Minneapolis Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Over 100 Years Fighting for Minneapolis Riders: $3,500,000 Recovered

Motorcycle riders hit by negligent drivers face longer recoveries, higher medical bills, and insurance adjusters who look for any reason to question whether the rider was at fault. At Meshbesher & Student, P.A., we’ve handled these cases for over 100 years in Minneapolis, and we know how to counter those tactics. Attorney Steven J. Meshbesher has practiced personal injury law since 1981, bringing decades of courtroom preparation to every rider’s claim. Our results include a $3,500,000 motorcycle crash settlement. Past results don’t guarantee a future outcome, but they reflect what committed advocacy can achieve.

Motorcycles offer no structural protection. When a car or truck strikes a rider, the injuries are frequently catastrophic: traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, shattered limbs. The legal claim that follows is equally high-stakes. We offer a free case evaluation and are prepared to take cases to trial when settlement offers fall short of what our clients deserve.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Minneapolis

Minnesota Department of Public Safety data recorded 1,018 motorcycle crashes in a single recent year, resulting in 67 deaths and 962 injuries statewide. NHTSA data shows just over half of fatal motorcycle accidents involved another vehicle, and roughly two-thirds of those crashes happened because another driver failed to yield the rider’s right of way. Insurance companies frequently frame riders as reckless to reduce payouts. That’s exactly why legal representation matters from the very first conversation with an adjuster.

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:

• Left-hand turns: Nearly half of fatal motorcycle crashes occur when a car turns left into a rider’s path, often making the turning driver clearly at fault.
• Head-on collisions: A vehicle’s greater weight and momentum make frontal impacts with motorcycles frequently fatal.
• Sudden lane changes: Drivers who don’t check blind spots or signal properly can sideswipe a rider before either party can react.
• Dooring: Parked drivers who open doors without checking traffic can cause unavoidable collisions with passing motorcyclists.
• Road hazards: Gravel, potholes, and slick pavement pose greater risks to motorcycles than to enclosed vehicles due to reduced stability.
• Motorcycle defects: Faulty parts or negligent repairs can shift liability to manufacturers, designers, or sellers.

Injuries & Recoverable Damages in Motorcycle Accident Cases

Motorcycle crashes produce some of the most severe injuries in personal injury law. Riders have no airbags, no crumple zones, and no seat belts. When a collision happens, the body absorbs the impact directly.

Common Injuries

Common injuries in motorcycle accident cases include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Lower-extremity injuries (legs, pelvis)
• Upper-extremity injuries (head, neck, back, arms)
• Broken or fractured bones
• Organ damage and internal bleeding
• Road rash and lacerations
• Whiplash

Recoverable Damages

A motorcycle accident claim can pursue both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover medical expenses from emergency care through future rehabilitation, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and motorcycle repair or replacement. Non-economic damages address pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and scarring or disfigurement. Tracking all medical treatment and keeping thorough records strengthens every category of recovery. In cases involving a fatality, surviving family members may also have grounds to pursue a wrongful death claim.

How Minnesota’s No-Fault Act Affects Motorcycle Claims

In most car accident cases in Minnesota, no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays initial medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash. Motorcycles are explicitly excluded from this mandatory requirement under the Minnesota No-Fault Act. Without optional medical payment coverage, a rider injured in a crash can’t rely on first-party PIP benefits. The claim goes directly against the at-fault driver’s insurance company. That means proving fault matters from day one.

At-fault insurers know riders are in a vulnerable position. Adjusters often contact crash victims within days, seeking recorded statements or offering early settlements that don’t reflect the full value of the claim. Statements made before speaking with an attorney can be used to reduce or deny compensation. Riders do have access to optional coverages, including medical payment insurance and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, which provides protection when the at-fault driver carries insufficient insurance.

Proving Negligence After a Motorcycle Crash

Every motorcycle accident claim in Minnesota rests on four elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. The at-fault driver had a duty to operate safely, breached that duty through careless or reckless conduct, caused the crash, and left the rider with documented injuries and losses. Establishing each element with evidence is what converts a serious injury into a compensable claim.

Minnesota’s modified comparative fault rule allows a rider to recover compensation as long as their share of fault is 50% or less, with recovery reduced in proportion to fault. A rider found 20% at fault while the other driver was 80% at fault can still recover 80% of their damages. Insurers regularly try to push that percentage higher to shrink payouts. Documented evidence, witness accounts, and prompt attorney involvement counter that strategy.

Minnesota Statute 169.974 & Motorcycle-Specific Rules

Minnesota Statute 169.974 governs motorcycle licensing, equipment requirements, and unique riding rules. Riders must hold a valid two-wheeled vehicle instruction permit before obtaining a license and must complete both a written exam and a road test. Helmet requirements depend on age and license status: riders and passengers under 18 must wear helmets, as must anyone riding on an instruction permit. Fully licensed adult riders aren’t legally required to wear helmets, though many choose to for safety.

Two riders may travel side by side in a single lane if both agree; lane splitting isn’t permitted in Minnesota. Required equipment includes always-on headlights, at least one functioning brake, a rearview mirror, a horn, and turn signals visible from 100 feet. Carrying a passenger requires passenger footrests. Violations of these equipment or licensing requirements can affect a rider’s ability to recover damages. That’s one of many reasons to involve a knowledgeable Minneapolis motorcycle accident attorney early in the process.

Time Limits for Filing a Motorcycle Accident Claim in Minnesota

Minnesota law generally allows six years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That window sounds long, but evidence degrades quickly: surveillance footage gets overwritten, witnesses become harder to locate, and physical evidence disappears. Claims against a government entity may carry shorter deadlines. Waiting too long risks losing the right to seek compensation regardless of how serious the injuries are. Contacting us promptly gives our attorneys the best opportunity to preserve what matters most to your case.

What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Minneapolis

The steps taken in the hours after a crash directly affect both your recovery and any future claim.

Take these steps right after a crash:

• Get to safety without leaving the scene and call police and emergency medical services immediately.
• Keep your helmet and protective gear on until medical professionals clear you.
• Collect contact and insurance information from the other driver and any willing witnesses.
• Document the scene with photos and note any unusual behavior by other drivers.
• Report the crash to your insurer but provide only basic facts before speaking with an attorney.
• Don’t give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurer before consulting legal counsel.
• Contact a Minneapolis motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible after getting medical care.

Under Minnesota law, crashes involving injury, death, or property damage over $1,000 must be reported to law enforcement.

Motorcycle Safety Tips for Minneapolis Riders

The NHTSA reports that 80% of reported motorcycle accidents result in injury or death. According to the CDC, DOT-approved helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and the risk of head injury by 69%.

Five practices significantly reduce crash risk:

• Wear a full-face DOT-approved helmet that fits properly and carries the federal safety label.
• Gear up completely with a leather or armored jacket, gloves, ankle-covering boots, and shatter-resistant eye protection.
• Maximize visibility with bright or reflective clothing and always-on headlights, even during daylight hours.
• Ride defensively with focused attention at intersections, where left-turning vehicles pose the greatest danger.
• Avoid adverse conditions including rain, wind, and icy roads, which reduce both traction and stability.

Even riders who follow every precaution can be struck by a distracted or negligent driver. Safety practices reduce risk; they don’t eliminate it.

Speak With a Minneapolis Motorcycle Accident Attorney at No Cost

Our Minneapolis motorcycle accident attorneys can review the accident, examine the evidence, and discuss how Minnesota insurance rules apply to your situation. We’ve helped clients recover settlements worth hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars, including a $3,500,000 motorcycle crash result. Past results don’t guarantee a future outcome. We stand by our clients at every step and take cases to trial when that’s what fair recovery requires. At Meshbesher & Student, P.A., your case gets personalized attention from attorneys who won’t be outworked.