In the late 1880s, dozens of designs for motorcycles emerged, particularly from Germany and England, and soon motorcycle fever spread across America. Ever since the 1890s, motorcycle enthusiasts across the globe have had a love affair with motorcycles, and this trend has shown no sign of slowing down.
If you own a motorcycle, you know first-hand how exhilarating it can be to take your bike on the open road, but unfortunately riding a motorcycle can be dangerous, especially in the presence of negligent drivers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association ( NHTSA), the latest vehicle mile travel data shows that motorcyclists are 27 times as likely to be killed in an accident as car occupants, and 6 times as likely to be injured.
The NHTSA also reports that the majority of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes are caused when the drivers of passenger cars and trucks fail to observe the motorcyclist. Cars aren’t always looking for riders!
According to motorcycle crash-related data published by the Centers for Disease Control, the CDC study found that more than half of all nonfatal injuries treated in emergency departments were to the leg / foot (30%), or head / neck (22%). These can be serious injuries we want you to avoid.
Common types of motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Leg and foot injuries (fractures)
- Head and neck injuries (e.g. traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries)
- Upper trunk
- Arm and hand (road rash, fractures)
- Lower trunk
The CDC’s study found that the highest death and injury rates were among 20 to 24 year-olds, followed by 25 to 29 year-olds. Additionally, the number of nonfatal motorcyclist injuries treated in emergency rooms increased from nearly 120,000 injuries in 2001, to around 175,000 injuries by 2008.
The NHTSA reports that approximately 80% of reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death, but for automobiles that number goes down to 20%. However, if you ask any motorcycle owner, what a motorcycle lacks in weight, bulk, and safety, is offset by its agility, maneuverability, and ability to swerve quickly when necessary.
Why You Need an Experienced Lawyer
Due to the lack of protection in a motorcycle crash, motorcycle accident injuries are often far more serious than car accident injuries. When riders are ejected at high speeds, or when their bodies come into contact with hard asphalt with zero protection, the injuries can be catastrophic.
After an accident, an insurance company will often try to get the injured rider to settle quickly, before they have any clue as to the cost of their losses. Whenever you have suffered any type of injuries from a motorcycle crash, you should be focused on retaining an experienced South Carolina personal injury attorney.
At George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers, we have a wealth of experience handling motorcycle accident cases, and we won’t accept a low-ball settlement from an insurance company. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that you get the compensation you need to cover all of your current and future losses.
Without the help of a skilled injury attorney, you have no way of knowing what your claim is truly worth. What’s more, you run the risk of being manipulated into accepting a low-ball settlement. When you do realize that your losses are far greater, you have no way of recovering more compensation – don’t let this happen to you!
Contact our firm to schedule a FREE case evaluation and learn more about your rights. To get help now, call toll free at (888) 612-7001.