Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Negligence

Motorcycles are fun to ride and give some people a sense of escapism from their daily troubles, but almost any good thing can come with certain risks. In 2016 alone, 5,286 motorcyclists were killed in motorcycle accidents. Not wearing a helmet, drinking alcohol, or using drugs while riding a motorcycle on the highway are all serious risk factors that increase one’s chances of wrecking their ride. In other cases, the fault of the wreck is on the driver of a car and this can result in severe injuries and death.

How to Spot Negligence

Many motorcycle accidents are caused by another car turning and running into a motorcycle, either on the shoulder of a highway or turning at an intersection. Other factors that can lead to accidents are a lack of experience riding a motorcycle, other drivers not visibly seeing the motorcyclist, not anticipating when other drivers are about to turn, and rainy weather. Alcohol accounts for 43% of motorcyclist deaths.

Negligence can be obvious sometimes, but difficult to determine in complex scenarios. You can claim negligence if another driver, even another motorcyclist, intentionally hits you, hits you because they were distracted, or cuts you off and causes you to have an accident. The amount of compensation you can get for that negligence depends on how much you had to pay in medical expenses for your injuries.

Common Injuries Caused by Bicycle Accidents

• Head, face, and neck injuries – Especially severe without a helmet

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) – Risk is significantly reduced when wearing a helmet

• Chest injuries and fractured ribs – More common among older riders

• Spinal cord injuries – Especially prevalent among younger motorcyclists

• Arm and shoulder injuries – Vulnerable due to impact or bracing during a fall

• Hand and wrist injuries – Common across all age groups

• Foot and ankle injuries – Frequent due to contact with the ground or being pinned

• Leg injuries – Though slightly protected by the bike’s frame, they are still at risk in side impacts

Your Legal Rights

Anytime you can find fault towards another driver involved in a multiple-vehicle wreck, whether the vehicles be cars or motorcycles, you have the legal right to speak with an Oklahoma auto accident lawyer to determine whether you can file a personal injury claim against the insurance company. Some attempt to file claims to insurance companies on their own, but a lawyer will be able to see through shady deals and will often get you more monetary compensation in the long run.