Personal Injury: Spring Brings Increased Risk of Motorcycle Accidents
Now that spring is here, motorcyclists are starting to take advantage of the nice weather and get out on the roads. For most motorcycle riders, this season will be safe and enjoyable. For other motorcyclists though, the season will be deadly. As a personal injury firm that's handled more than our share of motorcycle accidents, I wanted to share a few things we can all remember to make this a happy and safe year as the season begins again.
Drive Defensively
Always be aware that a wreck that would amount to a fender-bender between two cars can be fatal to someone riding a motorcycle. A rear-end accident between two cars can lead to whiplash, but being on a motorcycle that is rear-ended can be catstrophic. Believe me, as a personal injury attorney I’ve seen this happen. Always drive defensively, and be prepared to react to your surroundings.
Cell phones are everywhere today. Chances are you’ve seen a car swerving in and out of its lane, being driven by a driver looking down, poking at a cell phone.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that at any given time during daylight hours, at least 800,000 vehicles are being driven by drivers using cell phones in America."
Anecdotally, rear-end collisions caused by distracted driving- cell phone usage in particular- are on the increase. When the distracted driver hits a motorcycle, as opposed to the bumper of another car, a minor accident becomes serious, if not fatal. Remember, if you are injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to take the appropriate steps right away, from dealing with medical bills, to hiring the right attorney. At the Law Offices of Blake R. Maislin, LLC, our personal injury attorneys see the consequences of distracted driving every day. Sometimes the consequences are minor, sometimes severe. We’ve been helping drivers injured in motorcycle accidents for years, and we always work to obtain the best outcome for our clients.
Wear Proper Gear
A rider should always wear a helmet. When mandatory helmet laws are repealed, organ donations resulting from fatal motorcycle accidents increase by ten percent, according to one recent study.[1] Simply put, helmets save lives. Wear a helmet. But even beyond saving your life, a helmet might prevent a traumatic brain injury or concussion.
Similarly, wear protective boots, clothing and gloves. To anyone thinking about skipping this step, try searching “degloved foot motorcycle” on the internet. The pictures do more than this blog ever could to encourage wearing proper gear.
Check Your Insurance Policy
Not all motorcycle accidents are preventable, and even if you drive defensively and wear proper gear, you still may be injured in a motorcycle accident. Injuries caused by motorcycle accidents are expensive. Brain injuries, fractured clavicles and ankles are some of the common results of motorcycle accidents. With diagnostics, surgeries and therapy, medical bills can reach six-figures quickly. If you have minimum limits insurance, your medical bills will likely exceed your insurance coverage. If so, a personal injury attorney would be helpful. And if you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, it’s critical to have good insurance coverage. The time to check your insurance is now- before you need it. Take a moment and review your coverage to make sure you’re protected in case of a motorcycle accident.
What if you’re in a Motorcycle Wreck?
In the event you are in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to contact an experienced attorney who can help guide you through the process. The personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Blake R. Maislin, LLC have handled thousands of vehicle accidents, motorcycle and otherwise. Call us if you are hurt in a motorcycle accident. We will help you at every step of the way, and get you as much money as possible, so that all you have to do is concentrate on getting better.
[1] Stacy Dickert-Conlin, Todd Elder, and Brian Moore, “Donorcycles: Motorcycle Helmet Laws and the Supply of Organ Donors.”
