Motorcycle crashes are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in vehicle accidents. When adjusted for population, motorcycle crashes are 29 times more likely to be fatal for the rider or passenger than car crashes, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Additionally, one out of every hundred motorcycle riders is injured each year in some type of accident.
The bad news does not end there for motorcycle riders. They are also more likely to be denied coverage or payment by insurance companies and to be blamed for accidents than car drivers. Many people take the attitude that motorcycles are inherently dangerous and tend to place the blame for injuries on the rider, regardless of who was actually at fault in the accident. Insurance companies will work hard to try to ensure that motorcycle riders are denied coverage for their injuries and damages.
How Can I Protect Myself Before A Motorcycle Crash?
The best type of crash is one that never happens, so safe, defensive driving is critical. Motorcycle riders need to be aware that car and truck drivers are less likely to yield and more likely to overestimate passing distances when they encounter a motorcycle. For example, one study showed that 60 percent of all crashes involving motorcycles are the fault of a car driver, not the motorcycle rider. Many of these crashes were due to drivers of four-wheeled vehicles underestimating the amount of time they needed to clear the motorcyclist’s path, probably due to the size of a motorcycle relative to other vehicles.
Further, cell phone distractions are an increasing cause of car drivers hitting motorcycle riders. With more than 50 percent of all motorcycle crashes involving two or more vehicles, it is important for motorcycle riders to practice defensive driving and anticipate driver inattention or failure to yield when possible. Motorcycle riders should slow down and yield whenever possible to larger vehicles.
How Can I Protect Myself After A Motorcycle Crash?
If in spite of driving defensively, you are involved in a motorcycle crash, it is important to protect yourself immediately from attempts by insurers to deny you coverage. In some cases, when the other driver is clearly at fault, the insurance company will attempt to settle quickly for a very low amount that will not cover all of your medical bills and other expenses. In other cases, the insurance company may refuse to cover the accident at all. This leaves the injured victim attempting to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other costs.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, help is available. The experienced attorneys at Barber & Associates have been helping Alaska motorcycle accident victims for decades. Barber & Associates understands how to handle insurance companies reluctant to pay what is fair. Please give us a call today to learn more about how you can protect yourself after a motorcycle crash and get the justice you deserve.