Motorcycle accidents are often extremely serious. The impact from another motor vehicle or with a fixed object typically throws the rider from the motorcycle, resulting in painful, debilitating injuries. When the negligence of other drivers has caused a motorcyclist to sustain bodily harm and other losses, an Altoona motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help.
You may be facing a long road to recovery from broken bones, road rash, head trauma, and internal injuries, and you may suffer permanent impairments as a result. Consulting an experienced personal injury attorney in this situation may be highly beneficial.
Motorcycle wrecks tend to leave riders with catastrophic injuries, especially when these accidents involve a collision with a larger vehicle. Motorcycles offer little protection from impact, and they also carry the risk of a motorcyclist being thrown from the bike to the pavement. These factors can result in devastating injuries in even seemingly minor accidents. Some of the most common injuries in a motorcycle accident include:
A seasoned Altoona motorcycle crash attorney could evaluate a rider’s medical records after a crash and advise them of their chances of recovering compensation for these injuries.
Many situations that can lead to motor vehicle accidents can also result in motorcycle accidents. Distracted drivers who are focused on their cell phones, talking with their passengers, or mapping their course on a GPS device can cause crashes with motorcycles. This level of distraction may cause drivers to leave their lanes, fail to obey traffic signs and signals or engage in other reckless driving behaviors.
Impaired drivers also regularly cause motor vehicle collisions, including those involving motorcycles. Whether impaired by drugs or alcohol, those drivers tend to have slowed reaction times, poor judgment, and poor motor skills, which can make it impossible to avoid an accident. A second of hesitation could easily lead to disaster.
The size and weight of most motor vehicles, as compared to motorcycles, is also a crucial factor in the severity of the accidents that can result. When combined with the lack of safety features for motorcycle riders, such as seatbelts and airbags, injuries for motorcyclists are often very severe. A dedicated motorcycle accident lawyer in Altoona could represent the interests of those motorcyclists who have been injured in car accidents as well as truck accidents.
When motorists are negligent in operating their vehicles, they can be liable for any accidents that cause property damage and personal injuries to others. Drivers have a legal obligation to drive in a way that is reasonably safe for others on the roadway. When they drive recklessly or carelessly, they may be negligent. In this situation, drivers may be responsible for any injuries that occur as a result of their careless behavior.
In some cases, motorcyclists may also be partially negligent in causing the accident that led to their injuries. Under 42 Pa.C.S. §7102, however, if motorcyclists are less at fault for the crash than other negligent parties, they still can pursue compensation from those parties based on principles of comparative negligence. Their recovery of damages, however, decreases proportionately according to their percentage of fault for the accident.
There is a variety of types of compensation that an injured motorcyclist could recover. Medical bills are the most common expense after a crash. In addition to any emergency medical care or ambulance bills, a claim could also recover the cost of additional surgeries, medical devices, or ongoing physical therapy and follow-up visits.
Property damage is also a common part of any motorcycle accident claim. These damages can pay to repair or replace the damaged motorcycle belonging to the plaintiff. Other types of compensation could include:
There are two ways for a motorcyclist to recover compensation following a motorcycle accident in Altoona. The first is by negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party. The second is by obtaining a judgment at trial.
Most motorcycle collisions are resolved through settlements. If the at-fault driver and their insurance company acknowledge that he or she was responsible for the motorcycle wreck, then the parties may be able to negotiate a reasonable settlement for the damages.
If they cannot agree on a fair settlement, the case could go to trial. If a plaintiff prevails at trial, he or she will obtain a judgment. While this judgment is valuable, a plaintiff must still collect on it to recover their damages.
Involvement in a motorcycle crash can result in devastating injuries that may leave you facing a long period of rehabilitation, an inability to work, and suffering from physical and emotional trauma. All these items may be compensable through a personal injury claim. An Altoona motorcycle accident lawyer could assess your situation and determine whether you have a viable claim for damages relating to your injuries. Contact us today at Marcus & Mack to schedule a consultation.
By: Kera N.
820 12th Street, Suite B Altoona PA 16602 Phone: (814) 942-9443