Motorcycle accidents frequently result in severe injuries because riders lack the structural protection that cars provide. Compounding the physical toll, motorcyclists often face bias from insurance companies and juries who assume the rider was at fault. An experienced attorney can protect your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Overview
Motorcyclists face unique dangers on the road. Without the protective shell of a car, riders are directly exposed to the forces of impact, making injuries from motorcycle accidents disproportionately severe compared to other traffic collisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are about 29 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled.
Beyond the physical dangers, motorcycle accident victims face an additional challenge: bias. Insurance companies, adjusters, and even juries sometimes carry preconceptions about motorcyclists being reckless or thrill-seeking. This bias can result in lower settlement offers and harder-fought claims, making experienced legal representation essential for motorcycle accident victims.
Common Causes
Most motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers, not the motorcyclist. Understanding the most frequent scenarios can help establish fault and strengthen your claim.
Left-Turn Collisions
The single most common and deadly type of motorcycle accident occurs when a car or truck makes a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Drivers often fail to see approaching motorcycles or misjudge their speed due to the motorcycle's smaller profile.
Lane-Change and Blind Spot Accidents
Motorcycles can easily disappear into a car's blind spots. Drivers who fail to check their mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes frequently sideswipe motorcyclists.
Rear-End Collisions
When a car rear-ends a motorcycle, the consequences are far more severe than a car-on-car impact. Motorcyclists can be thrown from their bikes, run over, or crushed between vehicles.
Door Opening Accidents
In urban areas, a parked car's door opening into the path of a motorcyclist — known as "dooring" — is a common cause of accidents. The sudden obstacle gives the rider no time to react.
Unsafe Road Conditions
Potholes, loose gravel, uneven pavement, debris, and oil slicks that are minor inconveniences for cars can be catastrophic for motorcycles. Government entities responsible for road maintenance may bear liability for failing to address known hazards.
Driving Under the Influence
Intoxicated drivers pose a lethal threat to motorcyclists. Their impaired reaction times and poor judgment are especially dangerous in situations requiring them to share the road with smaller, more vulnerable vehicles.
Types of Injuries
The lack of physical barriers between a motorcyclist and the road, other vehicles, and roadside objects means that injuries are often severe and can permanently alter the victim's life.
- Road rash — When a rider slides across pavement, the friction can strip away layers of skin and even expose muscle and bone. Severe road rash may require skin grafts and can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement.
- Broken bones and fractures — Legs, arms, wrists, collarbones, and pelvises are frequently broken in motorcycle crashes. Compound and comminuted fractures may require multiple surgeries and metal hardware.
- Traumatic brain injuries — Even with a helmet, the violent forces of a motorcycle crash can cause concussions, brain contusions, and diffuse axonal injuries. Without a helmet, the risk of fatal or permanently disabling brain injury increases dramatically.
- Spinal cord injuries — Damage to the spinal cord from a motorcycle accident can result in paraplegia or quadriplegia, requiring lifelong medical care and assistive equipment.
- Lower extremity injuries — Legs, knees, ankles, and feet bear the brunt of many motorcycle crashes. These injuries can limit mobility for months or years and may result in amputation in severe cases.
- Internal injuries — The blunt force of impact can damage internal organs, cause internal bleeding, and create emergency situations that require immediate surgical intervention.
- Burns — Contact with hot engine components or fuel fires following a crash can cause serious burn injuries.
The Helmet Law Factor
Helmet laws vary significantly from state to state. Some states require all motorcyclists to wear helmets, others require helmets only for riders under a certain age, and a few have no helmet requirements at all. An important thing to know: in many states, not wearing a helmet does not automatically bar you from recovering compensation. However, insurance companies may argue that your injuries would have been less severe had you been wearing one, potentially reducing your award.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney will understand how helmet laws in your state affect your claim and will be prepared to counter arguments that attempt to shift blame onto you for your choice of protective gear.
Compensation Available
Motorcycle accident victims may be entitled to substantial compensation, particularly given the severity of injuries typically involved.
- Medical expenses — Emergency room visits, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medications, prosthetics, and future medical care
- Lost wages and future earning capacity — Income lost during recovery and diminished ability to earn in the future if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous work
- Pain and suffering — Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the ongoing impact of living with a serious injury
- Disfigurement and scarring — Compensation for permanent scarring, particularly from road rash and burns, and the emotional toll of visible disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life — The inability to participate in activities you once enjoyed, including riding itself
- Property damage — Repair or replacement of your motorcycle, gear, and personal belongings
- Punitive damages — Available in cases involving extreme negligence, such as drunk driving or intentional disregard for safety
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
- Move to safety if possible — If you can move without worsening your injuries, get out of the road to avoid being struck by oncoming traffic.
- Call 911 — Report the accident and request emergency medical services immediately.
- Do not remove your helmet — If you are wearing a helmet, leave it on until medical professionals can assess your condition. Removing it incorrectly could worsen a neck or spinal injury.
- Document the scene — If physically able, photograph the accident scene, vehicle positions, road conditions, your injuries, and any damage to your motorcycle and gear.
- Get witness contacts — Bystander testimony is especially valuable in motorcycle cases to counter the bias that riders are typically at fault.
- Seek medical attention immediately — Even if you feel you can walk away, get evaluated by a medical professional. Adrenaline masks pain, and internal injuries may not present symptoms right away.
- Do not give recorded statements — Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly seeking a recorded statement. Politely decline until you have spoken with an attorney.
- Contact a motorcycle accident attorney — An attorney experienced in motorcycle cases will understand the unique challenges you face, from overcoming anti-rider bias to maximizing your recovery.
How Claim Bureau Helps
Motorcycle accident cases require attorneys who not only understand personal injury law but are also prepared to counter the specific biases and challenges that motorcyclists face. Insurance companies often attempt to attribute fault to the rider or minimize the severity of injuries. You need an attorney who will fight that narrative.
Claim Bureau connects motorcycle accident victims with attorneys who have specific experience handling these cases. Through our free case evaluation, we learn about your accident and injuries, then match you with a qualified attorney in your area. There is no cost to you for using our service, and you pay your attorney nothing unless they win your case.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult with a qualified attorney to discuss the specifics of your situation.
