Motorcycle accidents are often serious collisions with severe injuries inflicted on the rider. Unfortunately, insurance companies have stigmas against motorcyclists that can get in the way of making a fair financial recovery.
A Clovis personal injury lawyer from The Fine Law Firm can help you even the playing field and improve your odds of case success. Discuss your motorcycle accident today at no cost or pressure to hire us during a free consultation with a lawyer in Clovis.
Why Clients Choose Us
- Our attorneys have more than 50 years of experience representing clients in serious, catastrophic and fatal motorcycle accident cases in New Mexico.
- We prioritize client satisfaction. We take a personal approach, with hands-on representation, personalized services and compassionate dedication to the client.
- No win = no fee. Our motorcycle accident lawyers in Clovis operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning our clients aren’t charged anything unless we win.
What Does a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Clovis Do?
A personal injury attorney who handles motorcycle accident cases will have insider knowledge of how insurance companies operate, including how they work against these claims to take advantage of injured riders when they are most vulnerable.
When you hire a motorcycle accident lawyer in Clovis, you gain an aggressive advocate who can go up against insurance adjusters for you to seek maximum compensation for your losses. It is especially important to contact an attorney if you suffer catastrophic injuries with long-lasting effects and ongoing medical bills.
Your lawyer can return to the scene of the motorcycle accident, gather evidence, determine fault, accurately evaluate your damages, file a claim or lawsuit for you, negotiate with claims adjusters, hire experts and – if necessary – bring your case to court in Curry County to seek justice for you.
What Causes Motorcycle Accidents in Clovis?
In 2024, 57 motorcyclists lost their lives and 174 suffered serious injuries in accidents in New Mexico. Both of these numbers were five-year highs. Identifying what causes motorcycle accidents in Clovis can help keep riders in the community safer. It can also help you understand your rights if you do get hurt in a crash, as under New Mexico law, you have the right to file a claim against the at-fault party.
Negligent Drivers
Drivers can make many mistakes that put vulnerable motorcyclists at risk. Driver negligence, or the failure to use proper care behind the wheel, can mean speeding, distracted driving, texting and driving, running red lights and stop signs, drunk driving, failing to yield the right-of-way, making unsafe lane changes, misjudging the speed or distance of a motorcycle, and failing to notice a motorcyclist.
Dangerous Roads and Bad Weather
Motorcycle riding in Clovis comes with certain risks connected to the environment. Riding through desert canyons, for example, can involve dirt, debris, high winds, tumbleweeds and twisting curves.
If a road is not properly maintained by the government agency that owns it, a dangerous defect such as a pothole could cause a motorcycle accident. In this situation, the state or municipal government could be held liable for negligent upkeep.
Motorcycle Defects
If a motorcycle has a part failure or equipment breakdown in the middle of a ride, it could cause a serious single-vehicle accident. Examples include tire blowouts, brake failure, throttle problems, fuel leaks and engine failure. In these situations, the manufacturer of the defective part can often be held liable.
Common Types of Injuries
The unique elements of a motorcycle accident can result in severe injuries to the rider. Motorcyclists are openly exposed in accidents, with no airbags, seat belts or metal structures protecting them.
Common injuries suffered include:
- Bone breaks and fractures
- Head and skull injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Facial damage
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Road rash and friction burns
- Damage to the internal organs or internal bleeding
- Neck, back and spine injuries
- Nerve damage and paralysis
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Crush injuries and amputations
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that, per vehicle mile traveled in 2024, motorcyclists were almost 27 times more likely to die and 5 times more likely to be injured than passenger car occupants in accidents.
Compensation Available
Pursuing a claim against the person or party who caused your motorcycle accident in Clovis can help you recover and move forward. You can receive financial compensation that helps to make you whole again after a damaging crash.
The types of compensation awarded may include:
- Present and future medical bills and treatment expenses
- Disability, disfigurement and loss of quality of life
- Lost wages and diminished capacity to earn
- Motorcycle and personal property damage
- Pain, suffering and emotional distress
- Loss of consortium (for loved ones)
- Punitive damages, in some cases
If you suffered the tragic loss of a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident in Clovis, your family may be entitled to wrongful death damages, such as funeral and burial costs, lost earnings and inheritance, and your mental anguish.
Insurance Defenses to Look Out for During a Motorcycle Accident Claim
Insurance claims adjusters are trained in how to convince clients to accept low settlements. If you aren’t careful, you may end up getting locked into a settlement that underpays you for serious motorcycle accident injuries.
An insurance company may attempt many defenses to undervalue your claim, such as:
- The helmet defense: you weren’t wearing a helmet and this contributed to the severity of your injuries.
- Comparative negligence: you are partially at fault for the motorcycle accident.
- Assumption of risk: you knowingly engaged in dangerous behaviors on your motorcycle.
- Pre-existing injuries: you already had the injuries you are claiming prior to the accident.
- Failure to mitigate damages: you didn’t receive proper medical care or failed to minimize your losses in other ways.
If you encounter any issues or complications while trying to achieve a fair settlement for your Clovis motorcycle accident case, contact an attorney right away. Do not give the insurance claims adjuster a recorded statement and do not accept a settlement before speaking with a Clovis motorcycle accident lawyer about the true value of your case.
Contact Our Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Clovis Today
Recovering financially, physically and emotionally from a motorcycle accident in Clovis, New Mexico, can be challenging on your own. When you reach out to a motorcycle accident attorney from The Fine Law Firm, we can help you get appropriate medical care and build a solid injury claim.
Learn more about how we can help you today during a free initial consultation. Call us at (505) 494-1646 or contact us online 24/7 and we will get back to you as soon as possible.