Motorcycle accidents happen every day on U.S. roads and, although they may not occur more often than passenger vehicle collisions, there is a higher chance of serious injury or death. Motorcyclists have a higher likelihood of being involved in an accident. According to MedHelp.org, motorcycle accidents rank number 12 in the 25 most common causes of deaths. There are significant hurdles a plaintiff must overcome in order to be successful in a personal injury lawsuit involving a motorcycle crash. For this reason, it is important that after medical attention is received, a seasoned and aggressive Brooklyn personal injury attorney should be contacted right away.
How Motorcycle Accidents Happen
Some common causes of motorcycles accidents include:
- Road hazards: dangerous road conditions are a much more serious threat to a motorcycle than a passenger vehicle, particularly because of the smaller size and less stability of a bike. Obstacles such as potholes, debris on the road, slick surfaces, uneven lanes, and other unexpected hindrances pose a serious threat to motorcyclists.
- Cars making left-hand turns: possibly the most dangerous threat to the safety of motorcyclists, collisions resulting from a vehicle making this type of turn account for as much as 42 percent of all bike-related accidents. Generally, the passenger car collides when the motorcycle is passing the car, going straight through an intersection, or attempting to overtake a car.
- Head-on collision: crashes that are caused by a head-on collision makeup more than half of all deaths involving motorcycles. Seventy-eight percent of these accidents are the result of the vehicle hitting the front of the motorcycle, as opposed to hitting a bike from behind, which results 5 percent of the time.
- Lane-splitting: when a motorcyclists splits between lanes of stopped cars (or slowly moving traffic), an accident is likely to occur because there is less space for the bike to maneuver. State laws vary as to whether or not lane splitting is legal.
- Speeding and/or alcohol: approximately half of all motorcycle-related collisions are caused by one or both of these factors. Because motorcycles do not provide the same protection as a passenger vehicle, death or serious injury is much more likely.
The Role of a Brooklyn Personal Injury Lawyer
Liability, or who is responsible for an accident, is not always obvious in a motorcycle incident. Generally, liability in personal injury cases is governed by negligence. The person bringing the lawsuit in court (the plaintiff) must prove that the other person (the defendant) was at fault (negligent) in order to recover damages (monetary compensation). Even if the plaintiff is able to prove negligence, in many states a defendant can dodge full liability by establishing someone else contributed to the crash.
Brooklyn Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcycle accidents happen every day on our American roads, and there are several causes for these crashes. Beyond the damage resulting from a motorcycle accident, whether to the individuals’ persons or their property, establishing fault may not be so simple. The legal abilities of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help you and your loved ones endure this difficult time. The Law Offices of Jeffrey K. Kestenbaum represent greater New York and has a staff that is fully fluent in Spanish. Do not delay; click here or call (718) 237-5586 today to schedule your initial case evaluation.
