Motorcycles are considered to be one of the coolest rides, but are also one of the most dangerous. There are many reasons motorcycles are dangerous. First, there is no protection like cars and trucks. They are also hard to see when driving on the road, which is why there are many laws for motorcycle riders. There is also the rate at which the motorcyclist drives. A lot of younger adults tend to drive fast and play around on their bikes, so weighing the fault of a motorcycle accident is important to all traffic accident police. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you will need to contact a lawyer.

What are some of the statistics regarding motorcycle accidents?

In 2004, there were 76,000 motorcycle accidents, causing 4,008 deaths. This means that you are 32 times more likely to be injured or killed in a motorcycle accident than other traffic accidents. The interesting results of previous studies are that most accidents occurred when the cyclist was doing 30 mph. One way to reduce death or head injury is to wear a helmet, though not all states require this by law. In fact, there is a 50% chance of surviving a motorcycle accident when you are wearing a helmet. The odds may not show favor one way or the other, but having a permanent debilitation due to head injury is not a great way to spend the rest of your life. A 2006 study showed that 9% of injuries were due to motorcycles. Safety is a key factor in surviving, as is paying attention when driving. A motorcyclist is required to have their headlamp on all the time so a person driving the car can see them. For safety reasons, they are also required to drive single file rather than side by side.

What are some safety requirements a motorcyclist should practice?

Laws differ from state to state regarding safety requirements for motorcyclists. For instance, Colorado states that you do not have to wear a helmet while at the same time other states mandate it. Having your headlamp on whenever you drive the vehicle is another safety requirement, which allows other cars to see the motorcycle and differentiate it from a car. The other safety requirement states you cannot ride side by side on motorcycles, due partly to hazardous road conditions as well as helping other drivers differentiate between you and a regular car.

Road hazards and who is at fault?

There are many types of road hazards when you ride on a motorcycle, including potholes, debris, slick streets, oil slicks, rain, and other cars. The condition of the streets account at least for 30% of motorcycle accidents. Who is at fault in this case? Most often the responsibility of the condition of the streets is the city government. They are in charge of taking care of the road conditions, however, if a piece of debris or pothole could have been avoided this may fall on the motorcyclist and their negligence. Other cars may not see a motorcycle during a downpour because of the visibility. Who may be at fault? This is again a case of negligence, which will be discussed below. Determining what the road hazard was will determine the fault. With another vehicle involved you have to take into account the weather conditions and the safety practiced by both drivers before fault can be found.

What will personal injury lawyers look for in a motorcycle accident case?

Negligence of the driver is key to any personal injury case. The lawyer will need to determine fault and the negligence of the driver at fault. Negligence is considered to be what a non-responsible person would do. When going into a court of law, the lawyer must evaluate a case based on a reasonably responsible person. This is with any case a lawyer will take on, but it holds high importance in motorcycle accidents because of safety laws. The motorcyclist injured may not have a case if he or she was found negligent or if it was determined to be the motorcyclist’s fault.

If you or a loved one has been injured or died in a motorcycle accident, you may be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, damage to your vehicle, and other costly endeavors. Please seek a lawyer’s advice regarding your case.