Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle crashes may not happen every day, but they probably will when one of these reasons is present:

• Driver Negligence: A motorcycle crash happens when another driver doesn’t notice other riders. These include speeding, distracted driving, making sudden lane changes, and not yielding to other drivers.
• Lack of Visibility: Motorcycles are smaller in the eyes of other drivers. Low lighting, blind spots, and poor weather can cause accidents.
• Road Hazards: Small motorcycles can be more sensitive to wet roads, uneven pavement, and potholes, which can cause motorcyclists to lose their balance and crash down the road.
• Inexperienced Riders: Those who are new to motorcycle driving or are still learning how to drive can be at risk of a motorcycle accident. They may struggle with managing sudden situations or controlling themselves at high speeds.
• Speeding and Reckless Driving: Drivers who drive fast and weave in and out of traffic are susceptible to getting involved in a motorcycle accident.
• Left-Turn Collisions: Accidents happen when cars make a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle, which can be dangerous since motorcycle drivers don’t have enough time to react.
• Alcohol or Drug Use: Riding under the influence can cause impaired judgment, slowed reaction times, and reduced coordination. All of these can increase the likelihood of accidents.

Understanding these causes can help you and other drivers be more aware of your surroundings and make the roads safer.

Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Motorcyclists may sustain one or more of these injuries following an accident:

• Head Injuries: Without a helmet’s protection, drivers are at greater risk of sustaining head injuries, such as concussions and traumatic brain injuries. Severe impacts may lead to lasting brain damage even with a helmet.
• Broken Bones: Arms, legs, and ribs are vulnerable to breaking in a motorcycle accident. Riders are often thrown from their bikes and land on hard surfaces with the force.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: A damaged spinal cord can cause partial or complete paralysis, affecting the driver’s mobility for the rest of their lives.
• Road Rash: Riders get skin abrasions when they slide across the pavement. This injury, known as road rash, can painfully scar and infect the skin and even cause nerve damage.
• Internal Injuries: The crash can cause your lungs, liver, and kidneys to bleed. They’re life-threatening if you don’t get immediate medical attention.
• Lower Extremity Injuries: Legs, knees, and feet can get fractured after a motorcycle accident, which may lead to long-term complications.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: When muscles, ligaments, and tendons are sprained or strained, mobility becomes limited. Unlike other injuries, soft tissue injuries are not always life-threatening.

These injuries may need extensive and long-term medical treatment, making fair compensation vital for full recovery and support.

Lasting Effects of Injuries

Aside from the common injuries, the lasting effects of a motorcycle crash are beyond the visible wounds. It can impact your body and mental well-being. These effects include:

Physical Disabilities

Broken bones and nerve damage may lead to chronic conditions that need lifetime care. If you sustain severe injuries or fractures in the joints, you’ll find it hard to move while working on everyday tasks.

In severe cases, you can become partially or completely paralyzed if you get spinal cord injuries. This can change your lifestyle and independence, as you may need someone healthier to do daily tasks. 

In other cases, some get amputated when the limbs get infected. Prosthetics and extensive rehabilitation follow an amputation procedure.

Long-Term Care’s Financial Impact

Chronic conditions will need medication, surgeries, in-home care, and physical therapy. These expenses can double over time and may cause financial strain to other family members, especially if there isn’t enough money to get by.

Disabilities make it difficult or impossible to work again, limiting your financial stability and earning potential. This loss of income can strain your savings in the long run.

Mental and Emotional Trauma

Surviving a serious accident is a blessing, but it can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. You can experience anxiety, flashbacks, or even be afraid of riding a motorcycle again.

You may feel helpless and depressed due to financial burdens, physical limitations, and lifestyle changes. The physical and emotional strain can also affect your relationship with your family.

Quality of Life

Your life after the accident isn’t the same as before. You can’t really have a social life or do your usual activities, especially if your injuries are severe and long-term. Adjusting to your new lifestyle can be exhausting.

Immediate Actions After the Accident

This is how you should act right away after the crash:

• Think of Your Safety: Move to a safer location if you can. Call emergency services to get medical help and the police to document the accident. You can file a police report in the process.
• Document and Gather Evidence: Take many photos of the scene, including your damaged motorcycle, other vehicles, injuries, and relevant road conditions. Get the witnesses’ contact information when needed, so their accounts can be added later.
• Get Medical Attention: Injuries can have delayed symptoms even if you think you’re not in pain. Visit your doctor after the accident to get the needed medical treatment.
• Contact Your Lawyer: Call a motorcycle accident lawyer to guide you in filing a case and maximizing your compensation.
• Preserve Evidence: Keep damaged clothing and gear, such as helmets and jackets, to show the accident’s severity and support your case. Store them carefully without any cleaning or alteration. Organize your medical records by keeping digital copies of medical bills and receipts to demonstrate your injuries. Maintain a journal to see your recovery process and use it in court.

Why Acting Immediately Is Crucial

Quick action after an accident can turn things around for motorcycle accident claims. Here’s why:

Statute of Limitations

This sets a legal deadline for filing your personal injury claim, and it varies by state. It usually ranges from one to three years after the accident’s date, regardless of how strong your case is. Immediate action ensures you’ll meet the deadline and let your lawyer painstakingly prepare a strong case.

Delaying the filing of a claim can degrade your evidence. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, and road conditions can change at any given minute. 

In addition, claims and compensation can only be accessible within given time frames. That’s why filing early will really help you boost your chances of winning the case.

Impact of Immediate Action

• Preserving Physical Evidence: Getting evidence fresh from the accident will strengthen your case. It presents a more detailed and accurate extent of the damages and injuries you got on the day of the accident:
• Reliable Witness Testimony: A witness often has the most reliable memory following an accident. However, their recollection of the events fades over time, which can help the case less. Acting promptly can secure detailed accounts of the accident from the witnesses before their memories fade.

Documentation: Medical injuries need to be documented as soon as possible to show a clear connection to the accident. Delaying this will let insurers argue that injuries are unrelated to the accident or weren’t as severe as before.

Types of Compensation

Motorcycle accident attorneys will make sure to get you these kinds of compensation after the accident and the hardships you had to go through:

Medical Expenses

This covers costs for ambulance rides, emergency room visits, medication, surgeries, and physical therapy. Other predicted future costs for injuries that need long-term care, such as rehabilitation and assistive devices, are included.

Lost Wages and Income

Most drivers involved in a motorcycle accident miss work, especially those with severe injuries. Missing work means less or no income. Compensation for lost wages may cover:

• Time Off Work: Income lost due to the time needed to recover. Sick and vacation days are usually used.
• Loss of Earning Capacity: If your injuries won’t let you do your previous job, you can get compensated for this income loss.

Pain and Suffering

These are the physical pain and emotional distress the accident has caused, such as pain from the injuries, recovery, treatment, and depression.

Property Damage

This pays for the repair or replacement of your motorcycle and the personal items damaged in the accident, including your jacket, helmet, and mobile phone.

Pursue all of these compensation options with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer to improve your life after a dark chapter.

Other Things You Need to Know About Motorcycle Accidents

Dealing with Comparative Fault

Comparative fault is when both the motorcyclist and another driver are to be blamed for the accident. If the rider is at 25% at fault, their compensation is reduced to the same percentage. Recover more by showing strong evidence that limits your share of the blame.

Challenges in Motorcycle Accident Claims

The insurance company can give you a low settlement. It may affect the quality of treatment you get when you are given a low amount of compensation.

Another challenge is that motorcycle riders are often labeled aggressive drivers. This can make it difficult to prove that the accident wasn’t your fault.

Why Injury Severity Matters

Serious injuries can rack up higher medical bills and extend recovery times. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you can get higher compensation, but the other party may resist it.

Why Choose Sweet Lawyers

These are the best reasons why working with Sweet Lawyers can make a huge difference in your case:

Our Expertise in Motorcycle Law

Sweet Lawyers has handled many cases involving motorcycle accidents for years. We’ve helped clients get the compensation they’re entitled to. Their testimonials show how we can work with you to sort things out if you get into an accident.

We know the challenges motorcycle drivers like you go through and tackle them effectively.

Focused Representation

We’re all about protecting the rights of motorcyclists, especially given the bias and blame placed upon them in accidents. We fight for fair treatment for every client when settling their motorcycle accident claim.

Personalized Approach

We listen to your needs and address them with our strategies. Your case is unique to anyone else, and we make sure to give you workable solutions. We’ll work with you to get your compensation no matter what it takes.

Track Record

Photo grabbed from Sweet Lawyers

Sweet Lawyers wins 98% of its cases. Attorney Mark Sweet has been in the industry for 40 years, and this extensive experience attests to the high-quality service he and his team provide to clients. Trust and confidence are at the very core of what they do.

Work with an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today

Motorcycle accidents can change your life at any given minute. However, working with motorcycle injury lawyers can increase your chances of getting compensated fairly and winning the case. They’ll handle all the legal paperwork while you’re resting and recovering from your injuries.

Sweet Lawyers know how hard it is to get involved in a motorcycle accident and the unimaginable damage it can bring. As a motorcycle accident law firm, our personal injury lawyers can help you make sense of the accident’s legal implications and fight for your rights. We’ll build a strong case and maximize your compensation to help you come back stronger.

Message us today so we can help you get the justice you rightfully deserve!