Despite being an exhilarating hobby, motorcycle riding is inherently dangerous.
Without the protection the 3,000 pound steel frame of a car provides, motorcyclists are incredibly exposed to injury on the road.
Though helmets and protective gear may decrease the impact and injury, the risk of serious or life-threatening injury from a motorcycle accident is generally higher than in any other type of accident.
Statistics
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to experience a deadly accident on the road than those in passenger cars.
In 2006, 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in highway accidents alone. Between 2001 and 2008, more than 34,000 motorcyclists were killed and an estimated 1,222,000 persons were treated in a U.S. emergency department (ED) for a non-fatal motorcycle-related injury.
In Arkansas in 2011, 2,166 people were injured and 82 people were killed as a result of motorcycle crashes. In Missouri, during that same year, 1,227 people were injured and 74 were killed in motorcycle crashes.
As the statistics demonstrate, motorcycle injuries are far too common. Motorcyclists need to always be aware of their surroundings, as they are much smaller than passenger vehicles and may be more difficult for other drivers to see.
Motorcycle injuries are often catastrophic
Because of the lack of safety features found in passenger vehicles (i.e., seatbelts, airbags, metal frame), motorcyclists usually suffer more extensive injuries.
These injuries often include the following:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Head Injuries
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Fractured Bones
- Extensive Cuts and Bruises (often called “Road Rash”)
- Burns
- Wrongful Death
Catastrophic injuries can result in permanent disability and substantial medical expenses. These injuries can have an enormous impact on the lives of victims, as well as their families.
Determining Appropriate Compensation
Determining the appropriate value of a claim for personal injury from a motorcycle accident can be very complicated.
It involves evaluating the nature and extent of the injuries, the economic losses that are recoverable, and the liability issues related to the motorcycle accident itself.
As with other catastrophic injuries, damages that may be recovered for lost wages (both current and future), permanent disability coverage, medical expenses (both current and future), the cost for rehabilitation services, and compensation for pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
Unfortunately, insurance companies have significant experience in evaluating personal injury claims and will try to achieve the lowest settlement possible. Therefore, it is important to have an attorney with extensive experience dealing with insurance companies in these types of cases.
How our Arkansas motorcycle accidents attorney can help
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident in Arkansas, you need a law firm with litigation experience and a dedicated attorney with the resources and skills to build an effective case.
In most cases, a motorcycle injury lawsuit must be filed within a certain period of time known as a statute of limitations.
Please call right away and speak to our Arkansas motorcycle accidents lawyer to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.
Contact Us
If you’ve lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, our legal team at the Cottrell Law Office may be able to help your family fight for justice and take the first steps towards getting possible financial support for your unexpected burdens.
To learn more about pursuing such restitution, call 800-364-8305 today.