Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents Result in Severe Injuries

Motorcycle accidents are generally considered the worst type of crashes since motorcycles can be driven at high speeds and do not offer their riders much protection.

Many accidents end in serious injury or death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the division of the U.S. Department of Transportation tasked with road safety, has noted that a motorcycle rider is 8 times more likely to be injured and 37 times more likely to die in an accident than the occupant of a car in an automobile accident.

In the past decade, accident deaths have doubled, in part due to more motorcycles being purchased each year, not only by younger riders who have less experience riding but, increasingly, by riders over 40 who have slower reaction times. Also, there is more congestion on our streets and drivers travel at faster speeds.

The most common motorcycle accident is when a car turns in front of a bike, hits the motorcyclist while changing lanes, or runs into the biker at a stop light. Common reasons for the driver not seeing the motorcyclist are:

• Inattention
• Distractions
• Blind spots

Accidents can happen even when no driver is at fault. Vehicle defects that slip past the manufacturer can cause an accident or faulty safety equipment may fail to protect the travelers the way it should. When products fail and cause harm that should have been avoided, a skilled lawyer may find it necessary to pursue a products liability case.

Motorcycle technology has developed over the years to improve rider safety. Many bikes now come equipped with anti-lock braking systems and traction control. These developments still may not eliminate all dangers. Poorly maintained roads, liquids that are leaked or spilled on surfaces, or improperly engineered streets and highways can lead to accidents and injuries.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

Escape Immediate Danger
The scene of a motorcycle accident can be extremely dangerous. 62% of wrecks involve fuel leaks and spills that could turn into fires. Other drivers may not realize that an accident has happened and may be slow to brake or move around the crash site. Your first step should be to move to a safe place.

Get Medical Care
If you are injured, you should be taken to an emergency room for prompt medical care. Head and chest injuries are among the primary causes of death, so you should request immediate examinations that include diagnostic tests like X-rays and MRIs.

Report the Accident
Unless you are transported from the scene by ambulance, call the police and report the crash. A police report will document the facts of the wreck and will identify the parties involved, along with any witnesses.

Call a reputable Arizona Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Determining fault requires a detailed investigation that must be done before evidence and witnesses disappear. An attorney who understands Arizona law and how to build a case will manage your claim from the outset and will help in many different areas, like getting the medical care that you need.

DETERMINING RESPONSIBLE PARTIES

Drivers, Owners, and Employers
Drivers and owners of vehicles who cause an accident are responsible for the injuries the wreck inflicts. But responsibility does not end there. If your accident was caused by a driver who was on the job or driving a company car or truck, you would be able to pursue compensation not just against the driver, but his or her employer as well.

Governmental Entities
When a defective design, construction, or maintenance of public roadways results in a dangerous condition, the governmental entity that is responsible for those roadways bears the blame for your motorcycle accident. Claims against governmental entities, however, have strict filing deadlines, usually as short as six months. It is imperative that you consult with a lawyer right away so that you don’t lose your right to your claim.

Manufacturers
If a defective motorcycle design, manufacture, or assembly contributed to the crash, the maker of the motorcycle would be a target defendant in your case. If there is a failure in safety gear, like a helmet that didn’t protect the way it was supposed to, then the manufacturer and seller would be further sources of recovery.

PURSUING DAMAGES

Studies have shown that the losses from motorcycle accidents can be 4 to 12 times higher than losses from other vehicular accidents. A skilled Arizona motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover many of the expenses from an accident.

Medical Bills
Serious injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash can trigger astronomical bills. For example, hospitalization at a trauma center for a head injury can cost upwards of $30,000 to $40,000. You may be entitled to recover the costs for any hospital stays, surgery, doctors’ visits, diagnostic tests, physical and rehabilitative therapy, and chiropractic care. You may be entitled to the costs of future medical care if your conditions require ongoing treatment.

Pain and Suffering
A motorcycle accident may inflict a wide range of injuries, whether they be temporary, such as road rash, longer-term, such as broken bones, or disabling, such as a severed spine or trauma to the brain. The law allows for compensation for the pain and suffering associated with such injuries but does not provide a fixed formula to calculate the compensation. To recover the maximum amount that your injuries warrant, you will need the help of an expert lawyer who has the knowledge and experience to best evaluate your claim.

Wage Loss
If your injuries prevent you from working, then all your lost wages may be included in any claim for recovery. Even if you used sick leave or vacation time during the recovery period, reimbursement may be available. What if your injuries leave you permanently disabled and unable to work ever again? In conjunction with an economist, a lawyer can calculate your future losses and recover for your reduction in earning capacity.

Although punitive damages, aimed at punishing a party at fault, are rare in motorcycle accident cases, they may be appropriate in certain instances, such as when a driver who caused the motorcycle crash was motivated by road rage or was driving while under the influence of alcohol.

INVESTIGATING THE CRASH

In order to recover compensation for injuries sustained in a traffic accident, the law of negligence requires you to prove that the crash was the fault of another driver or entity. A thorough investigation of a vehicle accident is usually complicated, requiring a skilled lawyer located within Arizona who has the ability to establish driver fault or find an alternative cause for the accident.

Establishing Driver Fault
Statistics show that nearly 70% of motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles are caused by drivers who violate a motorcyclist’s right of way. Failing to check blind spots, misjudging the speed of a motorcycle, and tailgating can often lead to an accident.

Assessing Road Conditions
Studies have shown that road conditions like undivided highways, curves, and defects like potholes and pavement ridges are contributing factors in motorcycle crash injuries and fatalities. Intersections have a high incidence of multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents, while many single-vehicle accidents occur along curves and on undivided highways. Why? Is there a problem with the design or construction of these roadways? Are they furnished with appropriate signs? Do their traffic controls function properly? These are key questions to be asked during the investigation.

Inspecting Bikes and Safety Gear
Up to 3% of accidents are caused by vehicle failure. An expert will inspect the bike and determine how the breakdown caused the accident. Additionally, it is important to review safety gear to see if the equipment complies with government standards. For instance, all helmets have to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. In the case of a head injury, it is necessary to assess the helmet’s performance in the crash by examining its style and weight, the thickness of its lining, and the sturdiness of its chin strap and rivets. Oftentimes, bikers are partly blamed for a motorcycle crash based on arguments that they were driving too fast or veering in and out of lanes in an unsafe manner. Comparative negligence on the part of the motorcycle rider may result in a reduction of damages. If the motorcyclist is found to be 10% at fault for the accident, then the motorcyclist’s recovery is reduced by 10%. If he is deemed 50% at fault, then his damages are cut in half. A law firm must protect their client’s interests by making every effort to negate any comparative negligence arguments.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

To prevail in your claim, an attorney must be able to handle the complexities of your case. Your attorney should manage all of the following tasks:

• Investigate the accident promptly and thoroughly
• Preserve evidence from the crash
• Locate witnesses to the accident
• Obtain photographs of the crash scene
• Establish the defendants’ fault
• Inspect the motorcycle and safety gear for potential defects
• Protect you from filing deadlines
• Sue all responsible parties
• Hire the right experts
• Recover your medical expenses and lost wages
• Maximize your pain and suffering damages for your motorcycle accident injuries

In some instances, individuals can receive the money they deserve from insurance settlements and through out-of-court settlements with negligent parties. Yet, sometimes a lawsuit is required. At Rudolph & Hammond, we’ll map out a plan of action and fight aggressively for your rights inside or outside of court. During this process, we’ll remain in communication with you to ensure that you are aware of the progress of your case every step of the way.

Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents Result in Severe Injuries

Motorcycle accidents are generally considered the worst type of crashes since motorcycles can be driven at high speeds and do not offer their riders much protection.

Many accidents end in serious injury or death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the division of the U.S. Department of Transportation tasked with road safety, has noted that a motorcycle rider is 8 times more likely to be injured and 37 times more likely to die in an accident than the occupant of a car in an automobile accident.

In the past decade, accident deaths have doubled, in part due to more motorcycles being purchased each year, not only by younger riders who have less experience riding but, increasingly, by riders over 40 who have slower reaction times. Also, there is more congestion on our streets and drivers travel at faster speeds.

The most common motorcycle accident is when a car turns in front of a bike, hits the motorcyclist while changing lanes, or runs into the biker at a stop light. Common reasons for the driver not seeing the motorcyclist are:

• Inattention
• Distractions
• Blind spots

Accidents can happen even when no driver is at fault. Vehicle defects that slip past the manufacturer can cause an accident or faulty safety equipment may fail to protect the travelers the way it should. When products fail and cause harm that should have been avoided, a skilled lawyer may find it necessary to pursue a products liability case.

Motorcycle technology has developed over the years to improve rider safety. Many bikes now come equipped with anti-lock braking systems and traction control. These developments still may not eliminate all dangers. Poorly maintained roads, liquids that are leaked or spilled on surfaces, or improperly engineered streets and highways can lead to accidents and injuries.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT?

Escape Immediate Danger
The scene of a motorcycle accident can be extremely dangerous. 62% of wrecks involve fuel leaks and spills that could turn into fires. Other drivers may not realize that an accident has happened and may be slow to brake or move around the crash site. Your first step should be to move to a safe place.

Get Medical Care
If you are injured, you should be taken to an emergency room for prompt medical care. Head and chest injuries are among the primary causes of death, so you should request immediate examinations that include diagnostic tests like X-rays and MRIs.

Report the Accident
Unless you are transported from the scene by ambulance, call the police and report the crash. A police report will document the facts of the wreck and will identify the parties involved, along with any witnesses.

Call a reputable Arizona Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Determining fault requires a detailed investigation that must be done before evidence and witnesses disappear. An attorney who understands Arizona law and how to build a case will manage your claim from the outset and will help in many different areas, like getting the medical care that you need.

DETERMINING RESPONSIBLE PARTIES

Drivers, Owners, and Employers
Drivers and owners of vehicles who cause an accident are responsible for the injuries the wreck inflicts. But responsibility does not end there. If your accident was caused by a driver who was on the job or driving a company car or truck, you would be able to pursue compensation not just against the driver, but his or her employer as well.

Governmental Entities
When a defective design, construction, or maintenance of public roadways results in a dangerous condition, the governmental entity that is responsible for those roadways bears the blame for your motorcycle accident. Claims against governmental entities, however, have strict filing deadlines, usually as short as six months. It is imperative that you consult with a lawyer right away so that you don’t lose your right to your claim.

Manufacturers
If a defective motorcycle design, manufacture, or assembly contributed to the crash, the maker of the motorcycle would be a target defendant in your case. If there is a failure in safety gear, like a helmet that didn’t protect the way it was supposed to, then the manufacturer and seller would be further sources of recovery.

PURSUING DAMAGES

Studies have shown that the losses from motorcycle accidents can be 4 to 12 times higher than losses from other vehicular accidents. A skilled Arizona motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recover many of the expenses from an accident.

Medical Bills
Serious injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash can trigger astronomical bills. For example, hospitalization at a trauma center for a head injury can cost upwards of $30,000 to $40,000. You may be entitled to recover the costs for any hospital stays, surgery, doctors’ visits, diagnostic tests, physical and rehabilitative therapy, and chiropractic care. You may be entitled to the costs of future medical care if your conditions require ongoing treatment.

Pain and Suffering
A motorcycle accident may inflict a wide range of injuries, whether they be temporary, such as road rash, longer-term, such as broken bones, or disabling, such as a severed spine or trauma to the brain. The law allows for compensation for the pain and suffering associated with such injuries but does not provide a fixed formula to calculate the compensation. To recover the maximum amount that your injuries warrant, you will need the help of an expert lawyer who has the knowledge and experience to best evaluate your claim.

Wage Loss
If your injuries prevent you from working, then all your lost wages may be included in any claim for recovery. Even if you used sick leave or vacation time during the recovery period, reimbursement may be available. What if your injuries leave you permanently disabled and unable to work ever again? In conjunction with an economist, a lawyer can calculate your future losses and recover for your reduction in earning capacity.

Although punitive damages, aimed at punishing a party at fault, are rare in motorcycle accident cases, they may be appropriate in certain instances, such as when a driver who caused the motorcycle crash was motivated by road rage or was driving while under the influence of alcohol.

INVESTIGATING THE CRASH

In order to recover compensation for injuries sustained in a traffic accident, the law of negligence requires you to prove that the crash was the fault of another driver or entity. A thorough investigation of a vehicle accident is usually complicated, requiring a skilled lawyer located within Arizona who has the ability to establish driver fault or find an alternative cause for the accident.

Establishing Driver Fault
Statistics show that nearly 70% of motorcycle accidents involving other vehicles are caused by drivers who violate a motorcyclist’s right of way. Failing to check blind spots, misjudging the speed of a motorcycle, and tailgating can often lead to an accident.

Assessing Road Conditions
Studies have shown that road conditions like undivided highways, curves, and defects like potholes and pavement ridges are contributing factors in motorcycle crash injuries and fatalities. Intersections have a high incidence of multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents, while many single-vehicle accidents occur along curves and on undivided highways. Why? Is there a problem with the design or construction of these roadways? Are they furnished with appropriate signs? Do their traffic controls function properly? These are key questions to be asked during the investigation.

Inspecting Bikes and Safety Gear
Up to 3% of accidents are caused by vehicle failure. An expert will inspect the bike and determine how the breakdown caused the accident. Additionally, it is important to review safety gear to see if the equipment complies with government standards. For instance, all helmets have to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. In the case of a head injury, it is necessary to assess the helmet’s performance in the crash by examining its style and weight, the thickness of its lining, and the sturdiness of its chin strap and rivets. Oftentimes, bikers are partly blamed for a motorcycle crash based on arguments that they were driving too fast or veering in and out of lanes in an unsafe manner. Comparative negligence on the part of the motorcycle rider may result in a reduction of damages. If the motorcyclist is found to be 10% at fault for the accident, then the motorcyclist’s recovery is reduced by 10%. If he is deemed 50% at fault, then his damages are cut in half. A law firm must protect their client’s interests by making every effort to negate any comparative negligence arguments.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

To prevail in your claim, an attorney must be able to handle the complexities of your case. Your attorney should manage all of the following tasks:

• Investigate the accident promptly and thoroughly
• Preserve evidence from the crash
• Locate witnesses to the accident
• Obtain photographs of the crash scene
• Establish the defendants’ fault
• Inspect the motorcycle and safety gear for potential defects
• Protect you from filing deadlines
• Sue all responsible parties
• Hire the right experts
• Recover your medical expenses and lost wages
• Maximize your pain and suffering damages for your motorcycle accident injuries

In some instances, individuals can receive the money they deserve from insurance settlements and through out-of-court settlements with negligent parties. Yet, sometimes a lawsuit is required. At Rudolph & Hammond, we’ll map out a plan of action and fight aggressively for your rights inside or outside of court. During this process, we’ll remain in communication with you to ensure that you are aware of the progress of your case every step of the way.