Have you been hurt or lost someone in a motorcycle accident? KNR fights for you.
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800-487-8669This company was awesome. They were very helpful and made sure I received the medical and financial treatment that I needed and deserved. Everyone was very kind and patient through the very stressful process. If you are ever in an accident and are injured, don't call anyone else but them. They are the best!
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Legal Help for the Injured
Motorcycle riders are far more likely than car occupants to be killed or seriously hurt in a crash, and a rider rarely walks away from one. If you are facing medical bills and severe injuries after a Cleveland motorcycle accident, the Cleveland injury lawyers at Kisling, Nestico & Redick are here to help you recover. You may be entitled to compensation if the accident was not your fault.
Call (216) 658-1330 for a free, no-risk consultation with an experienced Cleveland motorcycle accident lawyer.
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Motorcycle accidents can occur anywhere in the Cleveland area, from Ohio City to Shaker Heights, and they usually involve a driver who did not see the rider. Many happen at busy intersections like Carnegie Avenue and Ontario Street or on dangerous stretches of I-90 and I-480.
After a motorcycle accident, understanding the cause is essential. While law enforcement, such as the Cleveland Police Department or the Ohio State Highway Patrol, may file reports, they are often incomplete. That is why KNR conducts independent investigations to uncover what actually happened. These are the causes we see most.
A car turning left across the rider’s lane at an intersection, because the driver misjudged the bike’s speed or never saw it. Left-turn accidents at places like University Circle and along Euclid Avenue are the classic Cleveland motorcycle wreck, and the turning driver is almost always the one who failed to yield.
A motorcycle disappears into the blind spot of an SUV or pickup on I-480 or I-71. Drivers who change lanes without a shoulder check, or who pass unsafely on roads like Detroit Avenue, force riders off the road or into traffic. Wide turns that swing into a rider’s lane cause the same kind of collision on surface streets.
In neighborhoods with curbside parking, such as Tremont, Ohio City, and the streets around downtown, a car door opened into traffic gives a rider no time to react. Drivers are responsible for checking before they open a door into a travel lane.
Cleveland’s winters leave potholes, heaved pavement, and loose gravel that a car rolls over and a motorcycle does not. When a road defect causes a crash, the city, county, or a contractor may share responsibility, and road hazard accidents need to be documented before the pothole is patched.
High speeds on I-71 and I-90 shrink the time a driver has to react to a motorcycle ahead. Impaired drivers leaving the entertainment districts around the Flats and downtown late at night, drowsy drivers, distracted drivers looking at phones on Lorain Avenue, and drivers who rear-end a motorcycle they never noticed slowing down are the other common causes.
Riders share the busiest roads in Northeast Ohio with heavy traffic. I-90 carries heavy volume through the city and along the lakefront, I-71 and I-77 bring commuters in from the south at highway speed, and I-480 loops around the southern suburbs with closely spaced interchanges where merging traffic is constant. The Shoreway (Route 2) between downtown and the west side has fast traffic and abrupt slowdowns near Edgewater. On surface streets, Lorain Avenue, Broadway Avenue, and Detroit Avenue combine speed, turning traffic, and long stretches between signals. Our page on Cleveland car accident statistics gives the county-wide picture; these corridors are where many of the serious motorcycle crashes we handle in Cuyahoga County take place.
Even with protective gear, motorcyclists are highly vulnerable to severe injuries. Common injuries from crashes across the Cleveland area include:
When a crash takes a rider’s life, the family’s claim follows the same investigation. Our work on fatal motorcycle accidents across Ohio is handled by the same team.
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident in Cleveland, follow these steps:
If the motorcycle accident and your injuries were caused by someone else, you may wish to file a motorcycle injury claim or lawsuit and pursue compensation, with the support of our statewide team of Ohio motorcycle accident lawyers.
You must establish negligence and liability to prove your case and ultimately secure what you deserve. This means demonstrating:
Insurance adjusters know Ohio’s motorcycle rules and will use any gap in compliance against you. Knowing the Ohio motorcycle safety laws that come up most often helps you understand what the other side will argue.
Ohio requires helmets for riders under 18, for riders in their first year of licensing, and for their passengers. Riders 18 and older who are past their first year of licensing may ride without one. Choosing not to wear a helmet when the law did not require it is not negligence, but expect an insurer to argue that a head injury would have been less severe with one.
Ohio does not allow riding between lanes of slow or stopped traffic. If the insurer can suggest you were between lanes when you were hit, they will use it to shift fault onto you. Witness statements and the physical evidence of where the impact happened usually settle the question.
Ohio requires a motorcycle endorsement on your license and the same minimum liability coverage as any other vehicle. Carrying uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy is the best protection against a driver who has too little insurance to cover your injuries.
Fight for Everything You’re Owed
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Cleveland, you may be entitled to compensation by proving that another party’s negligence caused the crash. Consulting a motorcycle accident attorney is crucial for navigating the legal process.
You can recover damages for:
If your loved one was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident, you may also be able to seek:
How to Obtain Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident in Ohio
After a motorcycle accident in Cleveland, insurance companies may try to protect their bottom line by using unfair tactics such as:
Our Cleveland motorcycle accident lawyers are familiar with these tactics and will stand up for your rights. We will negotiate for the compensation you deserve and are prepared to take your case to court if needed.
The driver who hit you is the obvious defendant, but often not the only one, and sometimes not the one with enough insurance to matter. Part of building a Cleveland motorcycle case is finding everyone who shares responsibility.
Determining fault in a motorcycle accident can be difficult, as accident reports and witness statements may not always provide the full picture. At KNR, our motorcycle accident attorneys are committed to proving how the accident occurred and holding the responsible driver and their insurance company accountable.
Here is how we strengthen your motorcycle accident claim or lawsuit:
Our extensive resources and legal experience ensure you are treated fairly and fully compensated for your injuries.
At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we strive to make your recovery process after a motorcycle accident in Cleveland as smooth as possible. We know how challenging it is to deal with insurance companies, but with our experienced team of personal injury lawyers, you do not have to face it alone.
With over 750 years of combined legal experience, a team of 30+ attorneys, and substantial results for clients across Ohio, including many successful outcomes in Cleveland, we are prepared to help you, no matter the severity of your injuries.
“KNR was outstanding. They listened, understood, and handled everything. I’m grateful for their support.” – John P.
Motorcycle Accidents
Our client was stopped on his motorcycle at a four-way stop, waiting for a school bus to turn…
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What Makes KNR Special?
Since our inception in 2005, Kisling, Nestico & Redick has been dedicated to helping personal injury victims fight for the compensation they deserve after an accident affects their way of life. We have helped more than 10,000 people, and we’re ready to keep fighting for Ohioans and anyone who deserves compensation for their personal injury claims.
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The value of a motorcycle accident claim depends on factors like the severity of your injuries, medical costs, lost wages, and emotional distress. A motorcycle accident lawyer can assess your case and help you understand potential compensation.
After a motorcycle accident in Cleveland, you should call 911, document the scene, collect witness information, seek medical attention, and contact a Cleveland motorcycle accident lawyer before speaking with any insurance adjuster.
While you can technically handle a claim on your own, working with a motorcycle accident lawyer improves your chances of recovering maximum compensation, especially if there are disputes over fault or significant injuries.
Motorcycle accidents in Cleveland often result from left-turning drivers who fail to yield, unsafe lane changes into a rider’s blind spot, dooring on streets with curbside parking, road hazards like potholes, and speeding, distracted, or impaired drivers.
In Cleveland motorcycle accidents, liability usually falls on the driver who breached their duty of care, such as by speeding, driving distracted, or failing to yield. Vehicle owners, employers of at-fault drivers, bars that overserved an impaired driver, government entities responsible for road defects, and parts manufacturers can also share liability.
Yes. If your Cleveland motorcycle accident was caused by another driver, you can file a claim or lawsuit to pursue compensation by proving negligence and the harm it caused you.
Ohio’s statute of limitations gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a claim. It is important to act quickly to preserve evidence and build your case.
Even if the other driver blames you, Ohio follows a comparative fault rule. As long as you are less than 51% at fault, you can still recover damages. A lawyer can help prove the other driver’s negligence.
No. Ohio does not permit riding between lanes of traffic. If you were hit while lane splitting, the insurer will argue you share fault, and under Ohio’s comparative fault rule that can reduce or bar your recovery. If you were riding legally in your lane and the insurer claims otherwise, witness statements and the point of impact usually settle it.
While Ohio does not require helmets for riders 18 and older who are past their first year of licensing, not wearing a helmet could impact your case, especially if you suffered head injuries. However, you can still recover damages for other injuries if the accident was caused by another driver’s negligence.
Common injuries in Cleveland motorcycle accidents include road rash, fractures, concussions and traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, nerve damage such as biker’s arm, amputations, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Avoid admitting fault, speaking to insurance adjusters without legal advice, or posting details about the accident on social media. These actions can negatively affect your case and reduce your chances of receiving fair compensation.
Most motorcycle accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if you win your case. There are no upfront costs, and the lawyer’s fee is a percentage of your settlement or award.
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident, KNR is here to help. With multiple locations across Ohio, we proudly serve Cleveland and offer free, no-obligation consultations. Call (216) 658-1330 or 1-800-HURT-NOW today to schedule a free consultation.
