Motorcycles and Personal Injury

Most motorcyclists feel hard done by when it comes to personal injury claims and they have a point. While everyone loves the thought of riding free bikers are often blamed for weaving in and out of traffic and for not making them selves visible. The truth is motorcyclists are just as likely if not more so to come out of a collision with serious injuries than a car driver is. A motorcyclist is no less likely to responsible for a road accident than anyone else if they are following the rules.

Motorcyclists know how to protect themselves by:
• Wearing helmets – this is a requirement by law in nearly all states and countries
• Wear protective clothing – the leathers look great but they also protect the skin in case of accidents as well as weather conditions. Boots are there for protection against the weather and accidents too. Those chains can save a bikers life in the event of a fall.
• Being visible – in some countries it is a law requirement to have lights on at all times for a motorbike.
• Usually keep their vehicles in tip top condition. Any kind of failure on a bike can end in fatality and bikers know this. They also generally love their bikes.

Not being visible is what causes a huge number of accidents. Cars are often not looking for bikes as they turn corners or approach roundabouts. That coupled with the speed at which motorbikes can travel can lead to accidents. Many car drivers often state that they could not have been responsible as they ‘didn’t see the rider coming’. This does not by any means imply that the cyclist is in the wrong. Motorcyclists are obliged to follow the road rules just as anyone else is (with a few added extras) and if they were doing so at the time of an accident they are in the right and entitled to sue for personal injury damages.

Poor weather conditions make motorcyclists even more vulnerable from both the surface road conditions and the visibility aspect.

As a car, truck or motorcyclist it is a good idea to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident occurs. The laws that surround liability in road accidents are really no different for bikers than anyone else.

As at any accident scene apply any first aid that seems required and call for emergency services. Gather as many witnesses as possible and write down or voice memo any details. If possible take photos of the general scene and the specifics. This may be valuable evidence later if either party decides to take up a lawsuit, or for insurance purposes.

Motorcyclists need to be aware that they are more at risk due to visibility than other vehicles on the road. Other drivers need to be aware that motorcyclists have a right to be on the road and need to stay alert to motorbikes and not just other cars or traffic.

Related Legal Information: Contact the Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers of the Weinstein Law Firm, Serving Coral Springs and Southern Florida