The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that motorcycle-related accidents killed almost 5,000 people in 2018. There are more passenger vehicle accidents, deaths, and injuries every year. Still, in percentage terms, motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to be involved in an accident than passenger vehicle occupants, mile for mile.
Did you suffer a motorcycle accident? The Cincinnati negligent motorcycle rider accident lawyer with the Fitch Law Firm LLC can help you with your case. Contact our offices today at (513) 407-4521 for a free case evaluation. We can help you understand the driving and insurance rules that apply to your case and help you gather evidence and file for compensation if you have grounds for a claim.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Common causes of motorcycle accidents include the following:
- Driver experience and familiarity with the road
- Rider negligence, such as distraction, drowsy riding, intoxicated riding, aggressive riding, making unsafe lane changes, riding too closely to other vehicles, and not following safe riding rules
- Dangerous actions on the part of other road users
- Poor weather, poor lighting, damaged roads, road debris, narrow or unmarked lanes, and a lack of warning signs
- Vehicle malfunctions
Motorcyclists are at a much higher risk for accidents than other vehicles, including passenger vehicles and light trucks. According to one NHTSA report, the motorcyclist fatality rate per 100,000 registered vehicles was almost 60 in 2017, compared to about 10 for passenger cars and 7.52 for light trucks.
These figures show that motorcyclists are more at risk on the road than many other road users, but the NHTSA’s findings also show that:
- About 30% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were operating their vehicles without proper licensing.
- Motorcyclists are more likely to ride while impaired than the drivers of passenger cars, light trucks, and large trucks.
- Motorcyclists are three times as likely to drink and ride at night than to drink and ride in the day.
The takeaway here is that motorcycle accidents can be deadly, but they are often the result of negligence on the motorcyclist part.
For a free legal consultation with a negligent motorcycle rider accident lawyer serving Cincinnati, call 614-963-2808
Common Injuries
Motorcyclists, passenger car occupants, and other road users can suffer serious bodily injuries in a motorcycle accident. Common injuries seen in motorcycle collisions include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs)
- Broken or fractured bones
- Cuts, bruises, lacerations, and amputations
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Wrongful death
Depending on their severity, these injuries can take weeks or months to treat. Some accident victims may never recover from their injuries, especially those who suffer amputations, varying degrees of paralysis, head, spinal cord, or brain damage. To learn more about motorcycle accidents, contact the Cincinnati negligent motorcycle rider accident lawyer with the Fitch Law Firm LLC to help you with your case. You can reach our team at (513) 407-4521.
Cincinnati Negligent Motorcycle Rider Accident Lawyer Near Me 614-963-2808
Understanding Accident Liability
According to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle of any type without proper insurance. It is also illegal for a vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive their vehicle without insurance. The minimum insurance requirements for motor vehicles in Ohio are:
- $25,000 for injuries or the death of one person per accident
- $50,000 for injuries or the death of two or more people per accident
- $25,000 for property damage in an accident per accident
Ohio is an at-fault state, and accident victims must seek compensation for accident-related damages from the at-fault party responsible for causing the accident in question. To do this, the victim must show that he or she suffered injuries or losses in an accident caused by someone else’s actions or negligence.
In many cases, the at-fault party responsible for causing an accident is another vehicle driver. Anyone operating a vehicle on the road is assumed to owe other road users a duty of care. This duty requires all road users to operate their vehicles and use the road in accordance with the law and with the safety and well-being of others in mind.
However, the same standards extend to others whose actions can affect road users, such as vehicle maintenance teams, cargo loading teams, construction teams, parts manufacturers, commercial enterprises such as trucking companies, and repair or maintenance crews. All of these parties owe road users a duty of care.
If the actions of an at-fault party lead to an accident, you can seek compensation using:
- The personal injury and property liability coverage of the at-fault party up to the mandatory minimums outlined above or the limits of the at-fault party’s policy
- Collision insurance to compensate you up to the book value of your vehicle before your accident
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which will cover you for physical injuries and income losses up to certain limits regardless of who caused the accident in question
- Uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance to cover you in the event of an accident with an uninsured motorist or a hit-and-run accident
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Filing a Claim
To file a claim for damages, you must:
- Identify the at-fault party responsible for your accident and gather evidence to prove their culpability for your damages
- Identify the damages you may be able to seek compensation for and gather evidence to prove the extent of those damages
- Identify the insurance policies that apply to your case
- Submit a letter of intent to sue or a claim for compensation to the at-fault party’s insurer requesting compensation for your damages
Doing all of this while injured can be difficult, and an attorney may be able to assist you with evidence collection and in negotiations with insurance adjusters. To learn more, contact the Fitch Law Firm LLC today at (513) 407-4521. Our Cincinnati negligent motorcycle rider accident lawyer provides free case evaluations and can help you quantify your damages. We can also help you meet all legal, insurance, and administrative requirements for your case, so do not hesitate to call us today.
Call or text 614-963-2808 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form