While every motor vehicle accident has the potential to cause severe injuries, motorcycle accidents are especially hazardous. Bikers face a higher risk of injury in accidents than any other type of motorist, even when they are wearing protective gear, especially severe injuries like spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These injuries impact not only bikers but also their friends and family. When this happens, you have the right to pursue compensation from the person who caused you injuries with assistance from a dedicated personal injury attorney.
When you are injured, you could lose your ability to work, deal with lifelong pain and suffering, and change your entire family dynamic. A Gretna motorcycle accident lawyer could help you get the compensation you deserve, not only for your financial damages but also for your non-economic damages.
State Motorcycle Laws
Riding a motorcycle can feel like the ultimate freedom, which can tempt people to ignore safety rules. The state has laws designed to help keep bikers safe, and observing those laws is one way drivers can protect themselves from injuries. However, even the safest biker is still vulnerable in motorcycle wrecks.
To ride a motorcycle legally, a biker needs a motorcycle endorsement on their license. To get one, a rider must pass a motorcycle skills and knowledge test. Bikers and their passengers should wear suitable helmets and eye protection, though a windshield can substitute for protective eyewear.
Bikers must follow the same rules as other vehicles to reduce the chances of accidents and injuries from those accidents, and they may not lane split or ride side-by-side.
Even when bikers share some responsibility for their injuries, they may be entitled to recover from other people in an accident. The state’s pure comparative negligence laws allow people to recover from other wrongdoers, even when the injured has the majority of the responsibility for the accident. An attorney in Gretna could explain the role of comparative negligence in motorcycle accidents.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Other drivers are responsible for most motorcycle wrecks. Many drivers forget to look for bikers or fail to understand the difficulties of maneuvering bikes, which places riders in dangerous positions. The negligence is frequently unintentional, but that does not lessen its impact on bikers.
Of course, biker behavior also contributes to a number of wrecks. Bikers may engage in dangerous behaviors like speeding and lane splitting, which increase the risk of wrecks. Additionally, bikers may ignore helmet laws or fail to wear other protective gear, which can increase the likelihood of injuries after a wreck.
Many motorcycle wrecks are single-vehicle accidents. Biker negligence leads to many of those accidents, but other factors can contribute. When a third party is responsible for those factors, then they may be liable for the biker’s injuries. One of the primary roles of a Gretna motorcycle wreck attorney is determining which parties may be liable for those injuries.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries
While a lucky few people walk away from motorcycle wrecks without any injuries, most people suffer scrapes, contusions, and bruises at a minimum. However, the real dangers are broken bones, spinal cord injuries, TBIs, amputations, and even death.
The nature of the injury is essential when determining damages. The damages need to be sufficient to cover the long-term medical costs of the injury as well as any lost wages and loss of earning capacity. They should also include non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Gretna could use local settlement and claim amounts to help evaluate a claim.
Talk to a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Gretna
Motorcycle wrecks can be financially, emotionally, and physically overwhelming. However, it is important not to put off dealing with the legal challenges related to the accident because when you wait too long, you may lose your right to recover.
A Gretna motorcycle accident lawyer with Scott Vicknair could help you explore your options for recovery. When a lawsuit is necessary, they put you first. You pay no fees unless they get you a recovery. Call today to learn more.
