There’s nothing better than the feeling of the open road as you travel by motorcycle. If, however, you ever find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of being in a motorcycle accident, you’ll quickly realize just how devastating the outcomes can be.
Luckily, if you’ve been in an accident, qualified lawyers are available to help.
How Do Motorcycle Accidents Differ from Car Accidents?
In contrast to a car, motorcycles afford drivers almost no protection whatsoever. While the issue of lack of protection is important, this is not the sole reason why motorcycle accidents are often serious. Additional reasons include:
- Many motorcyclists are traveling at high speeds.
- Motorcycles are hard to see from cars’ mirrors.
- Many car drivers are driving negligently or distracted.
As a result of the above issues, motorcycle accidents frequently end fatally or with one of the following very serious injuries:
- Spinal Cord Damage;
- Brain Injuries;
- Concussions;
- Broken Bones;
- And many more.
Know the Motorcycle Laws of Your State
Depending on where the accident took place, you’ll want to be sure that you fully understand that motorcycle laws so that you are protected:
- Helmet Laws: Many states require the use of an approved helmet when traveling by motorcycle. This not only protects you from injury, it also protects you from any potential legal issues, should you be involved in a motorcycle accident.
- Lane Laws: Different states have varying laws on how lanes must be used by motorcyclists. Make sure you know the laws of the state in which you are traveling so that you are not operating your motorcycle illegally.
- Headlight Laws: In some states, your rear lights and headlights must be on while riding your motorcycle, regardless of the time of day.
- Lesser Known Laws: Every state is different, so make sure you have thoroughly reviewed the motorcycle laws of the state in which you are traveling so that you don’t end up losing all of your benefits on a technicality or a law that you knew nothing about.
What Should I Do If I’ve Been in a Motorcycle Accident?
As with any accident, it is incredibly important that you ensure you are safe and don’t have any serious injuries. You need to immediately seek medical attention from a qualified medical practitioner after your accident. This will not only provide valuable evidence in the form of an official medical report that can be used at trial if needed, it will also determine whether you suffered any injuries that may cause you issues down the road.
Once you’ve addressed your medical needs, you’ll want to obtain as much evidence from the scene of the accident as you can. Obviously, if you have been hospitalized or severely injured, you will be unable to do this on your own. This is where the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer will come in handy.
Your motorcycle accident lawyer will get to work immediately after you contact him or her. All of the necessary paperwork, reports, steps to gather evidence, and anything else that may be necessary will be taken care of by your lawyer so that you can focus on your health and recovery.