Motorcycle Accident Attorney in East Brunswick
There is no such thing as a minor motorcycle accident. Even a low-speed crash typically will result in serious or fatal injuries to riders and passengers.
Each year, more than 5,500 riders are killed on the nation’s roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While riders account for just 3 percent of the vehicles on the roads, they account for nearly 1 in 5 traffic fatalities. In fact, per mile traveled, motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to be killed in a crash, compared to occupants of passenger vehicles.
Another 100,000 per year suffer serious injuries.
Early consultation with an experienced East Brunswick motorcycle accident attorney should occur as soon as possible after an accident. In many cases, the full extent of injuries may not even be known for weeks or months after a crash. Even seemingly minor injuries can result in long-term medical issues. Failure to seek experienced legal help at the outset can negatively impact your rights.
Despite the erroneous stereotype of unsafe riders, the vast majority of riders keep safety a top priority at all times while on the road. They wear protective gear and take rider safety courses. They obey the law. They ride in good weather, on less-traveled roads, in broad daylight. And the accident data proves it: Two-thirds of collisions occur on sideroads at non-intersections. Fewer than 3 percent occur in bad weather. And more than half occur in broad daylight.
And, still, riders are dying in record numbers.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries and Causation
The number of serious and fatal motorcycle accidents continues to increase. In 2020, fatal crashes were up 11 percent to 5,579, the highest number since modern data collection began in 1975, according to the NHTSA.
The vast majority of motorcycle collisions involving other vehicles are the fault of the vehicle’s driver. Common causes include:
- Failure to yield: The most common cause of deadly vehicle-involved motorcycle collisions is a driver who fails to yield by turning left in front of an oncoming rider.
- Front-end crashes: Turning in front of a rider is the leading cause. But other scenarios contribute to the fact that more than three-quarters of fatal crashes involve striking the front of a rider. That means the rider should have been seen and these crashes should have been prevented.
- Lane-sharing: Motorcycles are entitled to their own lane. It is illegal, and dangerous, to attempt to share a lane or pass a rider within a travel lane.
- Rear-end collisions: A surprising number of crashes involve a vehicle that strikes a rider from the rear. Motorcycles typically slow by downshifting, so brake lights are not a reliable indicator of a slowing rider. Motorcycles also take a few moments to begin moving from a stop. Never tailgate a rider and always wait until they are well underway before following.
- Distraction: Like all motor-vehicle collisions, distraction is a primary cause. But it is even more deadly for motorcycle riders, both because they are more difficult to see and because they are much more likely to be seriously injured or killed in the event of a collision.
Despite the statistics, riders are still more likely to be blamed for a collision for which they were not at fault. In other cases, a motorist does not stop and/or a rider is forced off the road in an attempt to avoid a collision with an at-fault driver. Such scenarios often leave riders with fewer avenues for recovery. In such cases, a rider may pursue a case against their own insurance carrier under uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage is critical for all motorcycle riders because it pays for damages in cases involving a collision with a motorist who flees the scene, does not have insurance, or does not have enough insurance to adequately compensate victims for damages. All riders should carry as much insurance coverage as can be afforded.
It’s important to note that New Jersey’s comparative negligence law still permits a rider to recover damages in cases where he or she is found partially responsible for a collision, as long as the rider is not at majority fault.
In each case, early consultation with an East Brunswick motorcycle accident attorney is the best thing a rider can do to protect their rights and the financial well-being of their family.
In addition to identifying all of the parties responsible, your motorcycle accident lawyer must also make a comprehensive claim for damages that includes all of the damages to which you are entitled. In many cases, riders are very seriously injured or disabled, and quite rightly the primary focus is on medical treatment and rehabilitation. Common motorcycle injuries include:
- Road rash: In addition to complications that include serious and life-threatening infections, road rash can lead to permanent scarring and disfigurement.
- Broken bones: Arms, hands, feet and legs are most often injured. Crush injuries can be particularly serious and may result in amputation or permanent loss of use.
- Joint injuries: Hips, knees, ankles, elbows and shoulders often take the brunt of impact. Joint replacement is a complex surgery that often results in long-term consequences, including loss of use and partial disability.
- Head injuries: Even when riders are wearing a helmet, head injuries are among the most common results of motorcycle accidents. No two head injuries are the same. Prognosis is uncertain, as are the long-term consequences.
- Paralysis/Spinal cord injuries: Like head injuries, injuries to the spinal cord are among the most complex medical cases. Prognosis and future quality of life are uncertain. Complications are common. And the costs associated with medical care and rehabilitation are astronomical.
At Mayo Law, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive approach to representing each victim and family we take the responsibility of representing. Motorcycle injury cases are truly among the most complex. Those injured or killed are typically in the prime of their lives and often a family’s primary wage earner. An at-fault driver often does not have enough insurance to fully compensate a victim for damages. Determining all avenues of compensation, including a rider’s own insurance policy, is often critical to winning justice. Equally important is access to outside medical and financial experts who can build a comprehensive case that reflects all of the economic losses, as well as non-economic damages to which a victim and family are entitled, including pain and suffering.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, please don’t wait. Reach out for help today by contacting an experienced New Jersey motorcycle accident law firm.