Motorcyclists in Tuscaloosa face risks that other drivers simply do not. A car driver who runs a red light on McFarland Boulevard risks a fender bender. A motorcyclist in the same scenario risks their life. At Simmons Law, Chris Simmons represents motorcycle accident victims across Tuscaloosa County — on US-82, McFarland Boulevard, I-20/59, Skyland Boulevard, and the winding state roads south of the city — and fights against the bias that injured riders too often encounter when they try to recover for their injuries.
Tuscaloosa Roads Where Motorcycle Accidents Are Most Common
US-82 west of Tuscaloosa toward Eutaw and east toward Birmingham is a primary route for recreational riders and commuters alike. The long, fast stretches invite higher speeds, and drivers emerging from side roads often fail to see approaching motorcycles. McFarland Boulevard's constant commercial entry and exit traffic creates left-turn crash risk — the scenario where a car turns left across a motorcyclist's path is consistently the most common type of motorcycle fatality crash nationally and in Alabama.
I-20/59 through Tuscaloosa County concentrates motorcyclists among heavy commercial trucks, and the turbulence and wind blast from passing semis can destabilize a bike at highway speeds. University Boulevard sees heavy motorcycle traffic during football season as riders converge on campus from across Alabama and surrounding states — the combination of unfamiliar riders, heavy pedestrian traffic, and alcohol-impaired drivers returning from tailgates creates a predictably dangerous environment.
The Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accident Claims
Alabama Code § 6-2-38 sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents. Two years sounds like a long time, but the investigation work — accident reconstruction, medical documentation, identifying witnesses, obtaining the police report and any surveillance footage — needs to begin as soon as possible. Evidence disappears. Memories fade. Physical evidence at the scene is often cleared within days. Contacting an attorney shortly after the crash protects the claim.
Alabama's motorcycle helmet law requires riders under 21 to wear helmets and encourages helmet use for all riders. Helmet usage — or the absence of it — can become a contested issue in injury claims, and it is one of many factors that needs to be addressed strategically from the start of a case.
Injuries That Motorcyclists Sustain and What They Are Worth
Motorcycle accidents in Tuscaloosa produce some of the most severe trauma that DCH Regional Medical Center's Level II Trauma Center at 809 University Boulevard East receives. Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, road rash requiring skin grafting, shattered bones, and internal bleeding are not uncommon outcomes of crashes that would leave a car driver with minor injuries. The gap between what insurance companies initially offer and what a seriously injured motorcyclist actually needs to cover long-term care is often enormous.
Chris Simmons evaluates the full scope of damages — medical expenses past and future, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the loss of the ability to ride. Cases are filed in the Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court at 714 Greensboro Avenue when litigation becomes necessary, and Chris Simmons is prepared to take a case to trial when the insurance company's offer does not reflect the true value of the claim.
Bias Against Motorcyclists — and How to Counter It
Defense attorneys and insurance adjusters often try to paint injured motorcyclists as reckless, regardless of what actually caused the crash. Chris Simmons anticipates these tactics and builds cases that methodically demonstrate fault through physical evidence, witness testimony, and accident reconstruction rather than relying solely on the rider's account. Tuscaloosa car accident victims deserve the same full recovery as any other crash victim on Alabama roads.
Simmons Law handles motorcycle accident cases on a contingency fee basis — no charge unless there is a recovery. Call (251) 306-8333 for a free consultation.
