According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) research, the odds of getting into a motorcycle accident are significantly higher for motorcyclists than passenger vehicle occupants. Consider the following statistics:
- In 2017, there were 8,715,204 registered motorcycle owners in the United States
- There were 1,018 reported accident-related injuries per 100,000 registered motorcycles
- There were also 5,172 accident-related fatalities
Additionally, in 2017, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that motorcycles accounted for only three percent of all registered vehicles and 0.6 percent of all vehicle miles traveled. These motorcyclists represented a disproportionate number of deaths, accounting for six times the number of fatalities versus passenger car occupants.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Happen
According to the NHTSA, when vehicles and motorcycles collide, the most common cause is the other vehicle driver’s failure to see the motorcycle. Shared roads can be safer places when vehicle drivers navigate intersections with caution and stay alert for pedestrians and all other vehicles.
Motorcyclists are far more likely to suffer serious injuries and fatalities in collisions than vehicle occupants. If you or someone you love was injured in a motorcycle accident because a vehicle driver did not see you, you might be entitled to financial compensation.
You can review the cause of the accident with a lawyer, who may be able to help you determine your possible right to the following types of compensation:
- Current and future accident-related medical care
- Current and future accident-related income loss
- Physical pain and suffering, disability, and disfigurement
- Property damage or property replacement costs
You might also be entitled to compensation for the psychological impact of the accident. If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you may be compensated for funeral, burial, and other final expenses.
You Should Get a Copy of Your Crash Report After the Motorcycle Accident
In most states, you might not be required to file a crash report after a minor accident. In an accident where someone got injured or killed, a crash report is typically mandatory. You should always insist on calling the police immediately after an accident. Doing so might help protect your right to compensation if negligence was the cause of the accident.
A crash report can also be valuable because it preserves the details of the accident, captures the name of any objective witnesses at the scene, and preserves many other important details you might not have known or remembered. Your crash report may also contain the name of the at-fault driver and their insurance company as well as the date of the accident, which helps establish the statute of limitations.
Your lawyer may request a copy of the official crash record along with your medical records and bills, proof of income, and receipts for any other expenses or losses related to the accident. You should comply with these requests for information as quickly as possible.
A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Build Your Compensation Claim
When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, you might be able to file a compensation claim or lawsuit on your own. You might also want to consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to help with your case. Hiring a lawyer can let you focus on your physical recovery while your lawyer focuses on pursuing compensation on your behalf. A lawyer may also be able to:
- Argue how the other driver’s negligence caused the accident
- Build a comprehensive case file
- Calculate the value of your damages
- Negotiate with the at-fault driver or their insurer
Your lawyer might also talk to accident witnesses and the investigating officer to obtain unbiased views of the cause of the accident. The information they might potentially obtain from these sources may help support your case.
Let Morelli Law Firm Help You with Your Claim or Lawsuit
For motorcycle drivers and their passengers, the odds of getting into a motorcycle accident and sustaining serious injuries are much greater than the risk of injury to the occupants of other types of vehicles. The property damage and injuries you could sustain may have serious financial consequences.
If you or someone you love was injured in a motorcycle accident, a lawyer might be able to help prove the cause of the accident. Your lawyer may also be able to assign a value to your claim or lawsuit and help you fight for the financial compensation you might be entitled to collect. Call (212) 751-9800 to review your accident with a personal injury team member at Morelli Law Firm today.