Many motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers on the road, and when a passenger car or truck collides with a motorcycle, the bike rider almost always suffers more.
The National Safety Council reports that motorcyclists experience 14% of all traffic fatalities, a number which has increased in recent years. Car and truck drivers are more distracted than ever due to the rise of handheld and in-vehicle technology, and watching for smaller motorcycles in traffic becomes more difficult when their attention is elsewhere.
Motorcycles only make up 3% of all registered vehicles in the US, and this rarity means drivers could be dangerously unpracticed at sharing the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured on a bike, the injuries and losses can be catastrophic—life-altering or life-ending. The attorneys at Falcon Law Firm in New Jersey can help you access the financial resources you will need to pay for medical care and rebuild your life. Contact us at 732-454-3306 as soon as possible to explore your legal options and claim the full compensation you deserve.
What Is the Average Payout for a Motorcycle Accident?
The short answer is “It depends.” It depends on who caused the motorcycle accident, how bad the injuries are, who has insurance, and the cap on the coverage amounts. A personal injury lawsuit can make up the difference between what insurance covers, and the actual cost of your injuries.
You can seek two main types of damages in a personal injury suit: economic and non-economic.
Economic damages usually have a bill or receipt associated with them, including coverage for:
- Medical bills for past, present, and future treatments
- Lost wages from your job
- Loss of future income and inheritance
- Motorcycle repair or replacement costs
- Medical travel expenses
- ICU and ER bills
- Other hospital costs
- Surgery bills
- Prosthetic or other medical devices
- Funeral and burial expenses
Non-economic damages are less concrete and focus on the pain and suffering the victim and their family feel. Examples may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium in your marriage
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Mental anguish of your family from grief and mourning
Your motorcycle accident lawyer can pursue every avenue for compensation by thoroughly investigating your crash. This could mean negotiating with your insurance company and the other driver’s insurance reps, suing car manufacturers for faulty vehicles, filing against municipalities for unsafe roads, or taking the driver who hit you to court.
The amounts awarded in personal injury lawsuits vary depending on the damages done, the causes of the injuries, and the state where the accident happened. Falcon Law Firm represents plaintiffs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and our dedicated experience with local law can make all the difference in maximizing the resources you need.
What Is the Most Common Major Motorcycle Injury?
As you might expect, there are a lot of injuries that can happen when riding a vehicle with essentially no protection for your body. Even those wearing crash-rated helmets and full safety gear can still be severely injured in a collision.
The most common major motorcycle injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal injuries, including whiplash
- Broken bones and lacerations
- Amputated limbs
- Damage to organs
- Internal bleeding
Serious injuries such as these may require specialist treatment, long-term physical therapy, or life-long changes to a person’s mobility needs. A successful lawsuit can help ensure there are funds available to you for optimal care, rehabilitation, and dignity.
The amount of compensation you accept as a settlement should reflect the severity of your injury. If a settlement amount offered is not enough, your lawyer from Falcon Law Firm will not hesitate in taking your case to trial. You deserve no less.
Who Is At Fault in Most Motorcycle Accidents?
Studies show that most motorcycle accidents happen when other drivers violate the rider’s right of way. A driver may look for oncoming traffic but fail to actually see a motorcycle approaching or in their perimeter in traffic. This happens commonly enough that it is called “looked but failed to see” (LBFTS) by law enforcement but does not negate the driver’s responsibility for the accident.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends that drivers take extra precautions to watch for bikes since over half of all motorcycle fatalities involve another vehicle. Drivers are also more likely to miss recognizing a motorcycle when they are distracted by using their cell phones.
Even though some motorcyclists may engage in risky behaviors that can result in collisions, it is usually other motorists on the road who are at fault in most motorcycle accidents.
A recent study showed that bans in the US on the use of handheld devices by drivers resulted in an overall 8.8% reduction in motorcycle fatalities.
How Do Most Motorcycle Deaths Occur?
Most motorcycle accidents lead to some kind of serious or even catastrophic injury. Deaths at the scene often occur due to head injury or blood loss. Riders also may pass away later on due to internal bleeding, organ damage, or shock.
Common types of accidents that lead to death include:
- Front-end crashes
- Rear-end collisions
- Intersection crashes (including left-hand turns and t-bone collisions)
- Distracted driving
- Unsafe lane changes
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Drunk driving
So many fatal accidents are 100% preventable with the proper safety, training, and conscientiousness of other drivers on the road. After an accident has occurred, the priority is securing what you need to move on, and holding any reckless or responsible parties fully accountable.
Contact Falcon Law Firm for Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Many motorcyclists prize their bikes and operate with abundant safety knowing how dangerous a crash can be to life and limb. When another driver or entity causes an accident that significantly impacts or irrevocably changes your life, you deserve justice.
The motorcycle accident lawyers at the Falcon Law Firm have successfully represented injured individuals and their families for decades. With exceptional litigation skills and powerful legal representation, our attorneys have recovered millions in settlements and verdicts for our clients.If you or a loved one have been in a motorcycle accident due to someone’s negligence, turn to Falcon Law Firm to learn more about what damages you could seek in a motorcycle accident lawsuit. Contact us today using our convenient online form or call 732-454-3306 for a free consultation.
