Millbrook, AL Motorcycle Accidents Lawyer
Millbrook is a city that brings together the charm of a quaint little Southern town and the convenience of an urban center. It’s home to natural attractions like Jackson Lake Island and the Alabama Natural Center. Due to its economic vitality, low crime rate, and standard of living, Millbrook is considered one of the best places to live in the country.
With an average car ownership rate of two cars per household, Millbrook is a car-friendly city – just like most other cities in Alabama. It’s one of the reasons why motorcycle accidents are so common here, as many motorists are simply not used to sharing the road with motorcyclists on a regular basis.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you have the legal right to recover monetary damages from the party responsible for the accident. The Millbrook, AL motorcycle accident lawyers at the law office of Frank M. Wilson can represent you, determine the value of your claim, build a strong case against the at-fault party, and fight relentlessly to recover the damages you are owed.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Millbrook, AL
Data shows that driver negligence is the single biggest contributing factor to motorcycle accidents in Millbrook, AL. When a driver fails to understand that they owe a duty of care towards other road users – particularly vulnerable road users like motorcyclists – and acts in a negligent manner, accidents are inevitable.
Examples of driver negligence and error that can result in a motorcycle accident include:
- Talking on the phone, texting, checking emails, eating, or doing anything else that can cause them to take their eyes off the road or hands off the wheel
- Speeding
- Driving too fast for conditions (particularly under inclement weather conditions when the visibility might be poor and the road surface can be slippery)
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drowsy or fatigued driving
- Failing to check for motorcyclists while turning and changing lanes
- Failing to yield the right of way to motorcyclists
Apart from this, dangerous road conditions like potholes, gravel, the buildup of snow and ice, edge breaks between lanes, and debris can also lead to motorcycle accidents.
Dangerous Intersections for Motorcyclists in Millbrook, AL
Intersections in Millbrook where the risk of motorcycle accidents is notably high include:
- Highway 143 (Main Street) and Cobbs Ford Road/Alabama River Parkway
- Highway 14 and Oak Tree Road
- Highway 14 and Coosada Parkway
- Highway 14 and Ingram Road
Risk of Serious Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
One of the reasons why motorcycle accidents often tend to result in catastrophic injuries is that motorcyclists do not enjoy the kind of protection that the occupants of passenger vehicles have.
Motorcycles do not have any built-in protective features that cars and SUVs have. It’s the primary reason why motorcyclists are likely to suffer serious injuries in the event of a collision with another vehicle.
Moreover, occupants of a passenger vehicle are unlikely to be thrown out of the vehicle in the event of an accident – as long as they wear a seatbelt. Motorcyclists, on the other hand, can get thrown off their bikes in the event of a collision, which increases the risk of life-threatening injuries significantly.
Damages That Can Be Recovered in a Millbrook, AL Motorcycle Accident Claim
As a victim of a motorcycle accident, you have the right to recover economic damages as well as non-economic damages from the at-fault party.
Economic damages include current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, lost earnings, loss of earning capacity, and property damage.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life.
The amount of damages you can recover from the at-fault party depends on a number of factors including:
- How serious your injuries are
- Whether you might need treatment and care on an ongoing basis for the foreseeable future
- Whether you are physically or cognitively impaired due to your injuries
- Whether your earning capacity has been impacted by your injuries
- Whether your injuries have reduced your quality of life in any way
- Whether your injuries have left you permanently or significantly disfigured
Damages That Can Be Recovered in a Millbrook, AL Wrongful Death Claim
Motorcycle accidents often result in fatal injuries to the rider as well as the passenger. If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you can bring a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party and recover damages.
Under Alabama law, the administrator or executive of a decedent’s estate is the only person who has the right to file a wrongful death claim. If you have been named as the administrator or executive in the decedent’s will or if you are appointed as one by the court, you can file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. Otherwise, you need to file a petition and request the court to appoint you as the administrator of the decedent’s estate in order to be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party.
More importantly, you cannot recover any compensatory damages from the at-fault party by filing a wrongful death claim. Instead, you will be awarded punitive damages, which are not meant to compensate you for the loss of your loved one, but to punish the at-fault party for their actions.
The amount of punitive damages to be awarded in a wrongful death claim is decided based on the seriousness of the at-fault party’s wrongdoings. Unlike a personal injury claim, the compensation awarded in a wrongful death claim is not paid out to the person who filed the claim. Instead, the amount is distributed among the decedent’s heirs in accordance with the law.
Contact Our Millbrook, AL Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation
At the law offices of Frank M. Wilson, we know that a motorcycle accident can leave you seriously injured and traumatized. It is why we fight aggressively to get the largest possible settlement for each and every one of our clients.
Our founder – Frank M. Wilson – is one of the most accomplished personal injury lawyers in Alabama and is a recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating. Often referred to as a ‘lawyer’s lawyer’, Frank M. Wilson is the person that other lawyers come to when they need someone to represent them.
To find out how we can help you with your claim, call us today at 334-420-2931 or contact us online and schedule a free consultation with a seasoned Millbrook, AL motorcycle accident lawyer.
