A serious motorcycle crash can change your life in seconds. If you were hurt because a driver was distracted, failed to yield, changed lanes carelessly, or drove impaired, a Maine motorcycle accident lawyer can help you protect your rights and pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain, and future care.
In Maine, injury claims are generally subject to a six-year statute of limitations, but waiting can make it harder to preserve critical evidence.
At Mann Law, we understand what riders are up against after a crash: severe injuries, pressure from insurance adjusters, and uncertainty about what happens next.
You should not have to figure it all out alone. When someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, our job is to step in as your guide, investigate the wreck, and build a claim for the full compensation Maine law allows.
Contact us at 207-709-0900 to discuss your case in detail.
Motorcycle crashes often cause catastrophic harm because riders have so little physical protection. MaineDOT’s 2019–2023 crash history shows 2,914 motorcycle crashes statewide during that period, including 121 fatal crashes. The same report reflects that 2023 alone saw 597 motorcycle crashes and 16 fatal crashes.
Nationally, NHTSA reports 6,335 motorcyclist fatalities in 2023, and motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely than passenger-car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled.
Common injuries in these cases include traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord injuries, paralysis, broken bones, internal organ damage, road rash requiring skin grafts, amputations, PTSD, and the need for reconstructive surgery, physical therapy, and long-term rehabilitation. Medical records are often among the most important pieces of evidence in proving the full value of a claim.
Many cases start with the same preventable driver behaviors: distracted driving, drunk or impaired driving, speeding, and failure to yield the right-of-way. Those choices often lead to specific crash types, such as left-turn accidents, lane-change collisions, rear-end crashes, head-on collisions, dooring accidents, and wrecks caused by road hazards or defects. Maine law requires all drivers to operate with reasonable care, and when they fail to do so, the injured rider may have a negligence claim.
To succeed in a negligence case, you generally must prove four elements: duty of care, breach, causation, and damages. In plain English, that means showing the other party had a legal obligation to drive safely, violated that obligation, caused the crash, and left you with measurable losses.
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If you are physically able, take these steps after a crash:
These steps matter because evidence disappears quickly. Photos, witness statements, helmet damage, motorcycle damage, medical records, and the police report can all help show how the crash happened and what it has cost you.
You can typically show fault through a combination of police reports, witness statements, photographs, vehicle damage, medical records, roadway evidence, and the insurance investigation. If the insurer disputes liability, fault may ultimately be decided in court.
Maine follows a comparative negligence rule. An injured person can still recover damages if they were partly at fault, but recovery is reduced to reflect their share of responsibility. However, recovery is barred if the claimant is found equally at fault with the defendant.
That rule makes early investigation especially important in motorcycle cases, where insurers sometimes try to shift blame onto the rider. A Maine motorcycle accident attorney can work to preserve evidence before skid marks fade, witnesses disappear, or the insurance company locks in an unfair theory of fault.
Be careful. The other driver’s insurance adjuster may seem helpful, but their goal is often to minimize the company’s payout. They may ask for a recorded statement, push for a quick settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries, or argue that your condition is not as serious as your records show. Maine law also addresses unfair claims settlement practices by an insured’s own insurer in certain circumstances.
In most cases, it is smart to avoid giving a recorded statement or accepting a settlement before speaking with counsel. Once you accept money and sign a release, you may give up the right to recover more later.
Depending on the facts, compensation may include medical expenses, future treatment, rehabilitation, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and loss of enjoyment of life. If the crash is fatal, the estate’s personal representative or special administrator must generally bring a wrongful death claim.
These claims enable recovery for pecuniary loss, certain medical and funeral expenses, loss of comfort, society, and companionship, and punitive damages capped at $500,000 in wrongful death actions. Claims must generally be filed within three years of death.
Punitive damages may also be explored in especially egregious injury cases, but they are not routine in Maine. Under Maine case law, punitive damages require malice and must be proven by clear and convincing evidence; mere negligence, gross negligence, or reckless disregard alone is not enough.
Most personal injury claims in Maine must be filed within six years after the claim accrues. Wrongful death claims are different and generally must be filed within three years of death.
Get medical care, call 911, report the crash, document the scene, get witness information, and preserve your motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and medical records. Maine law requires immediate reporting of reportable crashes and requires drivers involved in injury crashes to stop at the scene.
Use caution. Insurance adjusters may look for statements they can use to reduce or deny your claim. It is usually best to speak with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement or accepting a settlement. Maine also regulates unfair claims settlement practices in certain insurer-insured situations.
Police reports, witness testimony, photos, vehicle damage, medical evidence, and the insurance investigation all play a part in fault determination. If the parties disagree, the issue can be decided in court.
Not always. Maine requires helmets for riders and passengers under 18, for operators riding with a learner’s permit, and for operators within one year of passing their driving test, along with certain passengers.
After a motorcycle crash, the stakes are high: your health, your income, your independence, and your future. Mann Law helps injured riders move from confusion to a clear plan. We investigate liability, gather medical proof, deal with the insurance company, and fight for the compensation you need to rebuild your life. If you were hurt in a crash, contact Mann Law today for a free consultation with a Maine motorcycle accident lawyer.
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