Motorcycle accident

Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Lexington, Kentucky

Kentucky 5 firms 8 min read

The firms in this guide

  1. Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC Call Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC: (859) 550-2900
  2. Thomas Law Offices Call Thomas Law Offices: (502) 473-6540
  3. Goeing Law (formerly Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC) Call Goeing Law (formerly Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC): (859) 253-0088
  4. Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers Call Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers: (859) 413-3900
  5. Peterson Law Office Call Peterson Law Office: (859) 788-3509

1. Minner Vines Injury Lawyers, PLLC

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, civil rights violations, catastrophic injury cases, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck collisions, hit-and-run motorcycle accidents, drunk driver vs. motorcycle accidents, distracted driver accidents, left-turn accidents involving motorcycles, intersection motorcycle accidents, rear-end collisions with motorcycles, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, traumatic brain injuries from motorcycle crashes, spinal cord injuries, road rash injuries, permanent disfigurement cases

Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction coordination, witness interviews, police report analysis, insurance claim negotiation, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, personal injury protection (PIP) claims under Kentucky MVRA, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims, comparative negligence arguments

Background: The firm was founded by Matthew C. Minner and Brian M. Vines and has been practicing personal injury law in Kentucky for decades. The attorneys hold AV-Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and have been recognized by Super Lawyers. The firm reports having recovered over $1 billion in settlements and verdicts for clients. Matthew C. Minner graduated from law school and has over 20 years of legal experience. The firm is admitted to practice in Kentucky, Alabama, and multiple U.S. District Courts. The attorneys are members of the Kentucky Bar Association.

Location: 325 W Main St, Suite 210, Lexington, KY 40507

Contact: (859) 550-2900 | https://www.mvmlaw.com

Consultation: Free initial consultation offered. Contingency fee arrangement available (no fee unless compensation is recovered). Available 24/7.


2. Thomas Law Offices

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, birth injuries, construction accidents

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving motorcycle collisions, failure to yield accidents, intersection crashes, lane change accidents, left-turn motorcycle accidents, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury cases, permanent disability cases

Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim filing and negotiation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, medical record analysis, settlement negotiations, trial representation, wrongful death litigation, damage calculation for lifetime medical needs, lost wage and earning capacity analysis

Background: Founded by Tad Thomas in 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. Tad Thomas graduated cum laude from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 2000 and obtained his undergraduate degree from Georgetown College. Prior to founding the firm, he served as Assistant Deputy Attorney General for Kentucky and directed the Office of Civil and Environmental Law. Mr. Thomas is a frequent lecturer on trial skills, ethics, and technology at legal associations nationwide. The firm has expanded to offices in Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati, Columbia (Missouri), and Chicago. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis.

Location: Louisville headquarters with service to Lexington and Central Kentucky

Contact: (502) 473-6540 | https://www.thomaslawoffices.com

Consultation: Free case evaluations offered. Contingency fee basis (no upfront fees).


3. Goeing Law (formerly Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC)

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, auto accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, construction accidents, explosion accidents, farming accidents

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions with negligent drivers, motorcycle accidents caused by defective parts, road hazard motorcycle accidents, drunk driving motorcycle crashes, distracted driving accidents, lane switching accidents, left-turn collisions, wrongful death from motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injury cases

Legal Services: Negligence investigation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, product liability analysis, premises liability claims, wrongful death litigation, comparative fault analysis under Kentucky law

Background: Founded by brothers M. Stanley Goeing and Matthew S. Goeing. M. Stanley Goeing graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2005 and earned his undergraduate degree from UK in 2002. During law school, he served as an intern for U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer B. Coffman and was a member of the Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Law. Matthew S. Goeing graduated from UK College of Law in 2008 with an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from UK in 2005. He previously clerked in the U.S. District Court and worked as an associate at Dykeman & Rosenthal before co-founding the firm in 2011. The firm reports over 40 years of combined legal experience and has recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for clients. Members of Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, and American Bar Association.

Location: 300 East Main Street, Suite 150, Lexington, KY 40507

Contact: (859) 253-0088 | https://www.kylawpractice.com

Consultation: Free case evaluation offered. Contingency fee arrangement available.


4. Ross Mann Personal Injury Lawyers

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, medical malpractice, wrongful death, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bites

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle crashes, motorcycle vs. car collisions, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, reckless driving accidents, road hazard accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injury cases

Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability analysis, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical record review, expert witness coordination, lost wage calculation, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, bad faith insurance claims

Background: Ross F. Mann is the founder and lead attorney. He is a native of Lexington and graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law. Prior to founding his firm, Ross began his career defending insurance companies in personal injury cases, giving him firsthand knowledge of how insurers evaluate and handle claims. He later worked at a national nursing home litigation firm before building a nursing home litigation department at a regional Kentucky/Tennessee firm. Ross is a graduate of Lexington Catholic High School (1999), University of Michigan (2004) where he earned a football scholarship and lettered on three Big Ten Championship teams, and Capital University Law School (2009) where he earned the Freeman Scholarship for Excellence in Constitutional Law. The firm reports having recovered over $80 million in jury verdicts, including multiple 8-figure results. Ross has handled more than 1,000 nursing home cases since 2012. The firm is a member of the Kentucky Justice Association and the American Association for Justice.

Location: 501 Darby Creek Road, Unit 48, Lexington, KY 40509

Contact: (859) 413-3900 | https://www.rossmannlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.


5. Peterson Law Office

Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, premises liability, product liability, work injuries, dog bites, brain injuries

Case Types Handled: Motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving motorcycle crashes, intersection accidents, wrongful death claims, catastrophic injury cases, product defect motorcycle accidents, road hazard accidents

Legal Services: Negligence investigation, insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, accident reconstruction coordination, medical record analysis, expert witness coordination, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, insurance bad faith claims (USCPA), comparative negligence analysis

Background: Founded by Justin Peterson, a native of Lexington, Kentucky. Justin Peterson graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2008 (J.D.) and from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Economics and Finance in 2005 (Magna Cum Laude). Prior to founding Peterson Law Office, he was a partner/shareholder at a large insurance defense law firm in Lexington, where he represented insurance companies and their insureds in complex litigation. This experience provided him with insight into how insurers evaluate and handle claims. He has tried multiple civil and criminal cases to jury verdict with successful results. Mr. Peterson serves as General Counsel for the Lexington Legends and coaches tournament of champions trial teams at UK College of Law. Awards include the inaugural University of Kentucky College of Law Outstanding Trial Advocate Award and the Powell Medallion at the American College of Trial Lawyers National Trial Competition (2007, 2008). Regional Champion at ACTL Regional Trial Competition, Sixth Region (2007, 2008). The firm recently partnered with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston to expand resources.

Location: 2424 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 205, Lexington, KY 40503

Contact: (859) 788-3509 | https://www.justinpetersonlaw.com

Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.


Helmet Rules for Younger and Newer Riders, Eye Protection and Seats for Lexington Motorcycle Crashes

A Lexington motorcycle crash claim can involve Kentucky’s helmet rule, which applies to riders under 21, permit holders and operators licensed less than a year, and its eye protection rule for every operator. Kentucky also sets seat and footrest rules for operators and passengers and allocates fault among every party.

Who Must Wear a Helmet

Under KRS 189.285(3), protective headgear is required while the motorcycle is moving on a public highway for a person under 21 operating or riding as a passenger or in a sidecar, a person operating on a motorcycle instruction permit, and a person operating who has held a motorcycle license for less than one year.

Eye Protection, License and Mirror

Under KRS 189.285(1), a person may not operate a motorcycle on a highway without a valid motorcycle operator’s license, an approved eye-protective device used at all times the motorcycle is moving, and a rear-view mirror as required by KRS 189.130.

Seats, Footrests and Passengers

Under KRS 189.285(2) and (4), an operator or passenger may ride only on a seat permanently attached to the motorcycle and designed to carry that person safely, using a permanently attached footrest, and an operator on an instruction permit may not carry passengers.

How Fault Is Allocated

Under KRS 411.182(1) through (3), the jury finds the damages the rider would recover if contributory fault were disregarded and each party’s percentage of total fault, and the court states each party’s equitable share.


Lexington Motorcycle Accident Questions

Do adult riders in Kentucky have to wear a helmet?

No, not if they are 21 or older, hold a full motorcycle license and have held it for at least one year. KRS 189.285(3) covers riders under 21, permit holders and operators licensed less than one year.

How long do I have to sue after a Lexington motorcycle crash?

KRS 304.39-230(6) sets two years for a tort action not abolished by the no-fault act, after the injury, the death or the last reparation payment, whichever is later, and KRS 413.140(1)(a) sets one year for an action for an injury to the person. Confirm with counsel which period governs your claim; the one-year period is the shorter of the two. Against a county, KRS 65.2001(2) also preserves the defense of governmental immunity. For a crash caused by a defect in a city street or bridge, KRS 411.110 requires notice to the mayor, city clerk or clerk of the board of aldermen within 90 days of the occurrence.

Can I recover if I was partly at fault?

Yes. Under KRS 411.182, the judgment states each party’s equitable share by percentage of fault. For example, imagine $100,000 in damages and 25 percent of the fault on the rider, with 75 percent on the driver: the recovery would be $75,000.