Motorcycle accidents are a major problem in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 4,000 people die from motorcycle crashes each year. There is no question that this is an epidemic which needs to be addressed by lawyers who lose motorcycle accident cases. In fact, it`s been estimated that up to 75% of all motorcycle injuries go unreported because most motorcyclists don`t want to deal with the hassle or expense of filing a claim against another motorist or their own insurance company. This means there are thousands of riders out there who have suffered serious injury but never filed a claim because they had no idea what rights they had under state law and how much help they could get through legal channels like attorneys who lose motorcycle accident cases.
One of the key problems with motorcycle accidents is that they often involve only one motorist and the biker – as opposed to multiple car, truck or motorcycle crashes where there are typically more witnesses and therefore greater evidence. And even when there are other witnesses in a multiple vehicle crash, everyone`s attention tends to be focused on all the other vehicles, and not on the motorcycle. And finally, even when there are witnesses in a motorcycle accident, their attention may be distracted by cell phones or other drivers who are causing problems on the road. This combination of factors tends to make motorcycle accident cases more difficult, and therefore more rewarding, for lawyers who lose these types of accidents. However, this is also why you need a law firm with extensive experience in motorcycle accident litigation if you really want the best chance of success in winning your case.
It`s hard enough for motorists to see motorcycles on the road. But with a motorcycle accident, this problem is intensified because most motorcycle accidents tend to happen in broad daylight when there`s good visibility. The problem is that other motorists don`t always “see” the motorcycle until it`s too late and they can crash into them. And even if they do see the bike, many bikers don`t wear bright clothing, or they are wearing dark clothing. So even when you can see a motorcycle on the road, it can be hard to spot them until too late. And finally, many states have laws which require motorcyclists to use specific safety equipment like helmets and reflective vests or jackets. But even these types of safety measures only go so far in making the rider visible to other motorists.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, here are some of the important legal facts about motorcycle accidents that every lawyer who loses these cases should know:
Get Accident Facts from Witnesses – One of the most important things an attorney can do for a client after a motorcycle accident is to ask other drivers or pedestrians at the scene for their names, addresses and phone numbers, so they can be contacted if necessary during the discovery process. A lawyer who loses these types of cases should also look for witnesses in other vehicles – both those involved in the accident and others that were just passing by. You may also want to hire a private investigator, or PI, to investigate the accident if there are no other witnesses at the scene. Nothing is more important in motorcycle crash cases than finding out all of the details surrounding the incident and getting them down on paper as soon as possible after an accident takes place.
Most Motorcycle Accidents Happen on Weekends – Around 30% of all motorcycle accidents take place on weekends, and around 33% happen during the evening hours between 4:00 p.m. to dark. The single worst time for these types of accidents is Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 in the afternoon (this type of crash is over represented by nearly 50% when compared to the number of motorcycles on the road at this time). The biggest reason for these types of crashes has to do with the fact that there are a lot more people out driving and riding their bikes in order to take advantage of nicer weather.
But it`s not just other motorcyclists who can be negligent. Many motorcycle accidents happen when the motorcyclist is hit by a car that didn`t see them or just ran into them for no reason. Other times, motorcycles are rear-ended because the driver of another vehicle failed to notice they were stopped in traffic or turning at an intersection (and it should be noted that distracted driving is very common on our roads today). Regardless of how the accident happened, you need an attorney who can figure out where the fault lies and help make sure every negligent driver or motorcyclist is held responsible for their negligence.
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| Mullen & Mullen |