Motorcycle crashes are one of the most dangerous types of motor vehicle collisions. These accidents often cause severe, life-changing injuries that require expensive, ongoing treatment.
If the crash was caused by a negligent driver, the victim could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and various other damages. This is why motorcycle crash victims should strongly consider contacting a motorcycle accident lawyer to find out if they have legal options. The attorneys at Roden Law are prepared to review your situation in a free, no-obligation legal consultation. If you have a case, we will manage every aspect as we pursue all of the compensation you deserve. We will represent you on contingency, which means you will not owe legal fees unless you receive compensation.
The attorneys at our firm have a successful track record of recovering compensation for victims of motor vehicle crashes. We understand the many ways these crashes affect victims and their families, which is why we are committed to determining an accurate value of your claim as we try to obtain fair compensation.
Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form or call us today at 1-844-RESULTS.
Common Motorcycle Accidents and Injuries
There are many different types of motorcycle collisions that occur. Some of the most common accidents that involve the negligence of another motorist include:
- Rear-end collisions – This type of collision occurs when a car crashes into the back of a motorcycle, often at a stop light or stop sign. Even if the car is not going very fast, the impact could cause the rider to be thrown from the bike, resulting in severe or potentially life-threatening injuries.
- Left-turn crashes in intersections – This happens when a car turns left and hits a motorcyclist who is traveling in the opposite direction.
- Lane-change crashes – These accidents occur when a car changes lanes and either crashes into a motorcyclist or cuts off the motorcycle and does not give the rider enough time to slow down before crashing into the back of the car.
- Collisions with car doors – These are accidents where a motorcycle crashes into an open car door. These often occur when there is a line of parallel-parked cars next to an active lane of traffic. The driver fails to check if any vehicles are approaching before opening the door.
These crashes can cause a variety of severe injuries, such as:
- Paralysis, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Concussions and other brain injuries
- Severe bruises
- Deep cuts
- Burns
- Skin injuries like road rash
- Amputation of a limb
- Internal bleeding
- Fractures
- Neck injuries
- Whiplash and other soft-tissue injuries
If you suffered these or any other injuries in a motorcycle crash, contact us for a free legal consultation to determine your legal options. If we can prove that your injury was caused by negligence, we may be able to obtain compensation.
Call a motorcycle accident lawyer right now at 1-844-RESULTS.
What Causes Motorcycle Accidents?
Some motorcycle crashes are caused by the person riding the vehicle. For example, a cyclist could ride over a patch of gravel or a wet spot on the pavement and lose control. There is an inherent risk for these types of accidents any time you get onto a motorcycle.
However, there are many other accidents that are caused by the negligence of another driver. Some of the common forms of negligence we see in motorcycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving, such as texting and driving
- Failing to use turn signals
- Fatigued or drowsy driving
- Not looking for motorcycles when changing lanes or entering the roadway
- Speeding, particularly during bad weather or in heavy traffic
- Drunk driving
- Violating a motorcycle’s right of way, particularly in intersections
- Ignoring road signs or traffic signals
- Tailgating a motorcycle
Our motorcycle accident attorneys are prepared to do a comprehensive investigation to determine how another driver’s negligence contributed to your crash. Some of the steps we are prepared to take to investigate your accident include:
- Photographing the scene of the crash, particularly damage to both vehicles and the roadway
- Taking pictures of all of the injuries you suffered, including pictures during your treatment to demonstrate the severity of your medical issues
- Collecting and reviewing the police report, which contains the officer’s opinion on the cause of the crash
- Using technology or consulting experts to reconstruct the accident scene
- Talking to medical experts to understand the severity of your injuries and the many ways they affect you
These steps will help us build a strong case as we attempt to obtain all forms of compensation you deserve.
Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer today.
Types of Motorcycle Crash Compensation
A common question about motorcycle accident cases is: how much is my case worth?
The answer is it depends on what types of damages you suffered and the cost of those damages. There are various types of damages that may be available to motorcycle crash victims:
Medical Expenses
This includes all current and future medical costs from your injury, such as:
- Surgeries
- Transportation in an ambulance
- Prescription medications for symptoms of your injuries
- Imaging tests, such as x-rays and MRIs
- Physical therapy
- Canes or crutches
- Wheelchair
- Mileage to doctor appointments
- Co-pays for doctor appointments
Make sure to save all records (bills, receipts) of the medical costs you incurred because of your injury. This will help us determine the full value of your medical expenses.
Cost of Repairing or Replacing Damaged Property
If our motorcycle accident lawyers can establish that another driver was at fault, you may be entitled to compensation to cover repairs to your motorcycle. If the motorcycle is totaled, we may be able to obtain compensation for the fair market value of the vehicle. Make sure to save any estimates or bills for repairing your car.
Lost Wages
If you miss work because you are physically unable to do your job or because you are receiving treatment, you may be entitled to compensation for all wages lost as a result of not working.
A motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm can explain how to obtain proper documentation of lost wages, including a letter from your employer noting the days you missed work and your hourly wage.
Lost Earning Capacity
In some cases, the injuries from the crash are so severe that the victim is never able to work in the same capacity as he or she did before the crash. For instance, the victim may need to get a job in a different field or work fewer hours because he or she cannot keep up with the physical demands of the position.
If this happens to you, we may be able to obtain compensation for the effect of your injury on your future earning capacity. We will carefully evaluate your experience, education, skills and any other relevant factors to determine fair compensation for lost earning capacity.
Pain and Suffering
While the financial cost of a motorcycle crash injury is significant, the physical and emotional effects can be just as bad or worse. This can include the physical pain from your injuries along with emotional injuries like:
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Trouble sleeping
- Anxiousness
- Reliving the accident in your mind
Our attorneys understand how to document the value of these damages, since they have no monetary value assigned to them. This could include a daily journal where you write down all of the physical and emotional problems caused by your injuries.
The motorcycle accident attorneys at our law firm have in-depth knowledge of these different forms of compensation and how to build a strong case as we pursue the fair value of the damages you have suffered.
Contact us right now by calling 1-844-RESULTS.
How to Obtain Compensation for a Motorcycle Crash Injury
Most motorcycle accident cases are resolved by filing an insurance claim. Most states are tort-liability states, which means the at-fault driver’s insurance company is financially responsible for the damages that occurred in the crash. In these states, victims seek compensation from the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability and property damage coverage.
Unfortunately, some drivers break the law and do not purchase insurance coverage. There are also cases where your damages exceed the value of the other driver’s insurance policy. In these cases, we may seek compensation from your insurance, which may include:
- Uninsured motorist – This provides compensation for medical costs, lost wages and property damage if you were injured in a crash caused by an uninsured driver.
- Collision – This is an optional coverage that pays for damage to your vehicle. Many people have this coverage because their lender requires it as a condition of their loan.
- Medical – This covers your medical costs, up to the limits of your policy.
However, there are times where we need to file a personal injury lawsuit because we are unable to obtain the compensation you deserve through an insurance claim. This often occurs when the victim has suffered a severe injury and his or her damages far exceed the insurance coverage.
One of the advantages of a lawsuit is that we are not limited by the amount of insurance coverage. A lawsuit also allows us to pursue forms of compensation that might not be available in an insurance claim, such as pain and suffering.
Schedule a free legal consultation right now by filling out a Free Case Evaluation form.
What Happens if I am Partially at Fault for the Accident?
In some cases, the other driver is clearly the one at fault for a motorcycle crash. However, there are many other cases where the driver of the motorcycle is partially at fault.
Situations like these are governed by state comparative negligence law. These laws typically say you cannot recover compensation if you are found to have a certain percentage of fault. If you do not bear that percentage of fault, you should be able to recover compensation but it will be reduced by your percentage of fault for the crash. This means that an award of $100,000 becomes $70,000 if you are 30 percent at fault.
Our motorcycle accident lawyers will work to build a strong case to help ensure this law is applied fairly in court or in an insurance claim.
Call 1-844-RESULTS today for your free legal consultation.
Is There a Deadline for Pursuing a Case?
You should always contact an attorney as soon as possible after suffering an injury in a motorcycle accident. This is because your case is governed by a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time you have to pursue compensation.
The sooner you contact a motorcycle accident attorney, the sooner he or she can go to work building your case and making sure it is filed before the statute of limitations expires. It takes time to thoroughly investigate and determine a fair valuation of your claim, so the more time we have the better.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form right now.
Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents are often devastating to the victim’s physical, financial and emotional health. The motorcycle accident attorneys at Roden Law understand this and are prepared to help.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation legal consultation to discuss your legal options and learn more about the compensation you may be entitled.
We have many years of combined experience representing victims of motor vehicle accidents and know what it takes to be successful in these cases.
We take cases on contingency so your consultation is absolutely free and you will not be charged legal fees unless you receive compensation.