What Are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable not only because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This downside makes motorcycles harder for other motorists to notice on the road. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown farther in the event of a crash.
Motorcycles are also more susceptible to an accident because other motorists do not keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households possess a motorcycle, which gives us a rough estimate of how common motorcycles are on US roadways. Since motorcycles aren't as common as normal passenger cars, drivers might be less likely to look out for them.
For example, a motorcycle riding in a motorist's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop might be less likely to be seen by a driver who is only looking for other passenger vehicles.
Because motorcycles are harder to detect than other cars, motorcyclists should always drive defensively. Bikers can never assume that other motorists can see them, particularly the drivers of cars in front of them. Motorcycle accidents often occur when drivers:
What Are the Most Prevalent Motorcycle Injuries?
A motorcycle gives you little protection in a collision. This means your body ends up taking the full force of the impact with another vehicle.
Often, this results in severe and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident victims. In fact, approximately 5,000 motorcyclists died in collisions in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just comprise 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle crashes result in 15 percent of all vehicle collision fatalities. Not every motorcycle accident will cause death, yet it shows the severity these types of collisions result in.
Some typical injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never return to a normal life, but it might take some time and effort, including physical rehabilitation. A motorcycle crash lawyer can help you receive the compensation needed to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Inland Empire Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists hurt in crashes are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence case is made up of four main elements: a duty, a breach of that duty, an injury caused by the breach, and injuries suffered by the plaintiff. Drivers of motor vehicles owe a duty of care to everybody else who uses public roads. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and various other motorists-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver violates that duty by being careless, inebriated, tired, or distracted, and ends up causing a crash which results in injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the driver might be held civilly liable to the injured party. They can seek a negligence case with the assistance of a motorcycle crash lawyer in Inland Empire.
A motorcyclist injured in an accident might have a claim if he can demonstrate that another driver was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has obeyed all of the traffic laws but is still involved in an accident, chances are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It could be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being inebriated, or a combination of the three.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Crash?
If You Have Been Involved in a Motorcycle Accident, immediately contact the police to make a report if they are involved in a crash. This is particularly true if there is an injury or fatality.
If urgent medical aid is necessary, provide what aid you can, look for assistance, and call emergency medical assistance. If you are the one that is injured, you should seek immediate medical help. Even if your injury seems minor and you do not need immediate help, it is a good idea to get medical care, as some injuries are not immediately apparent.
Additionally, at the scene you need to collect the contact and insurance details for the other parties. And you also want contact info for independent witnesses, as investigating law enforcement don't always gather that info.
Contact a motorcycle accident attorney soon after the collision. We highly suggest that you do this before speaking to any insurance company.
Contact Our Inland Empire Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, aside from talking to the authorities and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you should get in touch with a qualified and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer with experience dealing with motorcycle accidents. Serving victims throughout the Inland Empire area, the motorcycle crash lawyers at the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright can help you.
Too often, accident victims believe that an insurance provider-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will adequately compensate them for any injuries they have sustained. Unfortunately, many insurance providers are reluctant to pay, even when liability and damages are clear. This is particularly true when the injuries are significant.
Even when an insurer appears liable, be wary. Many insurance adjusters will try to settle insurance claims quickly. They will advise you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and thus reduce their exposure.
Even if the offer appears sufficient or even generous, it is crucial to ensure your rights are protected. Speak to a lawyer and be sure you understand the consequences of the agreement.
The truth is, not all injuries are immediately apparent. And for some serious injuries, even if you expect full recovery, you can not be sure that the complete recovery you hope for will happen.
In those instances, signing a release of claims prematurely can reduce your settlement to an amount that is considerably less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recover. Serious injuries might include:
And, of course, some motorcycle crashes are deadly. If somebody you love has been killed in a motorcycle accident, contact a lawyer to find out whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent motorist.
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