Personal Injury
Motorcycle Accidents
In a 2006 update, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) reported that motorcycle rider
fatalities have increased for the seventh year in a row.
Since 1997, fatalities have increased an alarming 89
percent, from 2,116 in 1997 to 4,008 in 2004. This
increase stems in part from a sustained 14-year increase in the purchase of
motorcycles. The previous four years show combined registered motorcycle
purchases at 1 million-plus per year.
More motorcycles on the road mean more
opportunities for accidents. NHTSA reports that in 2004, more than 4,000
motorcycle occupants were killed on our nation's roads, an 8 percent increase
from 2003.
Have you been injured in a motorcycle accident? The attorneys of Peterson &
Associates, P.C. defend those who are injured in motorcycle accidents, and
work to ensure injured cyclists get fair and just compensation for their
injuries.
Most multi-vehicle accidents involving motorcycles are caused by the
negligence of the driver of an automobile. This occurs because motorcycles can
stop much faster than cars and are thus more likely be rear-ended by a negligent
driver following too closely. Many motorcycle accidents also occur when the
driver of an automobile fails to yield the right of way. Doctors report that
most motorcycle injuries involve the spinal cord and extremities, while head
injuries cause the majority of deaths.
Though helmets have proven very effective in preventing fatal injuries to
cyclists and improving safety, orthopedic surgeons in Level One Trauma Units describe serious musculoskeletal
injuries, open fractures and head trauma associated with motorcycle accidents.
Motorcyclists are at a disadvantage in most traffic accidents, and are far
more likely to suffer serious injury or death than the driver of a car.
Likewise, bikers can face greater difficulty when they have to deal with the
aftermath of such accidents. Insurance companies are especially cautious with
motorcycle-related policies, which should come as no surprise to anyone who has
paid high premiums for motorcycle insurance.
Peterson & Associates is concerned with the safety of motorcyclists and the
need of the injured cyclists to get fair and just compensation for their
injuries. If you are in a motorcycle accident, you should:
- Say
nothing, or as little as possible about the accident.
-
Preserve any and all evidence and information that you can while the memory
is still fresh.
- Immediately take care of any injuries that require medical attention.
- Call
the police to report the accident.
- Notify
your insurance company.
-
Contact an attorney.
Despite safety precautions you may have taken to avoid a motorcycle accident,
you cannot always avoid
the negligence of others. The negligence of another driver that contributed
fully or partially to the motorcycle accident allows compensation to be awarded.
Depending on the severity and impact of the motorcycle accident, medical bills,
lost wages, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and a loss of life enjoyment can
be claimed.
In the event that the motorcycle accident resulted in injuries, it is very
important to know your legal rights, and it is essential to have an attorney who
knows and understands the dynamics of motorcycle riding and accidents. Your
motorcycle accident lawyer will then begin to investigate the accident in order
to prove liability if the case presented appears to be strong. At Peterson &
Associates, we know insurance company defense tactics, and we know how to
present your case to maximize your recovery.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, please
contact
a motorcycle accident lawyer at Peterson & Associates today.
For more information:
Personal Injury FAQs
Personal Injury Legal Glossary
Motorcycle Accident News
Motorcycle accident kills Fort Smith man (NWAnews.com)
A Fort Smith man was killed in a motorcycle accident shortly before midnight Friday. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Northwest Edition)
Blount Co. motorcycle accident kills one, injures another (WBIR
A two-motorcycle accident in Blount County killed a 26-year-old Florida man and left another injured Saturday evening.
Motorcycle Accident Kills Martin County Man (WYMT Mountain News)
A Martin County man is dead after a motorcycle accident overnight.
Rose
Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday for a Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology senior killed in a motorcycle accident this week.
Motorcycle accident closes Route 63 in Watertown Sunday afternoon (Republican
A section of Route 63 was closed briefly on Sunday afternoon as emergency workers responded to a collision between a motorcycle and a sedan at the intersection of Route 63 and Ledgewood Road. The driver of the car was uninjured, while the motorcyclist went to the hospital with leg and head injuries.
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