motorcycle accident lawyer alberta

What Makes Motorcycle Accidents Different from Other Types of Accidents?

Motorcycle accidents are highly unique from other types of motor vehicle accidents. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need the experienced team of Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers at James H. Brown & Associates to fight for you.

Advanced Rehabilitation

Injuries in motorcycle accidents are often life-threatening or fatal. Common injuries include traumatic brain injury, broken bones, road rash, and facial injuries. At James H. Brown & Associates, we understand the trauma extends far beyond your physical injuries. We help you understand the legal process and provide support from start to finish so that you can focus on your recovery.

As a large, experienced law firm, we are proud to offer a full range of resources for accident victims and their families, including access to multi-disciplinary experts and specialists to diagnose your injuries and determine long-term impacts. We have strong relationships with organizations ready to assist with rehabilitation and recovery.

Critical Investigation

Motorcycle Accidents require thorough and timely investigation to ensure the crucial evidence in your case is preserved. This often involves a team of lawyers, accident reconstruction engineers and specialized analysts to work diligently to gather evidence so that your strongest case is advanced. We have our team of accident reconstruction engineers and analysts attend at the scene of the accident to ensure the critical evidence is gathered in your case. Don’t wait. Contact our Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers today.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are often caused by another driver making a left-hand turn or changing lanes without checking for motorcyclists passing. There are additional risks that motorcyclists face compared to driving in a car. Motorcycles are less visible than other vehicles. In Alberta, motorcycles are typically on the road only a few months of the year so drivers may not be as accustomed to checking for motorcyclists.

Motorcyclists are not as protected, without airbags and a seatbelt, as in a car. Motorcyclists are often faced with the perception that they are reckless or not following the rules of the road. We highly recommend you get legal representation, as insurance companies often consider the motorcyclist to be at fault or partially at fault for the collision.

Liability

In Alberta and most of Canada, the plaintiff, the person injured in an accident, has the onus of proving on a balance of probabilities (that it is more likely than not), that their injuries were caused by the negligence of the other driver. In some cases, the motorcyclist is found to have contributed or been partly at fault for the accident. To understand contributory negligence see our blog on it here. Factors considered include whether the motorcyclist was following the laws and regulations and whether the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. A timely investigation is critical.

Calculating Damages

Calculating damages, in other words, determining the amount of money you will receive for the losses you have suffered, is based on different categories or “heads” of damages.

Non-pecuniary damages are those losses that are more subjective and are not directly quantifiable in monetary value, for example, the pain and suffering you have experienced and the loss of enjoyment of life.

Pecuniary damages refer to losses that can be quantified in monetary terms. Some examples are ambulance bills and wage loss. Compensation for wage loss is often one of the greatest concerns for accident victims. If you have missed work due to the accident or are unable to return to work, you may be worried about how you will be able to support yourself and your family. Speak to one of our Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers to help you understand how damages can be proven in your case.

James H. Brown and Associates is Here For You

At James H. Brown & Associates, we work on a contingency fee basis which means that we do not charge any upfront fees and only get paid if your case is successful. You likely have many questions and may not know where to turn. Don’t wait to call us. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can gather the critical evidence in your case and help you understand the process so that you can focus on the health of you and your loved ones.