Kingsport, TN Motorcycle Accident Lawyer and Car Accident Attorney
Tennessee is home to some of the most exquisite scenery and stretches of roadway in the country, making it one of the best places for long motorcycle rides. Unfortunately, the exhilarating feeling of riding down Highway 23 or 11-W, with the wind blowing in your hair, comes with the risk of being hit by a negligent driver.
Statistically, motorcyclists are approximately twenty-eight times as likely as car accident victims to die in an accident.[1] When crashes occur, it is often the motorcyclist who will bear brunt of the injuries, while reckless drivers are uninjured.
Our Firm Helps Injured Motorcyclists, and Their Families, Seek Full and Fair Compensation
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident caused by the negligent or reckless actions of another person, it is important to understand your rights to pursue compensation. For decades, experienced motorcycle accident lawyer Mark Hurt has been helping victims seek justice and get the maximum compensation they deserve.
We Have Successfully Represented Numerous Motorcycle Accident Victims
We are available to provide tenacious and dedicated representation to Kingsport area motorcyclists and their families in seeking full compensation from those responsible, and we have recovered millions of dollars in damages for our clients.
What are Common Types of Injuries in a Motorcycle Crash?
Motorcycle crashes often result in severe injuries, including:
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Brain Damage
- “Road Rash”
- Broken Bones and Dislocations
- Lacerations and Cuts
- Back Injuries
- Paralysis
- Loss of Limbs
Tragically, some crashes result in the death for the motorcyclist.
Families May Also Be Entitled to Compensation
Compensation is not only available to the victim of a motorcycle accident. Under certain circumstances (usually involving severe injury or death), a spouse or other immediate family members may also be entitled to compensation.
As an experienced Kingsport motorcycle accident lawyer, Mark Hurt can review your case and provide guidance on the types of damages that may be recoverable, and who may be entitled to damages.
You Only Pay a Fee If Compensation is Recovered
Each year, motorcycle accidents result in over $16 billion in measurable costs, such as:
- Acute Medical Costs
- Rehabilitation
- Property Damage
- Loss of Household Productivity
- Insurance Expenses
- Long-Term Medical Care
- Work Loss
- Permanent Disability
- Loss of Quality of Life[2]
At the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we know that in cases of severe injury or death, expenses associated with these types of accidents and lost income can place a substantial financial burden on victims and their families. As such, we represent motorcycle accident victims on a contingency fee basis, and we advance all litigation costs (which are usually subtracted from a settlement or jury award, if a case is successful). This means that you will only pay a fee if compensation is recovered on your behalf.[3]
Make Sure That You Take the Right Steps After a Motorcycle Crash
It is important to understand that motorcycle accident victims are not automatically granted compensation for their injuries, even in situations where it is clear that the other driver is at fault. As a result, in order to preserve legal rights after a motor vehicle crash, it is important that victims seek prompt medical attention and call the police (if possible) when an accident occurs. Other steps to bolster a victim’s case and to protect their interests include:
- Collecting evidence at the scene (including photographs, witness contact information, a copy of the police report, etc.)
- Not making repairs to the motorcycle
- Attending follow up doctor’s visits and following prescribed treatment plans
- Avoiding making statements to insurance companies or signing anything
- Speaking with a skilled Kingsport motorcycle accident lawyer
We can help.
When we are retained, we will advance your case, compile evidence showing fault, document all damages (including pain and suffering), and represent you against insurance companies and negligent drivers. While these steps are seemingly straightforward, they can make the difference between collecting compensation or not being able to recover.
Timing is Important – Do Not Hesitate in Seeking Legal Representation
A statute of limitations is a state law that sets a strict deadline on the right to bring a lawsuit to a court. Under Tennessee law, motorcycle and car accident victims only have one year from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim.[4] If the accident resulted in death, the family or personal representative of the estate must also bring a wrongful death claim within the same one-year filing deadline (however, for a wrongful death claim, the statute of limitations begins running on the day of the accident victim’s death, which can be later than the actual accident date).
Under certain limited circumstances, the one-year statute of limitations may be suspended until a later date, such as if the injuries are not known at the time of the accident, if the person is a minor, or if the person injured is deemed “incompetent” by the courts (such as if they sustained a severe head injury and are unable to make decisions concerning their welfare). It should be noted that these exceptions are relatively rare; and a person injured (or the family who has lost a loved one) should always retain an attorney as soon as possible so that there is no danger of the one year time period expiring.
We Can Represent You in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
We understand the terrible circumstances that result when a loved one is tragically killed by the negligent or wrongful death of someone else. If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle crash caused by someone else’s carelessness or wrongdoing, we offer our sincerest condolences.
When a person dies from injuries caused by the negligent or wrongful acts of another person or company, certain survivors have a right to pursue a wrongful death claim against the responsible party.[5] Immediate family members (such as a spouse, children, parents or siblings) may be entitled to recover expenses, including:
- Medical and Other Expenses Incurred Prior to the Death
- Funeral Expenses
- Burial Costs
- Loss of Future Financial Support, Benefits and Inheritance
- Loss of Consortium
- Loss of Companionship
- Mental and Emotional Anguish
- Punitive Damages
To prove a wrongful death case, Tennessee requires that you show:
- A death occurred due to the negligence or intent to cause harm on the part of the defendant; and
- The defendant’s actions were the primary cause of the person’s death.
As an experienced Kingsport motorcycle wrongful death attorney, Mark Hurt can review your case and help determine whether you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit, which will depend upon a number of circumstances that are unique to each wrongful death case.
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation and Case Evaluation
If you have been injured in a Kingsport motorcycle accident or if your family has lost a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, it is important to contact a Tennessee lawyer experienced in handling motorcycle accident negotiations and litigation.
Mark Hurt has years of experience handling motorcycle accident claims, and has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injury victims and their families. Mark can put this expertise to work for you to help hold at-fault drivers accountable. Call us for a free consultation to learn about your rights the types of compensation to which you and/or your family may be entitled to recover.
[1] Motorcycle Safety, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/motorcycle-safety.
[2] Motorcycle Safety, GAO, www.gao.gov/assets/660/650037.pdf.
[3] At the outset of an engagement we will provide a retention letter agreement, which will contain the definitive terms of our fees and costs and other matters relative to our engagement.
[4] Tenn. Code Ann. § 28-3-104.
[5] Tenn. Code Ann. § 20-5-106.
