Tehrani Law Group offers free consultations that allow us to discuss the facts of your case and determine how our motorcycle accident attorney near you can help. 

With years of experience handling motor vehicle accident claims, you can trust our firm to handle your case efficiently and with the respect it deserves. Our goal is always to help you recover the maximum compensation available and secure results that satisfy you. Call us today for the support you deserve.