St. Mary Parish Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents can have devastating consequences for all parties involved. However, because motorcyclists are more vulnerable to the impact of larger vehicles, they may experience severe potentially
life-threatening injuries. These injuries may include broken limbs,
paralysis, or
traumatic brain injuries.
A
personal injury attorney can help you pursue a claim for compensation for your injuries if you were recently involved in a motorcycle collision. A St. Mary Parish motorcycle accident lawyer can review the circumstances of your case and determine the best course of legal action to take.
Recoverable Damages in a Motorcycle Crash Claim
Someone injured in a motorcycle wreck may be able to recover the economic losses they sustained from the accident and the resulting litigation. These damages may include medical care costs, travel expenses, lost wages, and reduced earning potential.
Additionally, a claimant may recover damages for their emotional losses. Noneconomic damages can be more difficult to quantify, but a knowledgeable attorney can assess an injured motorcyclist’s losses and identify the amount they may be eligible to pursue. These damages may include pain and suffering, loss of companionship, loss of consortium, disfigurement, or becoming disabled.
A court may award a claimant punitive damages if the defendant’s behavior was particularly egregious. For example, a judge may award punitive damages if the defendant caused the collision because they were drunk driving. Unlike other types of damages punitive compensation is meant to punish the defendant and deter them from acting this way in the future.
While compensation may not make up for the suffering experienced after a motorcycle accident, it may relieve the stress of paying for bills resulting from medical treatment and rehabilitation. Claimants should note that state law limits recovery of damages exclusive of property damages, medical care and related benefits and loss of earnings, and loss of future earnings against the state political subdivisions to $500,000, according to
LSA RS 13:5106 B (1). A St. Mary Parish motorbike accident attorney can help someone determine how much their claim may be worth.
Potentially Liable Parties
A collision usually occurs because one or more parties did not exercise proper care. The parties that may be liable for a motorcycle wreck may include other motorists, motorbike manufacturers, or a municipality that did not ensure that the quality of the roads was sufficient.
It is important to note that under
Louisiana Revised Civil Code § 2323, a plaintiff may still be able to recover even if they are partially to blame for their accident. In these situations, a court may reduce a claimant’s compensatory award by their percentage of fault. A St. Mary Parish lawyer can help a claimant injured in a motorcycle accident identify the at-fault party.
Consult a St. Mary Parish Motorcycle Accident Attorney
A seasoned St. Mary Parish motorcycle accident lawyer can provide legal support and guide you throughout the claims process. Seeking an attorney not only helps you make more informed choices about your claim but also relieves some of the stress you may feel after an accident. To learn how a dedicated lawyer can assist you in your legal efforts,
schedule an initial case consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions — St. Mary Parish Motorcycle Accidents
Does Louisiana's helmet law affect my St. Mary Parish motorcycle accident claim?
Louisiana law (La. R.S. 32:190) requires every motorcycle operator and passenger to wear a DOT-approved helmet and to use eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windscreen, and it applies to riders of all ages. Riding without a helmet does not automatically bar you from recovering, because Louisiana follows a pure comparative fault system. The at-fault driver's insurer may still argue that a missing helmet worsened your injuries, so it helps to have the crash evidence documented showing what the other driver did.
How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in St. Mary Parish?
For crashes on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana generally allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit (La. Civ. Code art. 3493.1, as amended by Act 423 of 2024). For earlier crashes, the deadline is one year. These deadlines are firm, and missing one can end a claim, so it is wise to speak with an attorney while witnesses and physical evidence are still available.
What if my crash on US-90 involved a commercial or oilfield-service vehicle?
When a motorcycle crash on the US-90 corridor involves a commercial truck or an oilfield-service vehicle, more than one party may share responsibility, including the driver, the company that employed them, and sometimes a maintenance contractor. Commercial vehicles often carry electronic logging or event-data records that can be important evidence, but that data is not always preserved for long. Acting promptly to preserve it and to identify every potentially liable party can affect a claim.
The other driver was uninsured after my St. Mary Parish crash. Can I still recover?
Possibly. Louisiana requires auto insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, and many riders carry it. If the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough, you may be able to make a claim under your own UM/UIM coverage. Because more than one policy can sometimes apply, reviewing all available coverage is an important step, and an attorney can help identify it.
Reviewed by Kopfler & Hermann, Attorneys at Law, serving Houma since 1977. This information is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
Last updated: September 2, 2026
