New Orleans

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Motorcyclists face a double bias after a crash: less protection from the impact itself, and an insurance adjuster who’s already decided the biker was probably reckless.

The Voorhies Law Firm fights that bias with evidence, not assumptions.

What Is a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

A motorcycle accident claim seeks compensation after a rider is injured, usually by a driver who failed to see or yield to the motorcycle.

Common injuries include:

Because motorcycles offer so little physical protection, injuries in a motorcycle crash tend to be disproportionately severe compared to the visible damage to the vehicles involved, which is exactly the disconnect insurers exploit when arguing a claim is worth less than it is.

How Louisiana Law Applies

A few Louisiana-specific rules apply almost exclusively to motorcycle claims, and understanding them changes how a case gets built.

The Helmet Law (La. R.S. 32:190)

Louisiana requires every rider and passenger, regardless of age or experience, to wear an approved helmet.

Not wearing one doesn’t bar you from recovering compensation, and it doesn’t automatically prove fault for the crash itself. But an insurer can potentially argue that a lack of a helmet worsened a specific injury, like a head injury, which can reduce that portion of your damages if they can prove it with medical evidence. It’s a narrower argument than most people assume, and one an experienced attorney can push back on effectively.

Lane Splitting Is Illegal (La. R.S. 32:191.1)

Unlike some states, Louisiana prohibits riding between lanes of moving traffic.

If you were lane splitting at the time of a crash, expect the insurer to raise it as a comparative fault argument, though it doesn’t automatically make you majority at fault for a crash someone else caused.

Comparative Fault and Prescription

The same general rules apply as any other car accident claim: a two-year filing deadline under Civil Code article 3493.1 for crashes on or after July 1, 2024, and a 51% comparative fault bar under article 2323 for crashes on or after January 1, 2026.

The Legal Process, Step by Step

Free consultation.

Tell us what happened. We’ll give you a straightforward, no-cost assessment.

Bias-aware investigation.

We move quickly to counter the assumption that the rider was at fault, gathering video, witness accounts, and scene evidence.

Medical documentation.

We build a clear record connecting your specific injuries to the crash.

Damage calculation.

We account for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term impact.

Demand and negotiation.

We push back on any attempt to inflate your share of fault.

Filing suit, if needed.

If a fair resolution isn’t reached, we take the next step and file.

Resolution.

You get what you’re owed, whether through settlement or a verdict.

Types of Cases We Handle

We represent motorcyclists injured in crashes involving:

  • Left-turning vehicles that failed to yield
  • Drivers who didn’t see the motorcycle before changing lanes
  • Rear-end and following-too-close collisions
  • Road hazards and defective road conditions
  • Hit-and-run drivers

Results

Behind every motorcycle case is a rider who’s used to being blamed before the facts are even in.

We come in and change that story with evidence.

The Voorhies Law Firm has recovered over $100 million for our clients, including $10 million for a client left with serious head, spine, and leg injuries after a negligent driver caused a motorcycle crash.

Results depend on the specific facts of each case.

What Our Clients Say

Why Choose The Voorhies Law Firm?

Insurance adjusters bring an unspoken bias to every motorcycle claim before they’ve even read the file.

Richard P. Voorhies III and the team at The Voorhies Law Firm know how to counter that bias with hard evidence from the very first call.

We’re recognized by Super Lawyers and other legal organizations, but what matters here is a fair shake and direct access to your attorney, not a call center.

We handle motorcycle accident cases on contingency, so there’s nothing to pay upfront while you focus on what matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Not wearing a helmet doesn’t bar your claim. An insurer may try to argue it worsened a specific injury, which could reduce that portion of your damages if they can prove it, but it doesn’t eliminate your right to recover.

Louisiana prohibits riding between lanes of moving traffic. If that comes up in your case, it doesn’t automatically make you the majority at fault, but it’s worth discussing with an attorney early.

There’s a well-documented bias against riders in the insurance industry, often based on outdated assumptions about recklessness rather than the actual facts of a given crash. Countering that bias with solid evidence is a core part of building a strong motorcycle case.

In most instances, two years from the crash date for incidents on or after July 1, 2024, under Civil Code article 3493.1.

Nothing. Your consultation is free and we handle these cases on contingency, so payment only comes from what we recover.