WHY YOU SHOULD FILE A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM AFTER A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
An old saying suggests there are two types of motorcyclists: those who have gone down and those who are going to go down while riding. Sadly, there is an element of truth to that foreboding. Depending on where you live and how often you ride, the odds of being involved in an accident while riding your motorcycle increases the more often you go out.
Many motorcycle accidents are single-vehicle accidents that might not cause much property damage or injuries. Because motorcycles are light and much smaller than automobiles or trucks, they tend to inflict less damage than their bigger roadgoing counterparts. But when another vehicle strikes a motorcyclist, the potential is very high for suffering serious injuries.
NEGLIGENT DRIVERS OFTEN STRIKE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS
Many motorcycle riders wind up being hit by an inattentive driver who had no idea the biker was there. Drivers who are executing a left-hand turn are the most dangerous. That is because they are crossing at least one lane of oncoming traffic and easily could miss seeing a motorcyclist who is entering the intersection.
Whenever a driver pulls into a rider's path, that driver is violating the right-of-way. The driver also might miss a motorcyclist who is in a blind spot. A sudden lane change could turn the blind spot into a potentially deadly spot for the biker. And injuries are likely to occur.
MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS IMPACT RIDERS THE MOST
A motorcycle accident generally goes badly for the rider. There are no safety features on a motorcycle beyond ABS brakes. A rider could wear thick and padded leather from head to toe with a full-face helmet protecting the head. But that is the extent of safety equipment for bikers. So, going down onto a paved surface or striking a hard object has the potential to kill the rider.
A smart motorcycle rider has health insurance and uninsured/underinsured motorists coverage. That is very important because the medical costs to treat injuries from a motorcycle accident generally are higher than when treating car passengers for injuries due to the extent of the injuries. And the potential for costly catastrophic injuries is very high.
A head injury, spinal cord injury, and general body trauma could result in lifelong disabilities that limit the rider's ability to work, earn an income, or even enjoy everyday activities. Medical treatments could last for an extended period and run up costs. That makes it important to file a personal injury claim.