What are Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable not just because they lack the protection, but because they are much smaller. This disadvantage makes motorcycles harder for other motorists to notice while driving. It also means that motorcycles and their passengers are more likely to be thrown further in the event of a collision.
Motorcycles are also more vulnerable to an accident since other drivers don't keep a close enough eye out for them. Only 8% of households own a motorcycle, which provides us a general estimate of how common motorcycles are on US roads. Given that motorcycles aren't as common as regular passenger cars, drivers may be less likely to watch out for them.
For instance, a motorcycle riding in a driver's blind spot or crossing through an intersection at a 2-way stop may be less likely to be seen by a driver who is only watching for other passenger vehicles.
Since motorcycles are more difficult to detect than other vehicles, motorcyclists have to always drive defensively. Bikers can never presume that other drivers can see them, particularly the drivers of cars in front of them. Motorcycle accidents typically happen 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.
Frequently, this leads to serious and life-altering injuries to motorcycle accident victims. In fact, approximately 5,000 motorcyclists died in accidents in just one recent year.
While motorcycles just make up 3 percent of registered vehicles, motorcycle crashes cause 15 percent of all vehicle accident fatalities. Not every motorcycle accident will result in death, but it shows the severity these kinds of crashes lead to.
Some usual injuries are:
That's not to say that survivors can never resume a normal life, but it might take some time and effort, including physical therapy. A motorcycle crash attorney can help you recover the compensation required to pay for those treatments.
Liability for Ontario Motorcycle Accidents
As these facts suggest, motorcyclists hurt in accidents are commonly the victims of negligence. Every negligence claim is made up of four essential 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 thoroughfares. That includes bicyclists, pedestrians, and other drivers-- including motorcyclists.
When a driver breaches that duty by being careless, inebriated, fatigued, or distracted, and ends up causing an accident which results in injury or even wrongful death to another individual, the motorist might be held civilly liable to the injured party. He or she can pursue a negligence case with the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer in Ontario.
A motorcyclist hurt in an accident might have a claim if he can demonstrate that another motorist was at fault. When a motorcycle driver has obeyed all of the traffic laws however is still involved in a collision, chances are that it has been caused by the driver of another vehicle. It might be not seeing the motorcyclist, speeding, being intoxicated, or a combination of the three.
What Should I Do After a Motorcycle Crash?
If You Have Been Involved in a Motorcycle Crash, immediately contact the police to file a report if they are involved in a crash. This is especially true if there is an injury or fatality.
If immediate medical help is needed, provide what aid you can, seek assistance, and call emergency medical help. If you are the one that is injured, you should seek immediate medical assistance. 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 noticeable.
Additionally, at the scene you need to collect the contact and insurance information for the other parties. And you also want contact info for independent witnesses, as investigating police officers do not always collect that info.
Contact a motorcycle crash lawyer soon after the accident. We highly suggest that you do this before speaking to any insurance provider.
Contact Our Ontario Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
After your accident, along with talking to the authorities and obtaining any necessary medical attention, you should contact a qualified and experienced personal injury lawyer with experience handling motorcycle accidents. Serving victims throughout the Ontario area, the motorcycle crash lawyers at the Law Offices of Tim D. Wright can help you.
Too often, accident victims think that an insurance provider-- either their own or the other motorist's-- will properly compensate them for any injuries they have suffered. However, lots of insurance companies are unwilling to pay, even when liability and injuries are clear. This is particularly true when the damages are substantial.
Even when an insurance company seems responsible, beware. Lots of adjusters will try to settle claims quickly. They will urge you to sign an agreement that will let them close the case-- and thereby minimize their exposure.
Even if the deal appears sufficient or even generous, it is vital to make sure your rights are protected. Talk to a lawyer and make sure you comprehend the consequences of the agreement.
The reality is, not all injuries are immediately apparent. And for some major injuries, even if you expect complete recovery, you can not be certain that the complete recovery you hope for will materialize.
In those situations, signing a release of claims prematurely can limit your settlement to an amount that is substantially less than what you need or what you legally have a right to recover. Major injuries may include:
And, obviously, some motorcycle crashes are fatal. If someone you love has been killed in a motorcycle accident, get in touch with a lawyer to find out whether there's a wrongful death action to pursue against a negligent motorist.
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