Have you or a loved one incurred injuries in a motorcycle crash? If so, call the Huntsville motorcycle accident attorneys at Mama Justice today. We can help you.
There is always that sense of adventure often associated with riding a motorcycle. However, the freedom of motorcycle riding frequently results in injury-causing accidents. According to statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 5,000 motorcyclists die every year in motorcycle crashes.
Additionally, it’s estimated that motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to die in motorcycle crashes than passenger car occupants. Have you or someone you love suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident? If so, you’re likely incredibly worried about the various financial losses resulting from medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
It’s often easy to feel lost or disheartened when you cannot find a solution to recover compensation, especially because trying to get money from insurance companies is so tuff. Fortunately, you don’t have to fight your legal battle alone.
The dedicated Huntsville motorcycle accident attorneys at Mama Justice offer free consultations and help injured victims obtain financial compensation. Our firm’s motorcycle accident lawyers are well-versed in traffic laws and adept at identifying potentially liable parties. We work tirelessly, diligently, and aggressively to bring the at-fault party to justice and obtain our clients a fair settlement.
With our decades of experience working on motorcycle accident cases, we can help you file your insurance claim or help you with a personal injury lawsuit.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Huntsville
As is routinely the case with car accidents, there are many common causes of motorcycle accidents in Huntsville. However, we have broken up the primary causes of motorcycle accidents into three primary categories.
- The rider
- The road
- Other vehicles
If you have been injured in one of these scenarios, it might be time to consider looking into filing a motorcycle accident claim to obtain compensation with a Huntsville motorcycle accident attorney from our firm after receiving a free case evaluation.
Motorcycle Accidents Caused by the Rider
- Alcohol consumption is the number one cause of motorcycle crashes. The NHTSA has said that more than 30% of motorcycle riders have had alcohol levels in their blood above the legal limit. Alcohol affects brain function, which leads to lessened alertness and a sense of judgment that can easily result in a motorcycle accident.
- Speeding is considered another prevalent cause of motorcycle collisions. When a motorcycle operator drives too fast and ignores the road rules, they are often unable to hit the breaks quick enough to avoid a motorcycle accident occurring when a hazard appears.
- Inexperienced motorcyclists who easily get distracted by various road conditions and items like radios and mobile phones are commonly responsible for causing accidents.
Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Road Conditions
Slippery road conditions are a prevalent cause of motorcycle crashes. In addition to this, poorly lit roads, sudden lane changes that have been unmarked, and the presence of gravel or pebbles on the road are road conditions that cause motorcycle accidents.
Accidents Caused by Other Vehicles
There are times when accidents are not necessarily caused by the motorcycle riders but by other drivers. Other drivers driving different kinds of motor vehicles, such as cars or trucks, may be unaware of the presence of motorcyclists at the corners of intersections, leading to accidents. It’s been proven that T-bone collisions are among the most common motorcycle crashes worldwide.
Head-on collisions may also happen between a motorcycle and other motor vehicles. These, more often than not, cause serious injuries. Injuries from head-on collisions often result in facial injuries, back and spinal cord injuries, internal organ injuries, brain injuries, and, at its worse, death.
There are also accidents that may occur which do not necessarily involve incoming vehicles. Sudden stops, lane changes, and the sudden opening of car doors are also accidents that are not necessarily caused by the motorcyclist but pose a danger to motorcycle operators. It may seem unimaginable, but each of these accidents caused by other vehicles can also lead to severe injuries.
The Use of Helmets
Helmets have been shown to help prevent debilitating conditions resulting from a head injury or brain injury and even fatalities in seriously injured motorcyclists. According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, severe head injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, were lessened by 42%, and fatalities were reduced by 60% in places where helmet laws were introduced. It is partly for this very reason that there has been a strong campaign for the use of helmets nationwide.
In Alabama, a helmet law has already been introduced to mandate motorcyclists to make use of quality crash helmets for their protection. This motorcycle crash helmet law strictly requires motorcyclists to use motorcycle crash helmets in Alabama. The penalty for violating this helmet law is a substantial fine and possibly even imprisonment, depending on the number of violations.
It is also essential to take note that there are state-approved helmets that motorcyclists should use since not all helmets have passed tests conducted by the state of Alabama.
Common Injuries Resulting from Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are exposed to a lot of dangers on the road because they are not encased in a vehicle. Common motorcycle accident injuries range from scrapes and bruises to broken bones and fractures.
This is because motorcycle riders are not nearly as protected from the impact of a motorcycle accident, with no metal frames to surround them. Additionally, there aren’t any airbags or seat belts to protect them.
Should you have sustained any injuries after being involved in a motorcycle accident, you can speak with an experienced Huntsville personal injury attorney at Mama Justice to help you build a motorcycle accident case during a free consultation.
Road Rash
One of the most common injuries motorcycle accident victims suffer is road rash. This term describes abrasions, and lacerations riders experience when flung from their motorcycle during an accident and their body scrapes against gravel and pavement.
Road rash injuries can range in severity depending on the speeds the rider traveled at and the type of accident they were involved in with their motorcycle.
If riders sustain a first-degree road rash, they will likely experience reddened skin that might not require much medical attention. Should a second-degree road rash injury be incurred, a rider could experience broken skin and need more care than a first-degree road rash injury.
However, emergency care is often needed if a rider experiences a third-degree road rash injury. If care is not sought, the injury could become infected, which could be life-threatening.
Spinal Cord Injuries
A spinal cord injury is undoubtedly one of the worst injuries a motorcyclist can suffer in an accident. This type of injury is often severe and requires immediate medical attention, with many victims needing to undergo surgery.
Unfortunately, those who suffer spinal cord injuries are often left paralyzed or with multiple vertebrae fractures. This type of injury causes significant time off work for rehabilitation, with many people unable to return to work or the position they once held.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Motorcycle riders who were wearing or not wearing a helmet at the time of their accident frequently suffer traumatic brain injuries that can range from minor to severe. However, those wearing helmets have a decreased chance of sustaining a severe traumatic brain injury.
A mild TBI can be relatively easy to recover from in many instances. Still, moderate and severe TBIs usually leave riders facing long-term consequences because their mental and physical capabilities are often affected.
Broken Bones and Fractures
Other common injuries that many motorcyclists suffer from include broken and fractured bones. When a rider is thrown from their bike or is involved in a collision and becomes trapped, many broken bones and fractures to the hands, legs, ribs, and arms can occur.
Usually, these broken bones and fractures require physical therapy and time off work, with many requiring surgery. Speaking with a Huntsville motorcycle accident lawyer can help you recoup some of the losses incurred due to your accident.
What Damages Can I Seek After a Being Involved in a Motorcycle Accident?
Being involved in a motorcycle accident can be traumatic. It can cause not only a great degree of inconvenience but can also be financially disruptive to any individual’s life.
Minor injuries can be bad enough since these can already interfere in your daily life, and these can limit your ability to work and earn money. Significant injuries can cause permanent damage and leave you jobless, stripping you and your loved ones of much-needed income.
If you do sustain injuries in a motorcycle accident, you may be able to receive compensation for your injuries by working with a motorcycle accident attorney. Some of the damages motorcycle accident victims can seek compensation for after a motorcycle crash include:
- Payment for medical bills to include medication and further medical treatment such as physical therapy and testing.
- Any lost wages resulting from sustained injuries.
- Reduced capacity to earn.
- Damage to property.
- Physical pain.
- Psychological trauma.
- Loss of consortium.
Why You Should Consider Working with a Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Should you or someone you love have recently been injured in a serious accident because of another person’s negligence, you might want to consider working with a personal injury attorney. According to Alabama law, you have a right to seek fair compensation from an at-fault driver who has caused you to suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident.
Having a motorcycle accident lawyer is beneficial when dealing with insurance companies. Insurance companies are known to offer unfair settlements to accident victims.
At Mama Justice, we can help you by handling the settlement negotiations with insurance companies, including the other driver’s insurance companies. Our attorneys will work with authorities to ensure we have the evidence needed to build you a winning case. We will file your paperwork correctly and address any questions you might have during the legal proceedings.
Our Huntsville motorcycle accident attorneys at Mama Justice know every legal loophole thoroughly because we have dealt with many motorcycle accident claims. Our personal injury lawyers offer free consultations so that you can determine if we are the right firm for you.
Contact our Huntsville motorcycle accident attorneys at (844) 239-3403 to learn about your legal options and your right to compensation.