By far, the biggest danger on the road to motorcycle riders is other drivers. They follow motorcyclists too closely. They cut them off when making lane changes. They make left-hand turns in front on them. And when it comes time to explain how the accident happened, these same drivers will say they didn't see the motorcycle, that the motorcyclist was speeding or some other excuse to pin the blame on anyone else but themselves.
There is a strong societal bias against motorcycle riders that are they are thrill-seekers, that they like to live their lives dangerously by engaging in reckless behavior. This bias makes it easy for the police and the insurance companies to believe that the motorcycle rider must have done something to cause the accident and must in some way be responsible for their own injuries.
But this is not usually true. Most accidents involving motorcycle riders are caused by other drivers. And when these serious accidents are caused by negligent drivers, motorcyclists should not be left holding the bill for their medical expenses, damage to their bikes or any other losses they suffer as a result of the accident - which can be quite substantial.
Motorcycle riders often suffer catastrophic injuries when they are involved in a crash with another driver, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Spinal cord and back injuries
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Burns, scars and permanent disfigurement
- Multiple fractures
These life threatening injuries can cost tens of thousands of dollars to treat, require extensive hospitalization, multiple painful surgeries and lengthy therapy and rehabilitation sessions. This is all in addition to the time the motorcycle rider misses from work to heal from his or her injuries and the costs to repair his or her bike.
The worst injuries may leave the motorcycle rider unable to return to their previous employment, or return to any type of work at all. They may require long-term care in a nursing home or other assisted living facility, or require the use of an in-home nurse or other caretaker because their injuries are so extensive that they no longer can take care of themselves.
How an Attorney Can Help Motorcycle Accident Victims
It is well known that motorcycle accident victims are more likely to get a larger recovery with the help of an attorney than if they try to go it alone. A lawyer with experience in handling these types of cases can be a vital asset and can help injured motorcycle riders in a number of important ways, including:
· Fully investigating the causes of the accident and identifying all potentially responsible parties. By using accident reconstruction experts, the attorney can determine whether there was more than one cause for the accident and who is legally liable for it. For example, defective roadway design may be to blame in part for the accident, meaning that the state or local government shares liability with the negligent driver.
· Determining the full value of the claim and helping the injured motorcyclist get it. Despite the public bias against motorcycle riders as risk takers, they should not be responsible for paying for any of the expenses and losses associated with an accident they didn't cause. This includes past, current and future medical expenses and lost wages, repair and/or replacement cost for their bikes, future care needs and damages for pain and discomfort.
· Protecting the motorcycle rider's best interests against the insurance company. Whether the motorcyclist was hit by an insured, uninsured or underinsured driver, the insurance company is likely to make it difficult for him or her to recover full and fair compensation for all of their losses. In fact, if the insurer does not find the rider fully at fault for the accident, then they are likely to assign at least partial fault to the motorcyclist, which will significantly impact his or her financial recovery. Having an experienced attorney handle all of the dealings with the insurance company can help ensure that injured motorcycle riders receive all of the compensation they are owed and that the insurer does not find fault where it does not exist.
· Taking care of injured riders' legal needs while they focus on getting better. Motorcycle accidents often result in very serious injuries. How their legal case is progressing is the last thing anyone wants to worry about while they are trying to recuperate from these injuries. A lawyer can handle all of the legal matters, including filing claims, locating witnesses and dealing with the insurance companies, while the injured motorcyclist focuses on what is most important: their health.
For more information on how an attorney can help you recover full and fair compensation for your motorcycle accident injury claim, contact an experienced lawyer today. Drivers who act carelessly or recklessly and hurt another person should not be allowed to walk away from the accident without paying for all of the injuries, harms and losses they created.
