Connecticut Personal
Injury Attorneys
New Haven, Connecticut | Weber & Rubano Law Firm

Meriden Motorcycle Accident Attorney

The professionals at Weber & Rubano are ready to fight for you if a motorcycle accident has caused unjustified harm to you or someone you care about. Our Meriden motorcycle accident lawyers are certain that we can successfully resolve your matter. A consultation with Weber & Rubano is simple and obligation-free. Request yours today.

Why Choose Us at Weber & Rubano?

When you or a loved one have experienced serious injuries, you need a results-oriented law firm with a successful track record to put a strong voice behind your claim. At Weber & Rubano, we provide significant advantages for your motorcycle accident claim.

Experience

For over seven decades, the law firm of Webber & Rubano has served as dedicated client advocates for injury victims in Meriden and the surrounding Connecticut communities. Founding partners R.J. Weber III and Louis Rubano and five experienced trial lawyers have strong community ties and reputations for success in securing millions of dollars for injured clients, including motorcycle accident victims in Meriden.

Knowledge

The attorneys at Weber & Rubano have a deep understanding of Connecticut injury law. We are knowledgeable investigators who are ready to document evidence and make a strong case for liability against the party at fault. We are also skilled negotiators to maximize your chances of obtaining a large settlement without going to court. Years of successful litigation experience also make us the right motorcycle accident lawyers in Meriden to take your case to court should the insurance company dispute the fault in your motorcycle accident claim.

Motorcycle Accidents in Meriden: The Real Story

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that at least 50 motorcycle riders die on Connecticut’s highways each year (NHSTA). With 68 people passing away as a result of motorcycle riding in 2021, it was one of the deadliest years on record for Connecticut residents who ride motorcycles.

Many motorcycle accidents, whether they are fatal or just result in injuries, are not the fault of the rider but rather the negligence of careless drivers.

In order to help a victim of a motorcycle accident or the family of a victim of a motorcycle-related death get justice and compensatory completeness, a law firm with experience in motorcycle injuries and accidents in Meriden can be of great assistance.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Meriden

Motorcyclists aren’t perfect, but most motorcycle accidents result directly from car and truck drivers who don’t take reasonable care when sharing the road with vulnerable motorcyclists. The most common causes of motorcycle accidents in Meriden and throughout Connecticut include the following:

  • Distracted drivers
  • Speeding drivers
  • Tailgating drivers
  • Drivers making unsafe lane changes
  • Car door accidents
  • Drivers making left turns
  • Intoxicated drivers

Less commonly, the at-fault party in a motorcycle accident is a negligent road maintenance agency that failed to repair a road hazard, the manufacturer of a defective motorcycle part, or a negligent motorcycle repair company. A skilled investigator from the law firm of Weber & Rubano examines all aspects of the accident to determine fault and makes a compelling case for your compensation.

Why Are Motorcycle Accident Cases More Complicated?

Insurance companies often hold a bias against motorcyclists, making it necessary to compile strong evidence against an at-fault driver. Connecticut is a fault-based insurance state with a modified comparison negligence system. According to Connecticut’s Section 1. Section 52-572h:

“In causes of action based on negligence, contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in an action by any person or [his] the person’s legal representative to recover damages resulting from personal injury … if the damages are determined to be proximately caused by the negligence of more than one party, each party against whom recovery is allowed shall be liable to the claimant only for [his] such party’s proportionate share of the recoverable economic damages and the recoverable noneconomic damages.” 

This system allows even those partly at fault for an accident to recover a portion of their damages minus their percentage of fault as long as they are less than 51% at fault. Unfortunately, this also incentivizes insurance companies to assign motorcycle accident victims a percentage of fault to minimize the amount of a payout. For example, if a motorcyclist’s damages amount to $100,000, but the insurance company finds them 25% at fault, they only have to pay $75,000. An attorney from Weber & Rubano protects clients against these common insurance company tactics.

Damages Available to Motorcycle Accident Victims in Meriden

Those who suffer injuries from motorcycle accidents or lose loved ones, as a result, are entitled to the following damages in Meriden and the rest of Connecticut:

  • Physical and Emotional Injuries
  • Lost Wages
  • Loss of Earning Capacity
  • Out of Pocket Costs and Medical Bills
  • Future Medical Costs For Ongoing Treatment
  • Punitive Damage (For Willfully Reckless Behavior)
  • Effects On Career Development

Caps on Punitive Damages vs. Actual Damages in Connecticut

While there is a cap on punitive damages in Connecticut, there is no cap on actual economic damages in personal injury claims.

According to research conducted by the Office of Legislative Research of the Connecticut General Assembly, punitive damages award “[victims] of a civil (as opposed to criminal) violation in excess of the real losses that the victim sustained.”

Legal academics believe Connecticut’s punitive damages laws, which limit punitive damages to merely attorney fees and litigation costs, to be one of the strictest in the nation.

Punitive damages are only granted if the legal team filing the civil lawsuit determines the third party has done so purposefully and knowingly, as they are intended to penalize the party at fault. Unlike economic and non-economic damages, this separate type of damage would be awarded after any financial awards to punish the accused.

In contrast, wrongful act-related losses consist of things like “lost pay, medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering.” Actual damages are not intended to punish the wrongdoer; instead, they are intended to make whole those who have suffered pain and suffering.

Whatever the precise sorts of damages, a reputable law company will be motivated to pursue the highest amount of compensation in your case.

What Is the Time Limit to File a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Connecticut?

damaged-motorcycle

It’s always best to file a motorcycle accident claim in Connecticut as soon as the full extent of damages becomes clear. Connecticut has a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits from motorcycle accidents. If the insurance company disputes the claim or unfairly assigns fault to the victim, the case becomes a lawsuit in court to recover damages. In this case, your accident attorney in Meriden must file the petition within two years of the date of the motorcycle accident. The only exceptions are in cases such as delayed discovery of an injury, or an incapacitated injury victim. In these cases, the time limit begins on the date the injury victim discovers the injury—or the motorcycle accident as its cause—or regains their cognitive capacity after a head injury.

Work with Meriden Motorcycle Accident Attorneys at Weber & Rubano

For nearly 60 years, Weber & Rubano has provided support to the Meriden community. We are aware of the difficulties with the law that individuals like you face every day.

At Weber & Rubano we work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won’t be required to pay us anything unless we succeed in winning your claim. For a free, no-obligation consultation about your situation, get in touch with us right away.