Motorcycle riders are injured and killed in crashes every day in the U.S. Oftentimes the motorcycle rider is blamed for the accident when in fact the collision was the fault of the other motorist. Most bikers are safe and responsible, despite the reputation sometimes applied to them. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, an experienced attorney can help you pursue monetary compensation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
While some motorcycle accidents are caused by poor weather or slick roads, many other collisions can be traced back to someone else. Common causes include:
- Motorist turns in front of an oncoming motorcycle
- Motorist follows motorcycle too closely
- Motorist misjudges speed at which motorcycle is traveling
- Motorist crowds a motorcycle in the same lane
- Motorist fails to see motorcyclist in the lane next to them
- Poorly designed roads
- Unsigned curves
- Lack of warning signs
- Soft or eroded road shoulders
- Damaged and unmaintained pavement
Motorcycles offer no protection in a crash, so as a biker, you are easily vulnerable to catastrophic injuries. You do your part to lower your risk of a crash, and you rely on other motorists to do the same. Unfortunately, careless drivers are everywhere. They may act aggressively toward motorcycles, cutting you off or denying your rights to use the roadway safely. In such instances, you deserve a passionate advocate to pursue justice on your behalf. A lawyer seeks to hold the careless driver accountable by resolving your case skillfully.
Who Is At Fault?
An experienced attorney reviews your case to determine who is responsible. Although each situation is unique, common at-fault parties are:
- Other motorists
- Road architects
- Construction crews
- Municipalities
- Manufacturers of defective motorcycles
- Manufacturers of defective motorcycle parts
Your attorney demonstrates to the insurance companies and other interested parties how negligence was the cause of the motorcycle accident that injured you. Negligence means the responsible party was careless. For example, a motorist who runs a red light has not only broken a law, but has failed to exercise the care we all expect from motorists with whom we share the road.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle injuries tend to be catastrophic in nature:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Fractures
- Lacerations
- Burns
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Injuries to internal organs
- Amputation
Not only are these injuries excruciatingly painful and emotionally traumatic, they are also very expensive to treat. They may require long hospital stays followed by in-home care and assistance. Injuries like these may require expensive rehabilitative treatment and adaptive equipment. All of these costs are factored into your motorcycle accident claim.
Potential Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident
After a motorcycle accident, you should contact an experienced lawyer to pursue damages:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Loss of wages and income
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
There may be other damages that apply to your claim. Your lawyer takes an in-depth look at all of the ways your life has been impacted, and then seeks full and fair compensation based on those factors. While monetary compensation cannot be guaranteed in any case, your lawyer will work to secure maximum compensation on your behalf.
Certain damages are based on economic losses (income, medical bills). Other damages are based on non-economic issues, such as pain, suffering, mental anguish and diminished quality of life. Compensation may include punitive damages, which symbolically punish the responsible party and hopefully deter similar behavior. Punitive damages are reserved for only the most reprehensible instances of negligence. Punitive damages may be in play in a wrongful death case, in which the negligence led to a fatality.
Find Out If You Have a Case
The only way to know if you have a motorcycle accident case in your state is to contact an experienced attorney. A lawyer who handles these cases routinely will be able to review the facts surrounding your crash and determine if someone else’s negligence led to your injuries. Your attorney communicates with the insurance companies so you can spend your time healing from the trauma.