Motorcycle accidents are often catastrophic, leading to severe injuries and financial difficulties. In addition to healing — or mourning the loss of someone who passed as a result of the accident — families have to worry about paying bills while simultaneously experiencing a loss in earnings. It only makes sense that the person responsible for the accident should pay for the damages.
Handling motorcycle cases can be a little challenging. Insurers often have a bias against bikers. They may assume that bikers were riding irresponsibly or since biking is more dangerous than driving a car, that they somehow deserve their injuries. This bias is rarely conscious but can show up in how they evaluate fault or determine settlement amounts. Fortunately, a Milford motorcycle accident lawyer can help ensure that you and your family get treated with the respect and dignity you deserve. Reach out to Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz, and Bhaya today to begin working with a dedicated personal injury attorney.
Common Motorcycle Wreck Injuries
There are many benefits of riding a motorcycle. They are more fuel-efficient and maneuverable, and the fun factor cannot be beat. However, there are inherent risks to bikes, as well. When bikers are in an accident, they are more likely to sustain severe injuries than motorists who are inside vehicles. In addition to the metal cage surrounding occupants, modern vehicles also have other safety features, such as seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones, which minimize the risk of injury. Motorcycles do not have those protections. So, bikers are at risk of traumatic injuries, even in relatively low-speed collisions.
Road rash, broken bones, and lacerations are all common in a bike wreck. However, if a biker can walk away from an accident with only those injuries, they are luckier than most. These wrecks often lead to two very significant types of harm: traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries happen when sufficient force is applied to the back or neck. They can be complete or incomplete injuries. The main risk with this type of harm is the potential for paralysis. If the spinal cord is damaged or compressed, movement and sensation can be impaired. The injury can be temporary or permanent, depending on the degree of the injury and follow-up treatment. If the spinal cord is severed, paralysis is permanent and total from below the point of the injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
TBIs refer to head injuries caused by an outside force. They are a frequent cooccurrence with motorcycle wrecks. Wearing a helmet lessens the risk of TBIs, as well as their severity. Delaware Code Ann. tit. 21 § 4185 requires riders age 19 and under and all riders with less than two years of a motorcycle endorsement to wear helmets — but it allows all other riders to choose for themselves.
Compensation for Injuries
When an injured biker can prove someone else is to blame for their damages, they could recover compensation for their injuries and losses, including the cost of medical care, reimbursement for lost income and property damage, as well as monetary awards for pain and suffering, disfigurement, or a loss of enjoyment of life. An attorney who handles motorcycle wrecks in Milford can explain how the type and severity of injuries play a part in these claims and what damages a biker may be eligible to receive.
Bikers and Accident Risk
Bikers may be at a higher risk of being in an accident. Many people wrongly attribute this to risky behavior by bikers. However, the stark reality is that many motor vehicle drivers do not look for bikers on the road. They are only looking out for large vehicles, so they may not adequately check their mirrors to see if bikers are in place. Plus, some drivers are hostile to bikers and will intentionally drive recklessly near them.
Other factors can contribute to the risk of a motorcycle wreck. These include road conditions. Poorly maintained roads or reduced traction due to snow or rain can make it more difficult for bikers—and drivers—to control their vehicles. Bad weather can create poor visibility, which makes it harder for drivers to see bikers. A motorcycle recall or defect could also contribute to a wreck.
A motorcycle accident attorney in Milford can help determine the cause of a wreck and who should be held legally liable for the damages.
Speak to a Milford Attorney About Motorcycle Accidents
Recovery after a motorcycle wreck can be very overwhelming. You are likely dealing with significant pain, emotional trauma, financial stressors, and an uncertain physical future. You do not have to weather this storm on your own. A Milford motorcycle accident lawyer can help you. Schedule a consultation with the team at Doroshow, Pasquale, Krawitz, and Bhaya to learn more.