80% OF MOTORCYCLE CRASHES CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO CYCLISTS

Seems the very things that make a motorcycle more agile and more maneuverable than a car are the same things that make motorcyclists more vulnerable to injury. Motorcycles are smaller and faster-moving than cars and sometimes, automobile or truck drivers simply don’t see the cyclist in time to avoid a collision. 

According to the National Transportation Safety Administration, most motorcycle-vehicle collisions occur at intersections (drivers make left turns and do not see the motorcycle).

While it sometimes happens that the motorcyclist is at fault, in many cases accidents occur because a car or truck driver failed to yield the right of way or follow posted signs, consumersafety.org explains.  The organization names several types of vehicle driver negligence that may result in a motorcycle crash:

• Distracted driving (texting or looking at a phone)
• Blind spots (failing to use mirrors)
• Changing lanes unexpectedly, failing to signal
• Tailgating
• Improper maintenance of the vehicle

The most common motorcycle injury types are, consumersafety.org explains:

• Head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Lower body injuries

The frightening fact is, more than 80 percent of all reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death to the motorcyclist!

Many laws exist to protect victims of motorcycle/vehicle collisions, and at Ramey & Hailey Law, we are experienced in helping accident victims recover compensation for their losses under tort law. Liability for negligence occurs when one person breaches a duty of care to another and injury results. In operating motor vehicles, every person owes a duty to others to operate these vehicles with ordinary and reasonable care.

As motorcycle accident attorneys, we will do an independent investigation of the facts to determine which parties were liable. When insurance isn’t enough to compensate for the losses, we are there to see that the injured get the money they need to cover their medical costs and loss of earnings (or that the survivors are compensated for the loss of that person’s support).

While seeking medical help is first on your to-do list after any accident, seeking legal help is not something that can be put off. Indiana law allows only two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit, and if you were injured by a city bus or school bus, you have only 180 days to file notice with the government entity that owns that vehicle.

“Motorcycle accidents can leave victims saddled with medical expenses and other related debt, while also limiting their ability to earn income. If they are permanently disabled, loss of income could last the rest of their lives,” Consumer Safety reminds readers.

The message: if you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident, talking to a personal injury attorney can help!