Buffalo Motorcycle Accident Lawyer 

A motorcycle can provide a sense of freedom and independence that the typical car can’t provide. Unfortunately, it can also mean you’re exposed and in danger when you’re involved in a Buffalo motorcycle accident. 

Motorcycle accidents can lead to devastating injuries, long-term disability, and even death. Because of this, it’s vital to seek out a Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyer for your case. The attorneys at Brown Chiari LLP understand the suffering you’re experiencing and are ready to help you recover. 

What Makes a Motorcycle Accident So Dangerous? 

When you’re on a motorcycle, you’re more at risk than other drivers. That’s because a motorcycle leaves you exposed to the road more than a car. There’s little or nothing between you and the road if you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident. 

That means motorcyclists are often prone to more severe injuries. Helmets can do a lot to prevent traumatic brain injury (TBI), but they don’t always prevent them. Likewise, you may have a spinal injury, severe road rash, broken bones, and other serious injuries. 

Motorcycles aren’t just small, but also lack the many basic safety features cars are required to have. You don’t have a seat belt or an airbag while on a motorcycle, and that can spell disaster for your well-being. That disaster may require a Buffalo motorcycle accident attorney to review your severe damages and help you get answers. 

Insurance Companies May Not Be on Your Side

After such a devastating Buffalo motorcycle accident, you may be thinking about the insurance policy you pay into and the funds you may be due for a settlement. Unfortunately, insurance companies may not be so willing to offer you the funds you’re due for your injuries. 

That’s because insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Paying out for your claim is an expense, and they want to avoid big expenses to help their profits. Unfortunately, that’s especially serious for motorcyclists, who may suffer more severe injuries, which means a need for a higher payout. 

If you suspect you’re not getting the insurance settlement you’re due, your motorcycle crash lawyer in Buffalo is here to help. Your lawyer can handle negotiations with the insurance company. If they continue to refuse you in bad faith, your lawyer will help you take your claim to court and get compensated for your suffering. 

Liability for a Buffalo Motorcycle Accident 

When you’re hurt in a Buffalo motorcycle accident, you need to know who’s responsible for your injuries, which indicates who’s obligated to pay the costs of your recovery. Motorcycle accidents can be complicated, which is why it’s so important to speak with a lawyer about your claim before you act. 

Unsure who’s liable for your injuries? Talk to your lawyer about identifying the at-fault party, who may not be the person who hit you. 

Single-Vehicle Accidents 

When you’re hurt in a Buffalo motorcycle accident, the liable party is often a careless driver who hit you. But what if you were the only vehicle involved in the accident? 

In some cases, it may not be your fault. Let’s say your brakes failed and you were in an accident. In these cases, your accident may have been caused by a manufacturing defect, and responsibility would lie on the manufacturer. 

In other cases, you may have hit a pothole or other road defect that caused you to lose control of your motorcycle. If the Department of Transportation has failed to repair known damage or defects, they may be liable for your injuries. 

Drivers on the Clock 

While another driver may have been responsible for your injuries, a motorcycle accident may be more complex if you’re struck by a driver who’s on the clock, such as a commercial truck driver. Besides being more dangerous due to the size and momentum of a commercial truck, these claims may be more complex because the drivers are at work. 

When a worker is driving and hits another person in the scope of their job, the driver may not be financially liable for the accident. That may fall on the employer, who’s responsible for the actions of the employee. 

Multiple-Car Accidents 

Likewise, your Buffalo motorcycle accident may be more complex if more cars are involved in the accident. In some cases, one driver’s mistake can lead to a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles and many injury victims. When this happens, it can be difficult to get answers on fault in the aftermath. 

In these cases, you may need an expert witness to help you determine fault. Expert witnesses can bring their professional expertise to help you answer questions about evidence. For example, your lawyer may seek out someone who can reconstruct the accident to determine how it happened and whose actions caused your motorcycle accident. 

Compensation for a Buffalo Motorcycle Accident

Getting your injuries and other sufferings, or damages, covered in your Buffalo motorcycle accident claim can be tough. How do you know what your claim is worth? What if you undersell the value of your claim, or ask too much? 

Your Buffalo motorcycle crash attorney is here to help you calculate the full value of your claim. Check out the damages, both compensatory and punitive, that you may be due. 

Financial Losses 

When you’re hurt in a motorcycle accident, you may have a massive financial problem on your hands. Your medical bills may be high, and your motorcycle may be totaled. These damages are called economic damages, and they should cover all financial losses you’ve suffered because of the accident. For example, you may be due any of the following: 

• Current and future medical costs 
• Lost wages if you’re unable to work 
• Household accommodations, like wheelchair ramps 
• Transportation costs 
• Property damage 

Mental and Emotional Costs 

It’s not just your economic damages that make up your compensatory damages, but also the non-economic damages that impact your mental and emotional well-being. These damages can be more difficult to calculate because they’re intangible, meaning they don’t have a specific dollar value. You can add up your days of missed work, but how do you calculate the cost of pain? 

Talk to your lawyer about seeking these damages and including them in your lawsuit:

• Pain and suffering 
• Emotional distress 
• Loss of enjoyment of life 
• Disfigurement 
• Loss of consortium 

Punitive Damages 

When someone is hurt in a Buffalo motorcycle accident, it’s often due to the carelessness of others while on the road. But what if you were injured because someone was dangerously negligent or even trying to hurt you? This is the case for some people hit by drunk drivers or aggressive drivers. 

In these cases, you may be due punitive damages. These damages aren’t meant to compensate you for your suffering, but are instead meant to punish the wrongdoer for their actions. 

These damages aren’t available for everyone, and they can be difficult to prove. Because of this, you may need to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer if you believe you have grounds for punitive damages. Your lawyer can help you determine whether you’re eligible for these damages. 

Contact a Buffalo Motorcycle Accident Attorney 

When you’re hurt in a Buffalo motorcycle accident, recovering from your injuries is no easy task. Unfortunately, you may be struggling to overcome the accruing bills, and the at-fault party may be trying to blame you for the accident. 

At Brown Chiari LLP, we know it’s tough to recover from a motorcycle accident. That’s why we offer free consultations with a Buffalo motorcycle accident lawyer before you make any decisions about your claim. When you’re ready to take action, give us a call at 716-681-7190 or fill out the following online contact form to learn more.