How Motorcycle Accidents Are Different from Car Accidents

Car accidents and motorcycle accidents can lead to serious and debilitating injuries. If you are injured in an accident, it is essential to know your rights and have experienced legal representation.

While both car accidents and motorcycle accidents can lead to severe injuries, these accidents differ in terms of the physical impairment caused by crashes and the legal issues involved in defending claims. A personal injury attorney will review the merits of your case and plan a legal strategy. If you get hurt in a motorcycle or car accident, these are important things to know.

What Are the Significant Differences Between Car and Motorcycle Accidents?

When injured in a motorcycle accident, you have a much higher risk of devastating outcomes. These are some of the reasons you are more susceptible to serious harm:

• No external protection
• Difficult for other drivers to see
• Limited stability on a bike when struck by another vehicle
• Exposed to flying objects or debris
• Road hazards and poor road conditions present a high risk
• Size and weight of other vehicles are a danger

Even when wearing a helmet and durable gear, the risk of permanent injury is elevated in a motorcycle crash.

While car accidents can have equally devastating effects, a car offers better safety protection to the occupants. Modern vehicles have built-in safety mechanisms such as airbags, anti-skid protections, and lane-changing warning systems. Additionally, cars are put through simulated crash tests to improve overall safety.

The severity of conditions in a car crash often determines the nature of the injuries. Motorcyclists are mostly defenseless in crashes. An astonishing 80% of motorcycle accidents result in injuries or death compared to only 20% for car accidents.

What Are the Causes of Motorcycle and Car Accidents?

The primary reasons for car and motorcycle accidents are alcohol and speeding. In many incidents, these two factors happen in conjunction with one another and erratic driving. People are at significant risk of personal injury in accidents due to these factors. Yet motorcycle accidents do vary from car accidents in these ways:

• Left-hand turns: Cars that make left-hand turns often don’t see motorcycles trying to pass on the side. This type of accident accounts for most motorcycle crashes.
• Lane-splitting: A motorcycle driving between traffic lanes is another major contributing factor in collisions. This action is not legal in some states because of limited visibility concerns.
• Fixed-object collisions: Motorcycles that strike fixed objects account for a number of accidents while riding. Frequently, the force of the collision throws a biker off causing personal injury from impact.

In some cases, object collisions cause injury to a rider due to the negligence of another party. It is important to talk to an attorney about these concerns.

Additionally, texting while driving is becoming a roadway threat for all drivers. This problem falls under the category of distracted driving. According to current statistics, 1.6 million car accidents are caused by texting while driving every year. Car drivers also face these types of crash situations more often than motorcyclists:

• Driver fatigue issues: Another driver who falls asleep at the wheel is a serious roadway issue. These accidents often occur when a sleepy driver drifts across lanes into oncoming traffic.
• Aggressive driving actions: Aggressive driving covers different behaviors that affect the safe operation of a vehicle, including driving at high speeds, making improper lane changes, failing to yield, weaving in traffic, and displaying road rage.

Knowing your rights when negligent actions cause personal injury in a car accident is necessary.

How Do Car and Motorcycle Injuries Differ?

Physical injury in an accident can be a catastrophic event that diminishes your quality of life. Crash data reports show over 84,000 motorcycle injuries occur each year. Motorcycle injury types differ from car accidents because of a lack of protection:

• Road rash from slides
• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury from blunt impacts
• Biker’s arm from arm and hand nerve damage
• Disfigurement from facial and bodily impact damage

The chances of being hurt badly in a motorcycle crash are much greater than in a car accident, and you need experienced legal representation if someone else is at fault.

Car accident victims do suffer devastating injuries, but not at the high rate of motorcyclists. These are accident injuries that occur more often in cars:

• Whiplash
• Soft tissue injuries
• Back injuries
• Concussions

Brain and spinal cord injuries, limb loss, burns and scars are more likely in serious car crashes.

Why Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer After an Accident?

Having an attorney after an accident is crucial because personal injury cases are complex. Your lawyer knows the laws that pertain to your circumstances and can represent your interests in informal or formal proceedings.

The fact is almost 96% of personal injury cases settle out of court. A knowledgeable attorney works with all the parties involved to help you get the compensation you deserve. Your attorney does a lot of legwork to prepare a successful case.

How Do Personal Injury Attorneys Help With Insurance Claims?

You can file an insurance claim for damages resulting from an accident. A skilled personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate fair settlements with insurance companies. Accident cases are tricky because injuries take time to heal, and you may need months or longer to understand the severity of your health issues. You don’t want to settle with an insurance company too soon and have no recourse if faced with ongoing medical complications and expenses.

If you live in Michigan, you may be entitled to no-fault benefits when injured in a car or motorcycle accident. These benefits cover lost wages, medical bills, attendant care and other expenses. An attorney explains how no-fault benefits work and determines if you are eligible to receive them. There are mitigating factors as to whether you qualify for these benefits.

Furthermore, it is important to understand how to apply for no-fault benefits. Because it can be difficult to determine which insurer should handle your claim, a lawyer helps with these confusing legal matters.

Why Should You Hire a Qualified Accident Lawyer?

There are essential law issues an attorney helps with when you are injured in an accident. Before you make a claim, you need to know the value of your case. This value determination takes into account financial losses and economic damages. Value is also defined by the strength of facts in your claim, which an attorney understands when building your case.

Another reason to work with an attorney is to get clarification on the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In Michigan, motorcycle accident claim filings vary due to its standing as a no-fault state. A lawyer is there to walk you through the legal processes and help you get the compensation you are entitled to.

Get an Attorney Who Defends Your Rights

Mike Morse Law Firm is your team for personal injury cases. We are the largest personal injury firm in Michigan, and we know how to represent our clients involved in car or motorcycle accidents.

We work hard to protect your rights and get you fair compensation after an accident. Our team provides the personal attention and clear guidance you need throughout the legal process. Contact us to see if you have a case and learn more about our firm.