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What Percent of Motorcycle Accidents Results in Injury or Death?

What Percent of Motorcycle Accidents Results in Injury or Death?

The call of the open road is undeniable. America’s passion for motorcycles is on the rise – more than 500,000 motorcycles were sold last year in the U.S. alone, bringing the number of bikes on the road to approximately 8.4 million. As thrilling as it may be, biking can also be a risky proposition. No matter how safe or experienced you are as a rider, you can’t control the conditions or other drivers you encounter on the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, the experienced motorcycle accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel will work diligently to get you the compensation you deserve.

Death and Injury Rates for Motorcyclists are High

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), thousands of riders lose their lives in motorcycle crashes every year. For every mile traveled, a motorcyclist is more than 26 times more likely to die in a crash than the occupant of a passenger car, and five times as likely to sustain injury. A staggering 80% of motorcycle accidents result in injury or death; the same is true for only 20% of car crashes.

Data published by the Insurance Information Institute shows that 4,586 people died in motorcycle crashes in 2014, while 92,000 were injured.

These alarming numbers highlight the need for motorcycle safety. Wearing a helmet is just one way to reduce your chance for injury. Head trauma is the leading cause of serious injury or death in motorcycle accidents. NHTSA research shows that helmets cause a 29% reduction in fatalities and a 67% reduction in serious brain injuries.

Other factors play a huge role in motorcycle injury and fatality rates, including:

  • Speeding – NHTSA statistics for 2013 show that 34% of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes were driving above the speed limit.
  • Alcohol – According to the NHTSA, in 2014, 29% of bikers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration at or above of 0.08, the legal threshold for drunk driving in the U.S.
  • No valid license – In 2013, 25% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes lacked a valid license.
  • Bike type – The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that riders of “super sports” motorcycles, which are light-weight bikes built for racing, were four times more likely to die in fatal crashes than riders of other bikes.

All that said, in many accidents, it is the other driver who is at fault for causing the accident by failing to notice the motorcyclist and/or give them proper space on the road to maneuver safely. Even if the motorcyclist was partially at fault in causing the accident, he or she may be able to recover against a driver who was also at fault in causing the accident.

How an Experienced Motorcycle Attorney Can Help

Victims of motorcycle accidents have options. Negotiating with insurance companies and collecting for your injuries can be complicated. Enlisting the help of an experienced attorney will remove the stress and confusion from the process and ensure that you get the best possible recovery available.

The main goal of insurance companies is to convince you to settle fast for the least money possible. In many cases, a quick settlement is not in your best interest, and a personal injury lawsuit is the only way to protect your rights. An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer will aggressively seek the maximum recovery for you and help you determine the best course of action in your particular situation.

Collecting fair compensation for your injuries after a motorcycle accident can be a challenge, and you shouldn’t attempt to go it alone. At the Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel, we’re dedicated to protecting your interests every step of the way. Call today for a consultation.

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What is a Personal Injury Claim?

What is a Personal Injury Claim?

People suffer injuries every day through no fault of their own. If you were injured as a result of someone else’s wrongful acts, either intentional or accidental, you may have a valid personal injury claim.

The two basic issues at stake in any personal injury claim are liability and damages. Liability involves determining who was legally at fault for the injuries you sustained. Damages are the legal measure of the nature and extent of your injuries. Damages in a personal injury case will be quantified as a dollar figure; unlike in criminal cases, personal injury claims do not result in punishment or jail time for the party that hurt you.

A personal injury claim can involve any wrongdoing by another party that resulted in harm to you. Some of the most common kinds of personal injury claims are:

  • Construction Accidents
  • Motorcycle Accidents
  • Auto Accidents
  • Slip and Fall
  • Wrongful Death
  • Dog Bite Injuries

Can I Make a Claim for Personal Injury?

Deciding to go forward with a personal injury claim requires a detailed analysis of the facts of your case. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you evaluate whether or not to pursue a lawsuit.

The first thing you need to do is take the time to recover from your injuries. The law requires you to mitigate your damages, which means that you need to take the necessary steps to recover and improve your physical condition. You’ll also have a much more accurate picture of your full damages after your recovery is complete. That said, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after the accident occurs in order to begin the investigation of the facts and protect your interests.

You’ll also need to show that another party is responsible for your injuries. The main bases for personal injury claims are:

  • Negligence: The other party had a duty to exercise reasonable care in their actions but failed to do so, resulting in your injury. A classic example of a negligence claim is an automobile accident, but most other personal injury claims fall in this category as well.
  • Strict liability: Arising largely in cases involving injuries from defective products, strict liability cases do not require a showing of negligence. Rather, you just need to show that the product at issue was designed or manufactured in an unreasonably dangerous way.
  • Intentional wrongdoing: Less common than negligence and strict liability cases, certain personal injury claims such as assault or battery can be brought when someone’s intentional conduct causes you harm. Often these actions may also be the subject of separate criminal proceedings.

Finally, you must be able to prove that you suffered damages. These might include lost wages, medical bills, or pain and suffering. It’s important to keep a detailed record of how your injuries have affected your day-to-day life, including any impact on your job, schooling, or family and social obligations.

How Long Does a Personal Injury Claim Take?

Every case is different. Some claims are much more complex than others and involve more serious injuries. Only after a full investigation of the circumstances can your attorney begin to give you a sense of how long your claim may take.

One of the biggest factors influencing the length of your case is whether you settle or insist on seeing your claim through trial. Some cases may settle in a matter of months, while others may take years to go to trial. You should be wary of any attorney who guarantees that your case will settle in a certain amount of time without examining all the details.

Generally speaking, personal injury cases will settle more quickly if you are willing to accept less money for your injuries. Insurance companies notoriously try to rush injured plaintiffs into quick settlements for small damages. It’s important to assess your injuries and give them time to heal before rushing to accept an offer.

If you resist the quick settlement, your attorney will gather and analyze all the relevant evidence, including police reports, witness statements, and medical records. Fact gathering can often take months, if not longer. The good news is, the more time you spend analyzing your claim, the more likely you are to receive a settlement that accurately compensates you for your injuries.

While most personal injury cases settle, some do go to trial. And even if you are awarded damages by the court, it may take time to actually recover your money from the party who injured you. It’s not unusual for the trial process to take years.

Deciding the proper route to maximum recovery is not something that’s easy to do on your own. An experienced personal injury attorney will analyze your case and help you every step of the way, whether your claim ends in settlement or goes to trial. The Law Offices of Justin D. Brandel are dedicated to aggressively pursuing your claim and have a proven track record of helping their clients recover the full compensation they deserve. If you’ve been injured and think you have a claim, contact Mr. Brandel today for a free consultation.

Speak with an attorney about your case today.

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