Motorcycle Accident Lawyer in New Orleans

Louisiana’s Record-Setting Injury Firm, Fighting for Injured Riders

When a crash leaves you injured and facing pressure from insurance companies, the firm you call matters. Clayton, Frugé & Ward represents injured motorcyclists and their families across Louisiana, including New Orleans, and we bring a proven track record few other firms can match. We have recovered over one billion dollars in verdicts and settlements, including the largest single-injury verdict in Louisiana history, a $117 million award for a mother injured in an ambulance accident. We take the complex, high-stakes motorcycle cases that other firms decline.

New Orleans roads carry real risks for riders. Potholes, uneven pavement, and slick surfaces create hazards that not only cause crashes but can also make crashes worse. Whether due to poor road conditions, a negligent driver, or other factors, motorcycle accident injuries are often catastrophic, and financial pressure compounds fast.

If you or someone you love was injured in a motorcycle crash, contact our New Orleans motorcycle accident lawyers for a free consultation. Call (225) 209-9943 today.

Why New Orleans Riders Choose Our Firm

Results drive everything we do. Our attorneys have secured verdicts of $411 million, $171 million, $117 million, and $75 million for Louisiana clients. That courtroom firepower applies directly to motorcycle accident claims, and it matters when an insurance company decides how seriously to take your case.

Insurance adjusters frequently challenge motorcycle claims by arguing the rider was at fault or behaving recklessly. We know those tactics and how to counter them. Our team has the experience, resources, and strategic depth to handle complicated claims that other firms pass on, building each case around the specific facts that can give it the best chance of success.

Our attorneys come from diverse legal and cultural backgrounds that reflect Louisiana’s communities. In Orleans Parish, where jury composition and community context can shape outcomes, that depth of understanding is a real advantage.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in New Orleans

Most motorcycle accidents in New Orleans trace back to a handful of recurring causes, and identifying them is the foundation of a strong claim.

Common crash causes:

• Distracted or impaired drivers
• Other motorists failing to yield to motorcyclists 
• Left-turn collisions at intersections
• Unsafe lane changes by other drivers
• Road surface defects, including potholes, raised manhole covers, and railroad crossings

High-traffic corridors such as I-10, I-610, and streets near the French Quarter and Uptown see significant crash activity. Because motorcycles offer no protective enclosure, riders absorb the full force of impact in ways that passenger vehicle occupants don’t.

Common Injuries Arising From Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle riders simply don't have the protection that comes with riding in a car or other passenger vehicle. As a result, they tend to suffer severe, life-changing injuries when they are involved in a crash.

Injuries commonly seen in motorcycle accidents include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Road rash and soft tissue damage
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Nerve damage

Many of these injuries require extended rehabilitation and can limit a rider’s ability to work for months or permanently. In the most tragic cases, these injuries can be fatal.

Damages You May Be Able to Recover

Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315 obligates the party whose fault caused your injuries to repair that harm. In a motorcycle accident claim, that can include both economic and non-economic losses.

• Economic Damages: Medical expenses past and future, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, motorcycle property damage, and rehabilitation costs.
• Non-Economic Damages: Pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent scarring or disfigurement.

If a crash caused a fatality, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. If the at-fault driver was uninsured or underinsured, your own policy may provide an avenue for recovery through uninsured motorist coverage.

Louisiana Laws That Affect Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

Several Louisiana statutes directly shape what you can recover and how long you have to act.

Filing Deadlines
For accidents occurring on or after July 1, 2024, you have two years from the date of injury to file. For accidents occurring before July 1, 2024, the deadline is one year. Louisiana’s filing deadline is strict, and waiting can be a costly mistake for an injured rider.

Comparative Fault
Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2323, the rules depend on when your accident occurred. For accidents on or after January 1, 2026, Louisiana follows a modified comparative fault system: a rider found less than 51 percent at fault can still recover damages, reduced proportionally by their share of fault, but a rider found 51 percent or more at fault is barred from recovery entirely. For accidents before January 1, 2026, the prior pure comparative fault rule applies, reducing damages proportionally regardless of fault percentage. Either way, accurate fault investigation is important.

Helmet Law
Louisiana requires all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear an approved helmet. Not wearing one doesn’t bar recovery, but a court may reduce compensation if it finds the lack of a helmet contributed to the injuries sustained.

Lane Splitting
Riding between lanes of traffic is prohibited in Louisiana. If lane splitting played a role in your crash, it can affect your fault percentage in the claim.

Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident in New Orleans

What you do in the hours and days after a crash can directly affect the strength of your claim. These steps protect both your health and your legal options.

• Call 911. A police report creates an official record of the crash and documents the scene.
• Seek medical evaluation. Some injuries have delayed symptoms. A medical record ties your injuries to the accident.
• Document the scene. Photograph vehicles, road conditions, skid marks, and visible injuries before anything is moved.
• Collect information. Get the other driver’s name, insurance details, and contact information, and gather witness contact information as well.
• Don’t give a recorded statement. Avoid speaking with any insurance company before consulting an attorney.
• Contact a New Orleans motorcycle accident attorney promptly. Early involvement can help preserve evidence and can help you avoid missing Louisiana’s filing deadline.

Talk to a New Orleans Motorcycle Accident Lawyer for Free

A crash changes everything quickly. Clayton, Frugé & Ward offers free consultations to injured motorcyclists and their families in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana. You pay nothing to find out where your case stands, and we don't collect any legal fees unless we win.

We take the cases other firms won’t, and we prepare every case as though it’s going to trial, because sometimes it has to. When you’re ready to talk, our team is ready to listen.

Call us at (225) 209-9943 or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation with Clayton, Frugé & Ward.