Motorcycle Accidents
US, Canada and Puerto Rico
The freedom of the open road can be tragic, even deadly. Motorcyclists are the most vulnerable vehicles on the road. As a result, more than 80 percent of motorcyclists who are involved in a collision become seriously injured or die. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please contact the motorcycle accident lawyers at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC today.
Reasons for Increased Vulnerability
A motorcyclist’s lack of protection leaves the driver much more prone to serious injuries than drivers of enclosed passenger vehicles, trucks and SUVs. A majority of motorcycle accidents are the result of another driver violating a motorcyclist’s right of way. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcyclists are 32 times more likely to be killed in traffic accidents than drivers of passenger vehicles.
Even when motorcyclists practice defensive driving habits, wear the appropriate gear and obey all the laws of the road, accidents happen. In the United States alone, roughly 50,000 motorcyclists are injured every year in accidents. Of those, around 2,000 are killed.
Off the road, motorcyclists are also susceptible to prejudices from law enforcement and insurance companies because of their stereotypical “rebellious” driving habits.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
The most common injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident are head and neck injuries, a result of being thrown from your bike. Other common injuries include:
- Brain injuries
- Severe burns or “road rash”
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Fractures, lacerations and amputations
- Internal injuries
Types of Compensation
The type of compensation you may collect from a motorcycle accident will vary from state to state, and from accident to accident. The following are some damages you may be able to collect:
- Lost wages and the inability to earn future income
- Medical expenses and future medical care, including physical therapy
- Pain and suffering (both physical and psychological)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of benefits
- Emotional anguish
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
There are a number of different causes of motorcycle accidents. Here are a few of the most common:
- Motorcycles are smaller and harder for other vehicles to see
- They are more endangered by reckless drivers
- They are lighter and can be knocked off the road more easily than other vehicles
- Motorcycles lack the protective enclosures and safety features available to drivers of passenger vehicles
- Bikers often lose control more easily in adverse weather conditions and because of debris and defects in the roads
- Motorcyclists can be victims of product defects such as brakes, tires and other parts
Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motorcycle collision, please contact the motorcycle accident attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC today. Our law firm serves clients nationwide, as well as Puerto Rico and Canada. We will fight to get you the compensation to which you are entitled.
