But with that freedom comes a steep risk, since riders are almost certain to sustain injuries in any collision, many of which are catastrophic or fatal.
Motorcycle accidents often involve different issues than those found in typical car accidents. Because law enforcement and insurers can sometimes have a bias against riders, your attorney may have to conduct a comprehensive investigation of an accident scene that may require an expert in accident reconstruction. You will also need a seasoned attorney who has experience dealing with these types of injuries.
Because of their small size, motorcycles are not as visible to motorists and can suddenly appear next to a car when lane splitting or sharing. Numerous accidents occur at intersections or when motorists are making left turns, and either misjudge the speed of an approaching motorcycle or simply do not see it.
Consider these statistics on motorcycle accidents from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
In Arizona, only riders 17 years old and under are required to wear a helmet. Helmets have been shown by every reliable study to significantly reduce the number of head injuries, a common consequence of a motorcycle accident where the rider and passenger are ejected from their seats onto the roadway, into another vehicle or some other object.
If the accident victim is lucky enough to survive, he or she may still sustain a traumatic brain injury that can substantially change his or her life and that of his or her family.
Many motorcycle accidents occur at intersections because of inattentive motorists. Other factors include:
