Getting the right settlement shouldn’t be as risky as getting on your motorcycle again.
Motorcycle Accident Overview
Motorcyclists are more likely to be injured or killed than car occupants. They often cost billions of dollars per year in direct costs to the government due to emergency services, medical costs including rehabilitation, property damage, loss of market productivity including lost wages, loss in household productivity and insurance costs, including claims and the cost of defense attorneys.
Common Reasons for Motorcycle Collisions
The single most dangerous situation for motorcyclists occurs when cars are making left-hand turns, and make up for over 42% of all accidents between a motorcycle and car. It is most often reported that the turning car strikes the motorcycle when the motorcycle is going straight through an intersection passing the car, going straight through an intersection, or trying to overtake the car.
Insurance Claims
Recent studies from the Highway Loss Data Institute report indicate that supersport motorcycles had the highest relative overall collision losses when compared with nine other motorcycle classes.
Based on collision coverage results for 2011 to 2015 model motorcycles insured under private passenger motorcycle policies, relative overall losses for super sport models were indexed at 352, compared with 100 for all motorcycles.
Four Safety Motorcycle Factors
Motorcycle Helmets: Helmets are widely cited by numerous safety organizations to be the most effective in preventing deaths and reducing injuries in motorcycle riders.
Training Courses: The Motorcycle Safety Foundation organization also works with the states to integrate rider safety and skills in licensing tests. It promotes safety by recommending motorcycle operators wear protective gear, especially helmets, ride sober and ride within their skill limits. Riders who complete approved safety courses may be eligible for insurance discounts.
Antilock Braking Systems (ABS): Not braking hard enough can put the rider into harm’s way. With ABS, a rider can brake fully without fear of locking up. The system automatically reduces brake pressure when a lockup is about to occur and increases it again after traction is restored. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that the rate of crashes is significantly lower for motorcycles equipped with optional antilock brakes than for the same models without them.
Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws: A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study covering 10 states found that when universal helmet laws, which pertain to all riders, were repealed, helmet use rates dropped from 99 percent to 50 percent. In states where the universal law was reinstated, helmet use rates rose to above 95 percent.
At Sunset West Legal Group, we understand that every injury case is different. We have recovered millions for our clients by advising them on next steps, negotiating on their behalf with powerful insurance companies, and even representing clients in court in front of a jury. Your free consultation is the first step in letting us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.