Nebraska offers some prime motorcycle riding. Whether cruising the Loess Hills or enjoying Halsey’s endless wilderness trails, our great state is a two-wheeled paradise. But when another person causes an accident, and you become injured on a bike, an experienced Lincoln motorcycle accident lawyer at Steffens Law Offices can help you obtain the highest possible compensation to get you back on the road again.
Why Choose Steffens Law Offices for Your Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Since Steffens Law Offices opened its doors over 35 years ago, the firm has provided personalized legal services to the people of Lincoln and throughout Nebraska when faced with personal injury, including those involving motorcycle accidents.
With over 35 years of experience in personal injury law, our lawyers have a deep understanding of the legal complexities and challenges associated with these cases.
The lawyers at Steffens Law Offices prioritize client satisfaction and communication. We have a track record of providing personalized attention to our clients, ensuring you are well-informed throughout the legal process.
This dedication to client care can make a significant difference in the outcome of your claim, as you'll feel supported and informed every step of the way. Our results are in the millions of dollars we have recovered for accident victims through settlements and verdicts.
Research shows that accident victims who retain a lawyer to handle their claim recover significantly more compensation than those who handle their claim independently — even after attorney’s fees.
Steffens Law Offices’ local presence in Lincoln means our lawyers have a deep understanding of the local laws, regulations, and court systems, giving us an edge in representing your interests effectively. Contact us today for your free consultation and to discuss your legal options.
How Common are Motorcycle Accidents in Lincoln, NE?
Motorcycle crashes happen far too often in states across the U.S., and Nebraska is no exception. According to the Nebraska Department of Transportation, between 21 and 34 motorcycle riders have died on Nebraska roads each year over the past five years, and nearly 500 suffer injuries in accidents annually.
Why are Motorcycle Accidents so Dangerous?
Motorcycle accidents are particularly dangerous due to several inherent factors that make riders more vulnerable compared to occupants of other vehicles. First, motorcycles lack the protective features that cars or trucks offer, such as seatbelts, airbags, and the structural frame of a vehicle.
In a collision, motorcyclists are directly exposed to the impact, leading to a higher risk of severe injuries or fatalities. The absence of a protective barrier makes riders more susceptible to traumatic injuries, including head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and fractures.
Second, motorcycles have a smaller profile and are often less visible to other road users. This reduced visibility can lead to a higher likelihood of accidents caused by other drivers failing to see or recognize motorcycles, resulting in collisions.
Additionally, smaller motorcycles make them less stable than four-wheeled vehicles, making them prone to accidents caused by road hazards like potholes, gravel, or uneven surfaces.
Motorcycles offer less stability and maneuverability than cars, making it challenging for riders to avoid accidents in certain situations. Factors like cars suddenly braking, poor weather conditions, or rapid changes in traffic can pose significant challenges for motorcyclists.
Do I have a Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Whether you have a motorcycle accident claim depends on whether you can show the other party was negligent.
To establish a negligence claim in a motorcycle accident, you typically need to prove four key elements:
- Duty of Care: You must establish that the other party owed you a duty of care. In the context of a motorcycle accident, all drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and responsibly, following traffic laws and being cautious around other road users, including motorcyclists.
- Breach of Duty: You must demonstrate that the other party breached their duty of care by failing to act in a reasonably safe manner. This could involve actions like speeding, running a red light, driving while distracted, or making an unsafe lane change, which directly led to the accident.
- Causation: You need to establish a direct link between the other party's breach of duty and the accident that caused your injuries. This means showing that their negligent actions were the proximate cause of the accident and your resulting injuries.
- Damages: To have a valid claim, you must have suffered actual damages as a result of the accident. These damages can include medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. Your claim's strength will depend on the extent of the damages you can prove.
When you consult an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, they will assess the specifics of your case and determine whether you have a viable motorcycle accident claim.
What Compensation is Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims?
If you're involved in a crash due to another person's negligence, people's minds often start thinking about how much their injury case is worth. The truth is, every injury case is different. The compensation you receive will depend on the damages you suffered.
Here are some damages a motorcycle accident victim may seek:
- Repair costs – Generally, the costs to repair or replace your motorcycle and your gear are recoverable and should be incorporated into any settlement you accept for your motorcycle accident.
- Medical reimbursement – Your medical care, including emergency transportation, imaging and x-rays, surgeries, and rehabilitation therapy, are generally recoverable.
- Lost income – Many accident victims can no longer perform essential work duties or may be limited in what they can perform during their rehab. These types of losses are often recoverable.
- Lost future income from the inability to work – Your expected losses of future income resulting from your accident and injuries is recoverable under your settlement.
- Disability – If you can’t do the activities you used to do, that may be calculated into an award of compensation.
- Pain and Suffering – whether physical, mental, or both, resulting from a motorcycle accident can mean suffering from mental stress or chronic pain, and these can be recoverable.
- Disfigurement/death – the death or disfigurement of a loved one is unthinkable. Still, these damages warrant inclusion when you have lost the love, emotional support, and earnings that stem from their death.
Who Can You Hold Liable in a Motorcycle Accident?
In a motorcycle accident claim, liability can extend to various parties, depending on the specific circumstances of the accident. Here are some common parties that may be held liable:
Another Driver
The most common scenario is when another motorist's negligent actions — such as speeding, reckless driving, distracted driving, or failure to yield — lead to a motorcycle accident. In such cases, the at-fault driver's insurance may be responsible for compensating the injured motorcyclist.
Vehicle Manufacturer
If a defect or malfunction in the motorcycle itself contributed to the accident, the manufacturer or distributor could be held liable for product liability. This may include issues with brakes, tires, or other critical components.
Government Entities
If the accident was caused by a hazardous road condition, such as potholes, inadequate signage, or poorly designed intersections, the government agency responsible for maintaining the road may be held liable.
Third Parties
Liability might extend to third parties in cases involving negligence by other road users, such as pedestrians or bicyclists, or if a commercial vehicle was involved, the employer of the driver may share liability.
Bars or Establishments
In some cases, bars or establishments may be held liable if they served alcohol to a minor who later caused a motorcycle accident due to impaired driving, known as dram shop liability.
6 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Lincoln
Here are some ways a lawyer with Steffens Law Offices can help you:
1) Negligence
Most motorcycle accidents in Lincoln happen due to another person’s negligence. Drivers turning left in front of you, side-swiping you, or suddenly braking can frequently cause accidents that result in injuries to motorcyclists. If you have been seriously injured because of another person’s negligence, our motorcycle injury lawyer in Lincoln, NE, will have your back every step of the way.
2) Collecting Evidence
Evidence can mean the difference between a great case and no case. Our attorneys will not rest until we understand everything about how your accident happened and impacted your life, why it happened, and who should pay.
Responsible parties may include another driver, the motorcycle manufacturer, or the entity responsible for the quality of the roadway. The attorneys at Steffens Law Offices have obtained significant compensation from all of the above in Lincoln and greater Nebraska.
3) Best Medical Care
As with motorcycles, no two doctors are identical. Your injuries may call for a specialist’s care that’s unique to the area. Even common motorcycle accident injuries like spinal cord injury or head trauma may require medical treatment that is not readily available.
If surgery or significant rehabilitation is required, Steffens Law Office understands these complicated procedures and can ensure you obtain them to aid your recovery, whether in Lincoln or elsewhere in Nebraska.
[Related: How to Use a Pain Diary to Document Your Injuries]
4) Lower Medical Costs
Many motorcycle accident survivors learn the hard way that necessary medical care often costs tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. MRI, PET, or CT scans can be extremely expensive, and these merely assist a medical doctor in evaluating the nature and extent of your injuries. A good motorcycle accident lawyer in Lincoln, NE, can negotiate a reduction of your medical bills directly with the provider, so that you pay the absolute lowest amount possible for the care you need to recover.
5) An Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Get You Higher Compensation
No one should have to live with the trauma or life-impairing injuries that can result from a serious motorcycle accident. But if you find yourself in this position, Steffens Law Office lawyers in Lincoln make it our business to ensure you receive the best compensation possible.
Our life’s passion is fighting anyone and everyone who might stand in the way of our clients’ total and complete recovery. From defense lawyers to insurance companies, we know how to use the law and facts of your situation to advocate for the highest settlement in the shortest time possible.
6) Trial When Necessary
Usually, our clients obtain compensation through settlement without litigation. But in the rare situation where the insurance company or other responsible party won’t listen to reason, the lawyers at Steffens Law Offices know the courtrooms in Lincoln inside and out. We can plan and execute a litigation strategy that favors decisive victory.
How Much Will It Cost to Hire an Attorney?
The Lincoln motorcycle accident attorney you hire should never charge you anything out of pocket or upfront. Good lawyers have the resources and ethics to take your case on a contingency basis, meaning we only get paid if you do.
All the attorney’s time, resources, and effort cost nothing if you don’t receive just compensation. We know you have been through a lot, and our client agreement demonstrates that our interests are aligned with yours: we’ll never make a penny unless you do, and we’ll never make more than you do. Guaranteed. If other motorcycle crash attorneys can’t make the same promise, you are talking to the wrong ones.
Contact the Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Steffens Law Office Today
At Steffens Law Offices, we love what we do because we get to help people like you. Call our Lincoln motorcycle accident attorneys today at (402) 414-4898 or through our online form and find out what we can do for you. While no case is simple, and we can’t predict your case's outcome, we can promise we’ll do whatever we can to achieve results that exceed your expectations.
Steffens Law Offices Lincoln - Never Ride Alone