More serious accidents and deaths occur when a car accident happens that involves a motorcycle. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute (III) has found that motorcyclists are 27 times likelier to die in such an accident. These dangerous roads aren’t the only thing motorcyclists must contend with. They also face unfair biases in which drivers assume that they’re at fault for the accident claim. Many times, this isn’t the case at all.
Discover the numerous types of motorcycle vs. car accidents.
There are many ways in which a motorcycle may get into an accident with a car. Some of the most common ones include:
- Drivers will typically hit a motorcycle from the front, not the rear end. This typically results in an accident claim that includes the death of the motorcyclist.
- Another common type of accident occurs when the other driver is turning left and either they don’t see the motorcyclist or the motorcyclist tries to pass them.
- Lane-splitting occurs when motorcyclists ride between two lanes of traffic because traffic is slow-moving or at a standstill. Even in places where this is illegal, it’s still ill-advised because it’s dangerous.
- Although everyone with a driver’s license should know how to drive safely, if someone is either inexperienced or careless, a car accident may occur.
- Bad roads or weather conditions make it likelier for accidents to occur.
You’ll need to determine who’s at fault.
Regardless of why you have an accident claim, you’ll need to determine who’s negligent because they’re the ones who are at fault. This makes them legally liable for any damages or injuries that occur. While they may choose to argue that you, the motorcyclist, were acting recklessly or carelessly, research shows that, typically, this isn’t the case. Most motorcyclists get into accidents because of how another person is driving. This is why cars and trucks are usually the ones who are at fault.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that most multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents occur because someone didn’t see the motorcyclist for one reason or another.
You’ll also need to build a motorcycle accident claim.
After you’ve been in a motorcycle vs. car accident, you’ll want to do everything in your power to protect your rights as a motorcyclist. Doing so is an important part of building your claim and fighting for compensation. With this in mind, here are some steps that you should take:
- Always report the accident to the police and have them create a report.
- Use your smartphone to take pictures of the accident scene.
- Go to the emergency room even if you don’t feel like you need to do so.
- Keep a file in which all your evidence of damages (e.g., bills) is kept.
- Make an appointment to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.
Talk to a lawyer about your accident claim today.
If you’ve been in a car accident, reach out to us at the Blenner Legal Group in Palm Harbor, FL, today. We take pride in helping those who’ve been injured in such accidents fight for what they deserve. So, reach out to us today.
