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Maine Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

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Motorcycle accidents are unique from other more common forms of motor vehicle accidents for a number of reasons. Primarily, they are more likely to result in traumatic injury and death than accidents involving only automobiles or trucks. Also, a larger share of injuries involve head trauma because of the unique dynamics of a motorcycle collision. Weather, visibility, and road conditions are also important factors in determining the cause of motorcycle accidents. Other road users do not treat motorcycle drivers in an equal manner on the road, and are more likely to be ignorant of at least some of the traffic laws and rules of the road as they pertain to motorcycles. In Maine, as elsewhere, motorcycles represent a small fraction of registrations and miles driven on the roads but make up a greatly disproportionate number of deaths and serious injuries.

These factors, which make motorcycle accidents unique, each have their own legal implications and complications. Traumatic bodily injury often results in a long period of rehabilitation and substantial time missed from work which needs to be documented accurately if compensation from a negligent party is being sought. Often, accident victims are unable to testify as to the details of the crash, or the different parties involved give conflicting reports, so forensic accident reconstruction experts and engineers trained in collision dynamics must be available. Skilled attorneys in the liability and evidence laws of Maine can arrange for these witnesses, to build a case on behalf of a motorcycle operator. When law enforcement cites a motorcycle operator involved in an accident, the issues surrounding those charges need to be dealt with as well. Finding an attorney who is prepared and experienced in the unique factors surrounding the motorcycle accident case is critical to getting compensation for injuries, damage, loss of earnings, medical expenses, and any other damages resulting from the motorcycle accident. If a person was not wearing their helmet while driving a motorcycle and got into an accident due to the other drivers fault, they can still file a claim against an at-fault driver.

In Maine, helmet, registration, and equipment laws are in place to help reduce accidents, but little is in place to educate other drivers as to their obligations. Maine law requires motorcycles to be registered and insured, requires protective headgear for new and young operators and their passengers, and eyewear under some circumstances. An experienced attorney has to deal with a growing sentiment among judges, juries, regulators, law enforcement, and medical experts that motorcycle riding is inherently risky and that the injuries negligently inflicted upon them by other drivers are actually caused by their decision to ride a motorcycle.

It is of utmost importance to be sure your are insured properly. For motorcyclists, this often means getting add-on coverage beyond typical plans that include collision. One of these add-ons is uninsured motorist coverage, which is coverage on your policy, and this pays for your injuries when someone who doesn't have any coverage causes the injury to you. Then there is underinsured motorist coverage, which pays you for your injuries when the person who is at fault has insurance coverage, but their liability limit is not high enough for compensate you fully.