Nevada Motorcycle Accidents Explained

Motorcyclists are much more exposed to the elements of the road than other drivers. Without a frame and 4,000 pounds of metal surrounding the motorcyclist, there isn’t anything of true substance between the person behind the wheel and other cars, inanimate objects, and the road. This makes the occurrence of car accidents much more dangerous for motorcyclists. Many drivers are not used to sharing the road with motorcyclists and thus can neglect to notice them.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle collision due to driver negligence, the other driver should be held accountable for his or her actions. It may be especially important to seek compensation in the form of a personal injury claim in order to help cover medical and other related costs. You may be tempted to accept the offer made by the insurance company, but you should know you have other options. Speak to a Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorney to learn more.

Nevada Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to a report by the Fatal Analysis Reporting System as part of the Office of Traffic Safety of Nevada, the rate of fatal motorcycle accidents increased by over 50% between 2015 and 2016.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be in a fatal car crash than a car driver that drives the same amount of miles. With the rate of fatality in car accidents already high, this means the likelihood of a motorcyclist dying in a car crash is significantly higher. If you’ve lost a loved one to a motorcycle accident, consider consulting an attorney who can provide legal advice for you.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles are not what drivers typically look out for while on the road and thus often are overlooked when cars make turns or change lanes. The small stature of motorcycles makes it easy for them to be completely swallowed up by another driver’s blind spot. Motorcyclists also move much differently than cars and are thus hard to predict. Besides this major cause for motorcycle accidents, there are many others, such as:

• Actively ignoring motorcyclists – Some drivers actually have a prejudice against motorcyclists and consider them a nuisance. These drivers may actively try to ignore motorcyclists, which is dangerous, or could even consciously or subconsciously want to do them harm or scare them. It’s awful to think this could be true but if you’ve experienced something like this, call an attorney immediately.
• Road rage – Related to the above point is road rage. If a driver feels slighted by a motorcyclist and decides to retaliate through some form of road rage, this could have disastrous results. If a driver acts towards the motorcyclist as he or she would with other cars, such as cutting the motorcycle off or tailgating, the results could be much worse than intended.
• Misinterpretation of motorcycle intention or speed – Since many people aren’t very familiar with driving alongside motorcycles, they may not be able to estimate an oncoming motorcycle’s speed or intention.
• Speeding
• Distracted driving – Most people think of texting, but there are many seemingly innocent forms of distracted driving, such as paying attention to the GPS, changing the radio station, disciplining children, etc.
• Improper or inadequate signaling
• Drunk or otherwise impaired driving
• Bad weather
• Disobeying traffic signs
• Failure and yield
• Construction or roadway defects
• Lane splitting – Driving between moving or stationary cars is prohibited in the state of Nevada.

Whatever caused the motorcycle collision, make sure to speak to an attorney to learn what you can do as it pertains to your case.

Common Motorcycle Injuries

Motorcycle injuries are typically more serious than injuries of car passengers in the same collision due to the exposure to the environment and the absence of a seatbelt. Some potential injuries in a motorcycle collision include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Burns
• Paralysis
• Loss of limb
• Coma
• Facial disfigurement
• Death

Pursing Legal Action

After a motorcycle accident, it’s hard to think about going to court. The most important priority is the victim’s health and that should always take precedence. While tending to the health of the victim, it may become apparent just how expensive it can be to recover from an accident. Something that can happen in the blink of an eye that is no fault of our own can have lifelong effects that affect not only the person directly affect but also those closest to the victim. When the collision is due to another driver’s negligence or misbehavior, that person should be held responsible for the consequences. Action can be taken with the help of an attorney to seek compensation from the responsible party for a variety of costs, including:

• Medical costs – This includes surgeries, medications, etc.
• Future medical costs – It can be difficult to determine how much an injury will cost in the future, but since there is a set amount of time that legal action can be brought against an individual for a personal injury (2 years in the state of Nevada), it is often necessary to make an educated estimate of potential future costs including additional surgeries, physical therapy, emotional therapy, medications, etc.
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Lost earning potential – If the injury has affected the victim in a way that it decreases his or her ability to earn income, it is possible to be compensated for this shift in earning capacity.
• Job training – If the injury makes it impossible for the victim to return to his or her normal job, the responsible party may be required to pay for job training so the victim may get back on his or her feet in a new career.
• Loss of companionship – In the most unfortunate circumstance that the victim is lost, his or her family members may seek compensation for the loss of companionship
• Punitive damages – These are fees in order to punish the responsible party and are only issued in the most severely negligent or malicious incidences

It may be tempting to take the offer that is initially offered by the insurance company. It’s important to recall that insurance companies are for-profit entities that take advantage of individual’s vulnerabilities and lack of awareness to cut costs. Having an attorney on your side to communicate with the insurance company can increase their offer just because they know you have someone with knowledge and experience in this realm of law.

If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle collision, be sure to contact an experienced wrongful death lawyer as soon as you are able. Seeking compensation is never a comfortable situation, but medical costs can really pile up. Be sure to act quickly – the statute of limitations on personal injury to file action is just two years from the incident.

Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers Can Help

Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers has over 15 years of experience helping injured victims get the compensation they deserve. We provide exceptional customer and legal service for individuals all throughout Las Vegas. Whatever injury you may have suffered, contact a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer to learn what you can do.

Call Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers today on (702) 384-1414. You can also submit our online contact form and we will get back to you promptly.