Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycles are incredibly fun to ride, especially in good weather, but they pose an unfortunate safety risk as well, leaving you vulnerable to negligent and reckless drivers.
If you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, the road to recovery can be long and painful. In addition to dealing with the physical toll the accident took on your body, you may feel anguished and stressed about what to do next.
If you ever find yourself injured in a motorcycle accident, work with a lawyer to ease that traumatic burden and get the compensation you deserve.
The Trauma of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles are smaller and less noticeable than traditional vehicles. They also tend to have faster acceleration and more maneuverability, as well as special road privileges like lane splitting (in some areas). But while these features make motorcycles fun to ride, they also leave them more vulnerable to collisions with other vehicles—especially if the drivers of those vehicles aren’t paying attention.
To make matters worse, motorcycles have fewer built-in forms of protection to keep you safe during an accident. Without a seatbelt, you can be easily thrown from the motorcycle. Without a protective outer shell, you may be hit directly by an incoming vehicle. And if you’re not wearing the proper protection, you can suffer road rash and/or a severe head and neck injury.
Working With a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, after getting medical attention, your next priority should be working with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.
In your first consultation, which is always free, your lawyer will work with you to understand the extent of your case. They’ll ask you about the accident, including the events leading up to it, they’ll review the current evidence, and they’ll look at the extent of your hospital bills and injury-related costs.
From there, they’ll be able to work with you to recommend legal action. If you’ve received a settlement offer from an insurance company, you may be advised to reject it and negotiate for a higher offer. In some cases, you may pursue further legal action to earn more compensation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are often the victims due to one or more of the following:
- Blind spot neglect - Motorcycles are smaller and less noticeable than other vehicles. If a car doesn’t notice you behind them, they may change lanes suddenly, cutting you off and making an accident unpreventable.
- Wide turns - Wide turns, especially left turns, can clip your motorcycle if you’re waiting at a red light or stop sign.
- Crowding - Crowding can result in fender benders for traditional vehicles, but for motorcycles, the potential damage from overcrowding can be severe. Moreover, negligent drivers commonly fail to respect motorcycle riders and illegally enter their lane.
- Drinking and intoxication - Drunk and intoxicated drivers are much more likely to cause an accident, as are fatigued drivers.
- Speeding - Breaking the law by speeding, or other kinds of recklessness, can put motorcyclists in danger.
- Defective motorcycle gear - Additionally, you should understand that defective motorcycle gear, including helmets and motorcycle parts, can cause accidents that lead to injury or death.
Variables to Consider in a Slip and Fall Case
In some slip and fall cases, you may be eligible to earn significant compensation. You’ll be awarded money to pay for all your medical bills, as well as compensation for the mental pain and suffering you experienced during the event.
However, there are several variables to consider in each case, including:
- The extent of your injuries - The more severe your injuries are, the more seriously you should consider taking legal action—and the more seriously your case will be taken.
- The responsibility of the business - Was the business responsible for keeping this area free of obstacles?
- The degree of neglect or failure of the business - Certain cases are more severe than others. For example, a parking lot riddled with potholes that haven’t been fixed in many years is much more serious than a slip and fall case that occurred immediately after a light snowfall.
- Evidence or proof - You’ll also need lots of proof of the slip and fall if you’re going to win your case. You need to establish the liability of the business as well as the date and way you sustained your injuries.
- Notice of the hazard or danger - One of the most important variables is whether or not the premise owner had either actual or constructive notice of the hazard or danger that caused the trip and fall or slip and fall.
If you aren’t sure about the strength of your case, or if you’re suffering from injuries you sustained from a slip and fall, contact Manny Arce today! His office is standing by to help you.
How Severe Are Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
Motorcycle accident injuries can be downright horrific for motorcyclists, resulting in injuries like:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
- Head, neck, and back injuries.
- Spinal cord damage.
- Road rash.
- Broken bones and fractures.
- Damaged and amputated limbs.
- Major lacerations.
- Burns.
- Internal organ damage.
- Tears in ligaments and tendons.
- Wrongful death.
Getting Compensation for a Motorcycle Accident
If you’ve suffered from these injuries and others, you could be entitled not just to compensation for all your medical bills, but also compensation for lost wages, loss of future earnings, and even your subjective pain and suffering.
Being in a motorcycle accident is traumatic, but you don’t have to go through this alone. Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer like Manny Arce today, and learn more about your legal options.