
Motorcycles are difficult to ride because of the skill required to maneuver safely. Other drivers can make riding even harder by failing to spot motorcyclists or underestimating their capabilities. Learning how to be a safe driver for motorcyclists in Lafayette, LA, can help motorists avoid many negative consequences of a motorcycle accident.
Drivers who hit motorcyclists may face the guilt of injuring or even killing a rider. If they were driving negligently, they would also be liable for the rider’s losses. A Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyer from Kenny Habetz Injury Law can pursue significant compensation from careless, distracted, or intoxicated drivers who collide with motorcycles. Contact us today at (337) 399-9000 to get your free initial consultation.
How Kenny Habetz Injury Law Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Lafayette, LA

Kenny Habetz Injury Law has been serving accident victims in Lafayette, Louisiana, for over a decade. Our Lafayette personal injury attorneys have decades of legal experience fighting insurers and at-fault parties for injured clients. We have successfully recovered millions of dollars in life-changing financial compensation for our clients.
When you choose to work with us, we will:
- Assess your legal options and advise you about how you can proceed
- Assemble evidence for your case
- Prepare your insurance claim and explore settlement options with the insurer
- Take your case to court if the insurer refuses to settle your claim
Motorcycle accidents can cause severe physical trauma and financial hardships. Contact Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free consultation with a Lafayette personal injury attorney to discuss your crash and the compensation you can seek under Louisiana law.
What Causes Motorcycle Accidents in Lafayette, LA?
Motorcycle accidents often happen when drivers fail to spot motorcyclists. Drivers may fail to see smaller vehicles like motorcycles in traffic. Additionally, a cognitive bias called inattentional blindness can prevent a driver’s mind from recognizing a motorcycle in plain sight simply because they are not looking for it.
Thus, one way to become a safer driver for motorcyclists is to look for them in traffic. A common motorcycle accident happens when drivers change lanes without checking their blind spots. Looking into your blind spot for motorcycles can help you avoid this type of collision.
Another common crash occurs when drivers turn left across the path of an oncoming rider. This type of collision often results from the driver’s failure to properly judge the motorcycle’s speed or distance. You can avoid this type of collision by giving motorcyclists the same deference as other vehicles.
Speeding can also cause you to lose control of your vehicle. It also increases the impact energy when you hit a motorcycle. One way you can reduce both the risk and severity of an accident is to slow down and make sure you follow speed limits.
What Injuries Result From Motorcycle Accidents?
The most likely body parts injured in a motorcycle accident include the head, lower limbs, and upper limbs. These injuries often result when a collision knocks a motorcycle over. The rider will suffer injuries to their head, shoulders, arms, and hips as they strike the pavement. Their legs can also get crushed or burned when they get trapped under the motorcycle.
What Compensation Can Accident Victims Pursue?
If a negligent driver hit a motorcyclist, the driver could be held liable for the motorcyclist’s economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses include medical expenses, lost income, and other financial costs. Non-economic losses include pain, suffering, disability, and disfigurement.
How Much Do Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Charge?
Injury lawyers typically charge a contingency fee payable at the end of a case based on the compensation recovered. As a result, lawyers will start working on an injury claim without any upfront payments by the client.
Can Riders Recover Compensation If They Contributed to Their Louisiana Motorcycle Accident?
Drivers are not responsible for every motorcycle collision. Under Louisiana’s modified comparative negligence law, motorcyclists can bear a percentage of the fault for their contribution to a crash. The compensation they recover will be reduced by their share of the blame.
Thus, a motorcyclist who negligently violated the state’s helmet law might bear 30% of the fault for their head injury and only recover 70% of their losses. However, it is important to note that if the victim is more than 50% at fault, they cannot recover at all.
How Long Does Louisiana Give Me to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit?
Effective July 1, 2024, Louisiana gives motorcycle crash victims two years to file a lawsuit for their injuries. The previous statute of limitations was one year, so riders now have twice as long to seek compensation after a driver hits them.
Contact Our Lafayette Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A motorcycle accident in Lafayette, Louisiana, can cause serious injuries that disable a motorcyclist. If a negligent driver has hit you, contact Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free consultation with a Lafayette motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss the compensation you can get for your injuries.