Unfortunately, some people on our highways may be rude to motorcyclists. Because they are less visible and less protected from other road users, they are more likely to sustain injuries in road accidents, and many other drivers also neglect to exercise the required caution around them. As with any other road user, motorcyclists have the right to compensation in the case of an accident. 

Statistics reveal that motorbikes are responsible for fourteen percent of all traffic deaths, even though they only constitute three percent of all cars on the road. Motorbikes don’t provide much protection in the event of an accident, in contrast to the enclosed cabins of vehicles. Riders risk severe injuries since they are exposed to the whole collision power. Keep reading to learn more about your rights to compensation if you are a motorcyclist injured in a traffic accident.

Types of Injuries

After an accident, a rider might get the following kinds of injuries: 

• When skin brushes up against pavement at fast speeds, it may cause the painfully painful disease known as road rash. When motorcyclists get road rash, they put themselves at risk of infections and long-term scars.
• The risk of brain injuries is much higher for motorcyclists, even when they wear helmets—which are legally required in Florida.
• Permanent impairment and partial or whole paralysis may result from spinal cord injuries caused by the impact of a motorbike collision.
• Motorbike accidents often result in broken bones, including those of the pelvis, ribs, legs, and arms. Surgery and a long period of recovery may be necessary for these. Disabilities in movement and activities of daily life could develop with a broken bone.
• The monetary fallout from such injuries may be catastrophic. A major financial burden may be lost income from missed work and rapidly mounting medical expenditures. An individual’s capacity to work and quality of life may be profoundly affected by these injuries, and they may even become permanently disabled due to these injuries.

Consulting with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney might help you get the money you need after suffering injuries in a motorbike crash.

Challenge of Motorcycle Bias Impacting Your Claim

The difficulty of overcoming long-held stereotypes about motorcyclists is a major factor in motorcycle accident cases. A major obstacle for victims of motorcycle accidents seeking justice is the stereotype of the careless rider, also referred to as biker prejudice. Jurors, insurance companies, and police reports are all susceptible to this kind of prejudice. Th3 following is how prejudice against motorcyclists shows itself.

• Concerning visibility: Many people mistakenly believe that motorbikes blend in with their surroundings. If the negligent motorist says something like, “They should have seen me coming,” it might mean that you weren’t making enough of an effort to be noticed on your motorbike, regardless of whether you were obeying traffic regulations or not.
• The assumption about speeding: Motorbikes are known to be rather fast. There may be no proof of speeding for insurance companies or juries to believe that motorcyclists were going too fast. Because of this, it can seem as if you were responsible for the motorbike accident, which is not the case.
• Downplaying accident damages: The reputation of motorcyclists as risk-takers leads some to minimize the seriousness of motorcycle accidents.

Motorcyclists’ prejudice is well-known to insurance providers. They can try to spin things in their favor to get out of paying you. The negligent motorist or their attorney could also use motorcycling prejudice in their case. Finding a personal injury lawyer with expertise in countering such strategies is of the utmost importance.

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Can Help Your Cases

Victims of motorcycle accidents can face heavy emotional, psychological, and financial losses in addition to the obvious physical harm they cause. Getting proper compensation may be a real challenge when you’re hurt on a motorbike. In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, having legal representation may be a huge help in protecting your rights:

• To build a case, your attorney will look into the accident site, interview witnesses, and review film from traffic cameras. With this data, they may establish that the other motorist was at blame in the collision and debunk any prejudiced assumptions that may have been made about it.
• They will confront charges of carelessness or speeding head-on and provide proof that you followed the rules of the road, disproving any baseless claims.
• Calling attention to drivers’ carelessness is next. We’ll illustrate how the other motorist was negligent and liable for the motorbike collision by analyzing their conduct.
• If the insurance company tries to take advantage of the stereotypes surrounding motorbikes to pay less than fair settlements, a lawyer who specializes in motorcycle accident claims may help.

What Safety Measures Should Motorcyclists Follow?

Before hitting the road, a biker should take every safety measure, including:

• Wearing helmet and protective gear
• Maintaining a safe distance between the motorbike and other cars on the road
• Regularly inspecting the bike for damage

Taking these measures will assist the biker in staying safe and increase the likelihood that they will get the maximum legal compensation possible. A motorist can use the contributory negligence argument to reject claims if the biker is not careful enough. A motorist may allege, for instance, that the biker was partially to blame for their injuries since the rider wasn’t wearing the proper protective gear. If the motorcyclist is found substantially or totally at blame, the amount of compensation that may be awarded will be much lower.

Conclusion

Tragically, victims of motorcycle accidents often have life-altering consequences. People may be unjustly prejudiced toward motorcyclists, and the likelihood of serious damage in an accident is high. The difficulties of pursuing compensation after a motorbike accident should not discourage you.

There is still hope for those injured in motorbike accidents. Claims involving motorcycle accidents have significant obstacles while seeking compensation. Nevertheless, these obstacles may be surmounted with the assistance of an accomplished attorney.

The skilled legal staff at Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath – Motorcycle Accident Lawyer is prepared to fight for your rights after a motorbike accident and get you the money you deserve. Call us for a free consultation.

Disclaimer: “The content in this article is provided for general knowledge. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers should seek advice from qualified legal professionals regarding particular cases or situations.”

Published By: Aize Perez