Experienced Lawyers In Louisiana
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Louisiana
Home »
Injured? Get Gordon!
No Fee Unless We Win
I’ll win your case, or you don’t owe me a dime. No costs, no expenses, no fee. Nothing.
Injured? Get a FREE Consult Now!
Areas We Serve
Best Louisiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Near Me
Fighting for Louisiana Motorcycle Accident Victims
A motorcycle crash can change your life in seconds. Riders absorb the full force of the impact, so the injuries run deeper, the recovery runs longer, and the bills start arriving before you are back on your feet.
Insurance companies know this. They also know that a lot of people quietly assume the rider was the one taking chances. That assumption costs injured riders money every single day.
At Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, our Louisiana motorcycle accident lawyers push back on it. We dig into what actually happened, document the full weight of your injuries, and deal with the adjusters so you can put your energy into healing. Our team of Louisiana personal injury lawyers have recovered $3 Billion for injured people and their families across this state whether you’re in Houma, Zachary, Opelousas, or every parish in between.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Without a frame, airbags, or a seatbelt, a rider takes the impact directly. Some of these injuries heal in weeks. Others reshape how you work, sleep, and move for the rest of your life, and a claim needs to account for both.
Injuries we handle include:
Louisiana Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Motorcyclists make up a small slice of the traffic on Louisiana roads. They account for a much heavier slice of the serious harm. These figures come from the state agency that tracks Louisiana highway safety data.
69
motorcyclists were killed on Louisiana roads in 2024.
1,242
injury crashes in Louisiana involved motorcyclists in 2024.
36%
of those motorcyclist deaths were alcohol related.
Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases We Handle
No two motorcycle wrecks look alike. A left-turning driver at an Alexandria intersection creates a very different case than a blown tire on I-10 or a poorly marked construction zone. The cause shapes who we pursue and what evidence we go after first.
Here are the case types our Louisiana motorcycle lawyers see most often:
Louisiana Motorcycle Laws Every Rider Should Know
Following the rules of the road keeps you safer. It also protects your claim, because the other side will look hard for any violation it can use against you.
Helmets Are Required for Everyone
Louisiana requires a safety helmet for anyone operating or riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle. The helmet must have lining, padding, a visor, and a chin strap that is properly secured while the bike is moving. A violation carries a fifty dollar fine that includes all court costs (La. R.S. 32:190).
Eye Protection Is Required Without a Windshield
You must wear approved eye protection unless your bike has a windshield tall enough to protect your eyes. State law recognizes goggles, face shields, and safety glasses, and it does not allow tinted eye protection at night (La. R.S. 32:190.1).
You Own the Full Lane
Louisiana gives motorcycles full use of a lane, and no driver may crowd you out of it. You cannot pass within the same lane as the vehicle you are overtaking, you cannot ride between lanes or between rows of vehicles, and no more than two bikes may ride abreast in one lane (La. R.S. 32:191.1).
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Louisiana Motorcycle Crash
The driver who hit you is the obvious defendant. Often they are not the only one, and finding the others is where a claim gains real value.
Depending on the facts, responsibility may fall on:
- The at-fault driver
- A trucking company or commercial fleet operator
- A parts manufacturer, when a defect caused the failure
- A repair shop that worked on the bike
- A public entity responsible for a dangerous roadway
- A contractor responsible for an unsafe work zone
Every added party can mean added insurance coverage. We investigate all of them before anyone starts talking settlement numbers.
Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Accident
Louisiana law lets injured riders recover for both financial losses and the human cost of what happened.
Our attorneys pursue:
- Emergency care, surgery, and hospital bills
- Future medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and permanent disfigurement
- Damage to your bike and gear
Adjusters routinely undervalue rider claims because the long-term costs are not obvious in the first thirty days. We build the case around the full picture, not the early one.
How Our Louisiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Handle Your Case
From the first phone call forward, we run the claim so you do not have to.
Once you hire our firm, we may immediately begin:
- Investigating the crash scene and roadway conditions
- Securing the police report, photos, and any available video
- Preserving your motorcycle, helmet, and gear as evidence
- Interviewing witnesses
- Gathering medical records and treatment plans
- Identifying every liable party and every layer of insurance
- Handling all communication with the adjusters
- Preparing the case for settlement or trial
With 679+ years of combined legal experience behind your file, you get a team that has seen how these cases are defended, and knows how to answer it.
If You Lost a Loved One in a Motorcycle Crash
Losing someone this way is devastating, and the legal side is the last thing a family wants to think about. Louisiana law is specific about who may bring a wrongful death claim, in this order: the surviving spouse and children, then the parents, then the siblings, then the grandparents. Adopted family members are included (La. Civ. Code art. 2315.2(A) and (D)).
The right of action prescribes one year from the death or two years from the day the injury was sustained, whichever period is longer (La. Civ. Code art. 2315.2(B)). Our team can walk your family through the options with patience and respect.
Speak With a Louisiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near You Today
If a driver’s carelessness put you on the pavement, you should not have to fight the insurance company alone while you are still healing.
At Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys, our Louisiana motorcycle accident attorneys serve riders across the state, including Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Shreveport, Denham Springs, Gonzales, Lake Charles, Hammond, Monroe, and every parish in between. We investigate the crash from every angle, identify each responsible party, and fight for the full compensation available under Louisiana law. Our record includes 230+ Million dollar verdicts and settlements.
Call 888.501.7888 today for your free consultation.
With our No Fee Unless We Win promise, you pay nothing until we recover for you. That is the G Guarantee.
When you need results, Get Gordon, Get It Done.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Louisiana
One cause shows up again and again in these files: another driver simply did not see the rider, or did not look. Motorcycles are narrower and easier to lose in a mirror, and that is exactly why the law asks every driver to stay alert to everything sharing the road.
Common causes we investigate include:
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Results may vary depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. Viewing this website or contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Louisiana Laws That Affect Your Motorcycle Claim
Louisiana rewrote several rules that decide what an injured rider can recover. Here is what changed, and why each one matters to your case.
Your Deadline to File
- Two years from the day the injury or damage is sustained, for most injury claims
- Took effect July 1, 2024 (La. Civ. Code art. 3493.11)
- Deadlines can run differently depending on your crash date and who is responsible
- Miss the window and even the strongest case can be thrown out
How Shared Fault Works Now
Louisiana used to reduce your recovery by your share of fault and stop there. That changed on January 1, 2026.
- 51% or more at fault: you recover nothing
- Less than 51% at fault: your damages are reduced by your share
- Set by La. Civ. Code art. 2323(A)(2), Acts 2025, No. 15
The other side has every reason to push your number past that line. Fault gets argued from evidence that disappears fast, so the sooner we start, the better.
Minimum Coverage Is Lower Than You Think
Louisiana requires drivers to carry only these minimums (La. R.S. 32:900(B)(2)):
- $15,000 for bodily injury to one person
- $30,000 total when two or more people are hurt in one accident
- $25,000 for property damage
One surgery can burn through $15,000 before you leave the hospital. That is why we look past the at-fault driver’s policy for every other source of coverage your claim can reach.
The Uninsured Driver Problem
Louisiana’s “No Pay, No Play” law bars an uninsured vehicle owner or operator from recovering the first $100,000 of bodily injury and the first $100,000 of property damage, even when the other driver caused the wreck (La. R.S. 32:866(A)(1), Acts 2025, No. 16).
The limit does not apply when the other driver:
- Is convicted of a DWI offense arising from the crash
- Causes the crash on purpose
- Flees the scene
- Is committing a felony at the time
Passengers keep their claim as well, unless the passenger owns the uninsured vehicle (La. R.S. 32:866(A)(3) and (E)). If your coverage lapsed, do not assume your claim is dead. Let us look at it.
Don’t Wait — Talk to a Louisiana Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
At Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys, we understand that emotional and physical recovery come hand and hand after an injury or accident. We also know that you may not have the energy or time to fight with an insurance company and the complexities of your personal injury claim.
How It Works
Filing a claim with Gordon Mckernan Injury Attorneys is easy!
Simply follow the steps below.
Get Your Free Consultation
Fill out our quick and easy form to find out if your case qualifies. Our consultations are free and confidential, and we are here to help whether you hire us or not!
Hear From An Attorney
Our team will evaluate your case and decide on the best course of action. One of our lawyers will get back to you promptly and begin the process of winning your case!
Get Gordon!
Get It Done!
Once your case has been evaluated and deemed a good fit for our firm, our team will go to work immediately on gathering evidence, building your case, and getting you the compensation that you deserve.
Excellent
Settlements & Verdicts
$26,000,000
Class action settlement for chemical exposure
Class action settlement for chemical exposure case.
$3,750,000
Wrongful death in commercial trucking accident 3750000
A settlement has been reached in the case of a 1996 accident that claimed the lives of three Jones County residents.
$1,000,000
Truck Driver Rear Ended by Another 18 Wheeler
Our client a truck driver was rear ended by another 18-wheeler.
$125,000
18 Wheeler Mississippi Wreck
Our client was involved in an 18 wheeler wreck in Mississippi that resulted in multiple injuries and a settlement of $125,000.
$200,000
18 Wheeler Tow Truck
18 Wheeler Tow Truck incident due to mishandling resulted in injuries to our client and a case settlement of $200,000. Handled by Attorney Richard Zimmerman.
$185,000
18 Wheeler Wreck with Cane Truck
Our client was driving an 18 wheeler when they were hit head on by a cane truck. Resulted in both chest and shoulder injuries and a settlement of $185,000.
$375,000
Cement Truck Accident
The client pulled up to construction site when a cement truck in front of him backed into him twice.
$390,000
Two 18 Wheelers Wreck
Two 18 wheelers wreck causing our client to have disc injuries. Case resulted in a settlement of $390,000.
$429,000
Big Trucks Collide with Client Suffering Bulging Discs and Mild Protrusion
Our client, big truck driver was hit by another 18-wheeler. The impact caused bulging discs and minor protrusion.
$6,000,000
Accident on oil platform causes brain damage
Oil rig worker settles for $6 million after suffering extensive facial fractures and brain damage.
$175,000
Side Swiped with Many Injuries
Our client was side swiped and suffered many injuries, including neck, back, shoulder and hand. Case settled for $175,000.
$1,600,000
Guest Passenger Injured in a T Bone Truck Accident
Our client was a guest passenger in a vehicle when they were involved in a T-bone accident with a truck resulting in severe injuries.
$13,000,000
Commercial Big Truck Accident Causes Brain Injury to Young Boy
As a result of a commercial big truck accident, a young boy suffers brain injury.
$877,191
18 Wheeler Rear Ends Another 18 Wheeler
Our client was driving his 18 wheeler when another 18 wheeler rear-ended him. The case resulted in a $877,191 verdict.
$27,000
Lengthy Premise Liability Case in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Client had a premises liability case in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Foot had a puncture wound with no stitches and 3 months of treatment.
$4,500
Client Involved in Premises Liability Case in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Client involved in a premise liability case in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The client reported suffering from whole body soreness.
$21,700,000
Construction worker severely injured on the job
Our client was a construction worker that was severely injured on the job.
$12,800,000
Two Worker’s Asbestos Exposure
Two former chemical plant workers dying of lung cancer won a $12.8 million state award, blaming their illness on asbestos used in industrial insulation.
$3,000,000
Double amputation of legs from electrical shock
An employee of an oil company suffered severe electrical shock when a gen pole came in contact with high power lines.
$2,900,000
Workers exposed to chemical
Workers were exposed to a chemical, resulting in a $2,900,000 settlement.
$250,000
63 Year Old Pipe Welder Working on Barge in Gulf
Settlement for pipe welder suffering rib and back injuries after being transferred from a tug boat to barge when basket became entrapped on barge equipment.
$240,000
Workers Comp Prison Injury
Our client suffered an ankle injury while working at a prison, resulting in a workers comp case and a verdict of $240,000.
$130,000
Workers Comp Fall Injury
Our client suffered a workers comp injury from a fall onto concrete with improper safety codes met. Case resulted in a $130,000 settlement.
$130,000
Workers’ Compensation Injury
Client was involved in a Workers’ Compensation Injury case which was handled by Attorney Annabelle Manning. Case resulted in a settlement of $130,000.
$125,000
Injury at Work on a Ladder
Our client suffered an injury at work on a ladder, having to pull down some heavy equipment and missing a step. Case resulted in a $125,000 settlement.
$110,000
Injured on the Job
Our client was injured on the job as they slipped while working security, suffering back injuries. Case settled for $110,000.
$3,500,000
Truck Driver T Boned by 18 Wheeler
Our client, a truck driver, was hit by an 18-wheeler that ran a stop sign and T boned his truck.
$2,800,000
Defective product design in truck causes paraplegia
Our client was involved in an accident which the defective product design in the truck caused paraplegia.
$1,975,000
Warehouse worker pinned by delivery truck suffers massive internal injuries
A delivery truck pins a warehouse worker resulting in massive internal injuries.
Frequent Answered
Questions
- Can You Get Compensation If An Accident Was Your Fault?
- How long does a motorcycle accident lawsuit take?
- Should I get a lawyer for a motorcycle accident?
- Is lane splitting legal in Louisiana?
- What is the Main Cause of Motorcycle Accidents?
- Who is at Fault in a Motorcycle Accident?
- Does a Motorcycle Accident Affect Your Car Insurance?
- What is the average settlement payout for a motorcycle accident?
Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in Louisiana Blog Posts
Injured? Get a FREE Consult Now!
Let Our Team Fight For You!
If you or a loved one has been injured, don't wait— contact Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys today for a free consultation. Our team is ready to fight for you and secure the compensation you deserve.
With over 30 years of experience, a proven track record of success, and a commitment to client care, we are the best personal injury attorneys in Louisiana to handle your case.
Call us now or fill out our online form. No Fee Unless We Win!
Your Case Matters—Let's Get It Done!
Office Locations
Denham Springs Office
163 Del Orleans Ave., Denham Springs, LA 70726
Gonzales Office
220 S. Burnside Ave. Gonzales, LA 70737
New Orleans Office
3900 Veterans Memorial Blvd. STE 300 Metairie, LA 70002
Zachary Office
4361 Main St. Zachary, LA 70791
© 2026 Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys.
