New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorney
At Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge, P.C., we have over 35 years of experience advocating for fair compensation for injured motorcyclists. Our New Haven motorcycle accident lawyers are ready to fight for you if someone else’s negligence caused you harm.
Table of Contents
- New Haven Motorcycle Accident Lawyer – Fighting for Injured Riders
- Why Choose Our New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorneys?
- Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in New Haven
- Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents and Their Long-Term Impact
- How a New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help
- Compensation Available in Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Claims
- What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident in New Haven
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Motorcycle Accident Claims
- Contact Our New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
New Haven Motorcycle Accident Lawyer – Fighting for Injured Riders
Insurance companies are often quick to blame motorcyclists for their injuries. However, at Kennedy Johnson, we know the truth: other drivers are often at fault for motorcycle accidents. Our New Haven motorcycle accident attorneys are prepared to push back against the insurance company’s tactics and seek the compensation you deserve.
We have strong ties to the New Haven area. Founding attorney John Kennedy Jr. is an active member of the New Haven County Bar Association. He’s also a lecturer for the organization’s Continuing Legal Education Program and served as its president from 1991 to 1992. Attorney Robert L. Schwab was born and raised in New Haven and attended Choate Rosemary Hall. He is also a member of the New Haven County Bar Association.
From ongoing pain to lost income, you’re dealing with enough after a motorcycle accident. We’re here to handle the legal details while you focus on your recovery. It costs nothing to explore your legal options with our firm, so contact us today for a free consultation.
Why Choose Our New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorneys?
Our team has been fighting for injured people in New Haven and beyond since 1988. We have a proven record of success in motorcycle accident cases and other personal injury claims. Our case results include an $890,000 settlement for a police officer injured in a motorcycle accident that caused significant lower leg and ankle injuries.
We take a client-centered approach to every case. Our attorneys understand how much your injury has impacted you and want you to get the maximum compensation for your losses. We’re ready to achieve this with compassionate, aggressive representation tailored to your unique needs.
John Kennedy Jr.
Founding Partner
“Choosing us means choosing an ally with a proven history of navigating legal complexities and securing just outcomes.”
Our New Haven motorcycle accident law firm has received local and national recognition for our advocacy. These accolades include 2025 Best Law Firms in New Haven, CT, and Best Personal Injury Firm in CT 2024. Additionally, attorney Stephanie Z. Roberge was recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and Robert Schwab, Louis Annecchino, Brendan K. Nelligan, Michael Kennedy, and Isabelle L. Koch were all included in the 2025 Best Lawyers in America list for their outstanding work in personal injury litigation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in New Haven
Over 50 motorcyclists lose their lives each year on Connecticut’s roadways, and the fatality rate is only rising. Many more people suffer life-altering injuries in motorcycle accidents throughout the state. These accidents have numerous causes, and many involve some form of negligence.
Driver Negligence and Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists get a bad rap for being reckless, but other drivers can just as easily cause accidents with motorcyclists. These are just a few forms of driver negligence that can contribute to motorcycle accidents:
- Distracted driving, such as texting, eating, or tending to passengers while driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Following too closely
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Our attorneys are skilled at holding negligent drivers accountable for their actions. When you turn to us, we’ll investigate the accident to determine who’s at fault and pursue legal action against them.
Dangerous Road Conditions and Motorcycle Accidents
Potholes, construction zones, and poor road maintenance can all lead to motorcycle accidents. Environmental causes like these often involve a third party’s negligence.
Government entities have a duty to keep the roads safe for motorcyclists by addressing hazards and properly maintaining roadways. Maintenance crews must also set up construction zones in a way that doesn’t put motorcyclists at risk. These parties could be liable if their failure to uphold this duty causes an accident.
If your motorcycle accident happened on a government-owned roadway due to dangerous road conditions, you may have a premises liability case. Our attorneys can help you determine if roadway hazards caused your accident and file a claim against the liable party.
Accidents Caused by Defective Motorcycle Parts
Defective motorcycle parts, such as brakes, tires, or handlebars, can cause catastrophic injuries. If your motorcycle accident resulted from defective parts, you may have a product liability case against the manufacturer.
Product manufacturers must make motorcycle parts safe for their intended purpose. We can help you prove that the manufacturer failed in this duty and caused your injuries.
Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents and Their Long-Term Impact
Motorcyclists are some of the most vulnerable road users in New Haven. Because they lack the protection of a car’s structure, motorcycle riders can more easily suffer direct impact in an accident.
Therefore, severe injuries are more common among motorcyclists, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and bone fractures. Some injuries, such as road rash, are unique to motorcycle and bicycle accidents. Motorcyclists are also significantly more likely to die in a traffic accident, which makes them common victims of wrongful death.
Motorcyclists who survive their catastrophic injuries typically face a long road to recovery. Surgeries, hospitalizations, and rehabilitation can result in significant medical expenses. The time away from work while recovering can lead to further financial strain. These injuries often cause significant pain and suffering and even result in lasting disabilities that incur further medical expenses, permanently affect a victim’s ability to work, and impact quality of life.
Our attorneys have extensive experience representing motorcyclists faced with catastrophic injuries. These cases often result in high-value settlements.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are at high risk for traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. Helmet use is a major factor in whether a motorcyclist suffers a TBI. In a study of motorcycle riders with head injuries, the majority of those without helmets—51 percent—were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, compared to only 35 percent of helmeted riders.
However, while helmets can protect against skull fractures and other injuries, they don’t prevent all internal brain injuries. For example, concussions occur when the brain shakes inside the skull. They often result from a sudden blow to the head, such as when a motorcyclist is thrown from their bike during a collision. Most concussions are mild, but motorcycle accidents can cause severe concussions that result in long-term cognitive impairments.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis After a Crash
The sheer force of a motorcycle accident against a person’s body can cause severe spinal cord injuries. Spinal cord injuries have a range of symptoms, including loss of movement, altered sensation, breathing problems, impaired bowel or bladder control, and pain. In some cases, the injury may result in partial or complete paralysis of the lower limbs and torso, known as paraplegia, or all four limbs, known as quadriplegia.
These symptoms can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Victims often require lifelong support to perform daily tasks and may be unable to work. If you or a loved one suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident, we can help you calculate what these damages are worth. We’ll then pursue legal action for the compensation to cover the lasting impacts and pay for long-term care.
How a New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help
When you turn to Kennedy Johnson, we’ll take a team approach to your case. You’ll benefit from the experience of our entire motorcycle accident team. We know how to push back against insurance companies when they try to pay you less than you deserve.
We’ll start by investigating the crash, gathering evidence, determining the cause, and identifying the liable parties. Our attorneys will use this information to file a claim and negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company on your behalf. If the insurance company fails to offer a fair settlement, we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial.
Our motorcycle injury lawyers in New Haven will keep you informed every step of the way as your case progresses. You can count on us to provide effective representation and a personalized strategy while we fight for justice on your behalf.
Gathering Evidence and Proving Fault
Liability isn’t always straightforward in a motorcycle accident. We’re prepared to dig deep to determine what caused your crash and who is responsible. Our attorneys may use various strategies, including:
- Reviewing police reports and witness statements
- Examining photos or videos of the accident scene
- Consulting with experts, such as accident reconstruction specialists or medical professionals
- Gathering medical records and bills related to your injuries
Negotiating With Insurance Companies
The insurance company’s first settlement offer is likely insufficient to cover your damages. It may use other tactics to lower your compensation, such as encouraging you to say something that hurts your case or claiming a preexisting condition caused your injuries.
You have the right to negotiate for a better offer. Our team can handle the negotiations on your behalf and prevent the insurance company from taking advantage of you. We’ll fight for the maximum compensation that covers the full extent of your losses.
Compensation Available in Connecticut Motorcycle Accident Claims
You can seek compensation for economic and non-economic damages resulting from your motorcycle accident, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost income for the work you missed while recovering
- Lost earning potential for the injury’s impact on your ability to work long-term
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Property damage, including motorcycle repair or replacement
Can You Recover Compensation if You Were Partially at Fault?
Under Connecticut’s modified comparative negligence law, you may still recover compensation if you were not more than 50 percent at fault for your injuries. However, your compensation will be reduced by your share of the fault. For example, if you’re 25 percent at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you can recover $75,000.
While it’s common to be partially at fault in motorcycle accidents, insurance companies may try to place more fault on you than is fair. Our motorcycle accident claim lawyers in New Haven will use strong evidence to minimize your fault and maximize your compensation.
What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident in New Haven
Your actions after a New Haven motorcycle accident can affect your case’s strength. Here’s what to do to protect your rights:
- Document the accident scene. Take photos of the involved vehicles, related hazards, and visible injuries. Get witness contact information and other parties’ insurance details. Call the police to the scene so they can create an official accident report.
- Seek immediate medical attention even if you don’t feel injured. Some injuries take time to develop symptoms. Getting them diagnosed sooner helps prove that they resulted from your motorcycle accident.
- Report the accident to your insurance company, but be careful what you say. Only provide basic details about the accident’s time and location. Avoid speaking to insurance adjusters further without a lawyer.
- Contact a New Haven motorcycle accident attorney to explore your next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Motorcycle Accident Claims
We’ve answered a few common questions about motorcycle accident claims to help you better understand your legal options.
How Do I Find a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in New Haven?
The right attorney has experience handling motorcycle accident cases and a proven track record of securing fair compensation. You can find this experience in all of our personal injury lawyers, including these accomplished team members:
Should I Get a Lawyer for a Motorcycle Accident?
The law doesn’t require you to hire a lawyer to file a motorcycle accident claim. However, hiring a New Haven motorcycle accident attorney can result in significantly more compensation. An attorney can protect your rights and fight back against insurance companies’ attempts to devalue your claim.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
It costs nothing upfront or out-of-pocket to hire our motorcycle accident attorneys. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning our fee is a percentage of your settlement or verdict. There are no fees unless we win compensation for you.
Contact Our New Haven Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
A motorcycle accident can turn your life upside down in an instant. If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, Kennedy Johnson can seek the compensation you need to start moving forward. With decades of experience and a record of delivering exceptional results, you can count on us to advocate for your best interests.
Don’t wait—protect your rights and get legal help today. Contact us online or call 203-865-8430 for a free consultation with a New Haven motorcycle accident lawyer.
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15 N. Main Street #100 Suite 217
West Hartford, CT 06107
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