Driving a motorcycle is exciting; a pure rush of adrenaline. Yet, riding motorcycles has gotten more and more hazardous, particularly in cities like Philadelphia. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), there were 5,014 motorcyclist deaths in 2019. However, that is only a small percentage of the total motorcycle accidents that occurred throughout the nation. In 2020, there were 83,000 reported motorcycle accident injuries. If you were injured or a loved one was lost in a motorcycle accident, get in touch with the Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers at Raynes & Lawn.
Our lawyers have decades of collective experience and have recovered billions of dollars in damages for our clients.
A motorcycle accident can leave you with serious life-threatening injuries that may completely change your way of life. As such, the negligent driver who caused such life-altering circumstances should be held accountable for their carelessness. Fighting back on your own is challenging, particularly when you have your injuries to handle. So yes, you do need a motorcycle accident lawyer to represent you in court. You should always contact an attorney if you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, regardless of the circumstances. An attorney can help guide you through the personal injury claims process and make it much easier than trying to navigate it yourself.
Our motorcycle accident attorneys are here to help protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve. As you begin your recovery from a serious accident, the last thing you want to do is worry about dealing with the insurance companies as your medical bills start to pile up. The lawyers at Raynes & Lawn can preserve your rights to a full and fair recovery while you focus on getting back to good health.
Driving a motorcycle on the open road can be challenging and dangerous at times. Unlike riding in a vehicle with protective structures, a motorcyclist is more likely to suffer severe or fatal injuries if involved in a crash. You do not have a seat belt or airbags or steel cages. It is just you and the bike taking on the force of a moving motor vehicle.
Some common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
According to NHSTA, about half of all motorcycle accidents occur at intersections. At intersections, drivers must pay close attention to who has the right-of-way, whether there is a traffic signal or if it is a four-way. When low profile motorcyclists approach, especially when trying to make a left turn or right turn from the shoulder, it is possible another moving vehicle crashes into them.
It is also possible for motorcyclists to be injured while sitting at a red light. Drivers who are distracted may not notice that a motorcycle is in front of them and ram into the rear-end of the cycle. Since motorcycles are not made with bumpers, the cyclist can be jolted from the vehicle during the impact.
Even impacts that would only leave a scratch on another car or truck could cause excessive damages and injuries to a motorcycle and the rider.
Because of speed factors and little protection with motorcycles, these accidents commonly result in severe life-threatening injuries or death. According to the Insurance Information Institute, motorcyclists were about 30 times more likely to die in a crash than motorists, as of 2019.
Here are some common injuries that motorcyclists often sustain in a serious accident:
You may be wondering why motorcycle accidents are so deadly. As mentioned earlier, motorcycles do not provide the same amount of crash protection as larger motor vehicles. Even though many motorcyclists will wear protective clothing and helmets, those materials can do little in an accident. Why? Because motorcyclists are commonly ejected from their vehicle. When hitting the ground, they can sustain serious injuries. Further injuries may be inflicted should they collide with other objects.
A single poor decision made within a split-second by another driver could leave you with broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, or worse.
As soon as the insurance company hears about your motorcycle accident, an insurance adjuster starts an investigation. This process involves reviewing police reports, physical evidence, witness statements, and your statements taken at the scene of the accident. Throughout this process, they look for information that they may use to deny a claim or significantly reduce the claim amount. This reason is why it is essential to have an attorney to advocate on your behalf and insure your rights are protected.
Many personal injury cases don’t make it to trial and are resolved through settlement. Your attorney will review the losses that you have suffered to pursue a full and fair settlement. If the insurance company is unwilling to agree to a fair amount, then you may consider filing a lawsuit against them to recover a fair amount.
You may be considering filing a lawsuit to recover damages. It is difficult to estimate exactly what compensation you may be able to recover because each case is dependent on specific circumstances.
Similar to motor vehicle accidents, whoever is deemed negligent is the responsible party in the motorcycle accident. If the other party was negligent, then you may be able to seek damages from that party. An attorney can contact the negligent party’s insurance company and negotiate a settlement on your behalf. If the negotiations with the insurance company are not successful or unsatisfactory, then you may consider filing a lawsuit.
In some situations, both parties may be negligent to some degree. This is called comparative negligence. This means that you can still proceed with a case if you were at fault to some degree however your recovery will be reduced by the percentage of your negligence. If you are found to be more than 50% negligent, however, you will be out of court and unable to recover.
Sometimes motorcycle accidents may be caused by a mechanical defect. An issue with the design or a defective mechanism can have serious consequences for a motorcyclist. If your motorcycle accident was the result of a defect, then you may be able to seek compensation from the manufacturer under product liability laws.
The following types of damages qualify for compensation:
In a motorcycle accident, damages are categorized into two main categories: economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are damages that you can easily calculate. For example, if you add up all of your medical bills, there will be a total dollar amount that you can seek to recover. The same goes for lost wages. Non-economic damages are damages that you can’t necessarily measure monetarily. Emotional distress and pain and suffering, loss of life’s pleasures, and disfigurement are good examples of non-economic damages.
It is essential to find a motorcycle accident attorney in your state. Motorcycle accident cases are very different than car accident cases, so be sure to enlist the help of an attorney who is familiar with the road laws and regulations that apply to your case.
An attorney can review the facts and evidence surrounding your accident and let you know if you may have a claim. With the assistance of a Philadelphia motorcycle accident attorney, you can focus on your recovery. Meanwhile, the attorney investigates your claim and negotiates with the insurance company on your behalf. Attorneys like those at Raynes & Lawn know the tactics of insurance companies and will fight to protect your rights.
The attorneys at Raynes & Lawn represent clients involved in all types of motorcycle accidents, including those centered around commercial vehicle accidents. We advocate for our client’s rights and work hard to make sure you get any compensation that you may be owed due to an accident.
Do not let your accident injuries keep you from enjoying life or getting back onto your motorcycle. If your accident was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another individual on the road, then you may be owed compensation. The Philadelphia motorcycle accident lawyers at Raynes & Lawn can help you every step of the way. Fill out the contact form at or call us (800) 535-1797 today to schedule your free initial consultation today.
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