A motorcycle accident can leave you facing pain, uncertainty, and financial stress. With less protection than passenger vehicles, motorcyclists often suffer serious injuries, and the resulting claims frequently involve complex liability questions. In Alberta, the person or company whose actions caused the accident, such as a driver or even a third party, may be held liable. If you think you might need legal help after a motorcycle accident, Litco Law can help explain your options in plain language and offer free legal answers so you’re informed and can feel empowered to choose what’s best for you going forward.
Who May Be Liable in a Motorcycle Accident in Alberta?
When a motorcycle accident happens, responsibility isn’t always clear-cut. Several individuals or organizations may have caused or contributed to the incident, and determining who is liable is an important step in the personal injury claim process. As there is contributory negligence in Alberta, more than one party can share fault, and each person or company is assigned a percentage based on their fault in the incident.
Common parties who may be liable include:
- Other vehicle drivers
Drivers may be responsible when actions like speeding, failing to yield, following too closely, or making unsafe turns lead to a collision with a motorcycle. - The motorcyclist
Motorcyclists can also share fault if things like speeding, or operating the motorcycle in an unreasonable manner given limited visibility played a role in what happened. - Municipalities or road authorities
Missing signage, or unsafe construction zones can create hazards for motorcyclists. - Employers of commercial drivers
If a working driver caused the accident, their employer may be liable for inadequate training, unsafe schedules, or failure to enforce safety protocols.
Because motorcycle accidents often involve multiple contributing factors, it’s common for liability to be shared. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer takes on the work of investigating what happened, identifying who played a role and the extent of each party’s fault, so you don’t have to.
How Fault is Determined in Alberta Motorcycle Accidents
Fault is assessed by examining how each person or party contributed to the accident. Insurers review the evidence and apply the rules under Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act and Insurance Act to understand the sequence of events and assign responsibility.
This often includes examining:
- Police reports and official collision documentation
- Photos or videos of the accident scene
- Witness statements
- Road, weather, and traffic conditions
- Expert analysis, including accident reconstruction
- Vehicle damage patterns and skid-mark evidence
Even small details can make a big difference when fault is divided between parties. All of this evidence helps determine who is at fault for the motorcycle accident and how responsibility should be shared under Alberta law.
What Happens If You’re Partially at Fault in an Alberta Motorcycle Accident?
Being partially at fault in a motorcycle accident doesn’t automatically prevent you from pursuing compensation. There is contributory negligence in Alberta, which means fault is shared based on each party’s actions. If you’re found partially at fault, your compensation would simply be reduced by your percentage of fault, but not eliminated. For example, if you were 25% at fault, the value of your personal injury claim would be reduced by 25%.
Even if you’re worried about being partly at fault, it’s important to know shared liability is common in motorcycle and other accidents. Litco Law can help you understand how fault is assessed, so you know where you stand under Alberta’s laws and what it may mean for your claim.
How Negligence Is Proven in Alberta Motorcycle Accident Claims
After a motorcycle accident, one of the first legal questions is who was responsible, and why. In most injury claims, the answer turns on a concept called “negligence”, which is when a party fails to act in a reasonable way with respect to the circumstances. To prove negligence, there are some pieces of information you need to know about motorcycle accidents, even if you don’t ride. Every driver on the road owes a duty of care to other users of the road. The applicable standard of care is that of a reasonable driver in the same circumstances. This means that every driver must operate their vehicle safely and follow the rules meant to protect themselves and others. When a driver fails to meet this standard, they breach that standard of care. If that breach causes a motorcycle accident and leads to injuries or losses, the at-fault party may be held legally responsible.
Examples of driver negligence that often contribute to motorcycle accidents include:
- Failing to yield to a motorcycle
- Unsafe or improper lane changes
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Following too closely
- Opening a vehicle door into a motorcyclist’s path
- Failing to obey traffic signals or road signs
Motorcycles are especially vulnerable to these types of errors because they are smaller, less visible, and more exposed on the road. Understanding which parties were negligent, and how, is important in determining liability and identifying the potential compensation available through an injury claim.
How Litco Law Supports You After a Motorcycle Accident in Alberta
Since 1976, Litco Law has helped Albertans across the province understand their rights after motorcycle accidents. With a client-first approach that focuses on clear communication and genuine support, our team is here to guide you through the process, answer your questions in plain language, and help balance the power with insurance companies when you feel overwhelmed.
Because every claim is handled by your own dedicated legal team, you benefit from the collective experience of Alberta’s largest personal injury law firm, not just one lawyer managing your file alone. We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, so you don’t pay us anything while your claim progresses.
We’re here to make things easier for clients with updates at least every 30 days, and responses to any messages or questions within 24 hours. From gathering evidence to communicating with insurers, we’re here to support you through every stage of your motorcycle accident claim and ensure that liability is properly assessed and proven.
Contact Our Alberta Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Today
In addition to the pain of an injury and the demands of medical treatment, a motorcycle accident can leave you unsure where to turn next or what options are available. Getting clear answers can make a real difference in how confident you afeel moving forward.
When you book a free consultation with Litco Law, you’ll have the chance to feel heard, understand your options, and get straightforward guidance about what comes next. Our team is focused on making the process seamless, supportive, and pressure-free, so you can make informed decisions at your own pace. And even if we’re not the right fit, we’ll still point you toward helpful next steps, one of the many reasons we’re known as Lawyers You’ll Love.
Call (403) 273-8580 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation review of your injury claim today.
