Injured In a Motorcycle Accident? The Importance of Hiring an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
The following is a guest post by Colorado accident lawyer Daniel R. Rosen:
Motorcyclists often receive an unwarranted reputation for driving recklessly, taking risks, and violating traffic laws.
A major study conducted by the University of Southern California (USC) found that approximately 3/4 of motorcycle accidents involved a collision with another vehicle, usually a passenger automobile. The survey found that in 2/3 of these multiple vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle, the driver of the other vehicle violated the motorcycle’s right-of-way and ultimately caused the accident. Furthermore, the study found that:
The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.
These USC findings support the idea that motorcyclists have unjustly received a bad reputation from the general public, as well as from insurance companies.
Due to their small size, motorcycles easily fit into the blind spot of most vehicles and are therefore innately prone to collisions caused by other drivers. The truth is, most motorcycle riders are very good drivers and keep an eye out for motorists who may not see them.
When motorcycle accidents occur in which the other vehicle’s driver is at fault, insurance companies covering the at-fault driver may go to great lengths to avoid paying out a fair and just settlement to the motorcycle rider. When evaluating an accident claim, the goal of insurance companies is to save money, nothing more. As a result, insurance companies will frequently try to rush accident victims into making a quick, less-informed decision.
Of course, most motorcycle accident victims are not insurance experts or lawyers, and have no idea whether they are getting a good or bad deal from insurance companies. When a check – sometimes even a big check – is presented, it can be quite tempting to sign. However, in most cases, taking the first offer from an insurance company is a mistake.
Sometimes the insurance company of an at-fault driver will try to avoid paying altogether for the accident and resulting personal injuries. They may try to pass blame onto the motorcyclist for causing the accident. Even if fault lies solely on the other vehicle’s driver, convincing a jury that the motorcycle rider is responsible may not always be too difficult, since motorcycle riders have this unjust reputation for being reckless.
It is imperative to have a qualified, experienced motorcycle accident lawyer on your side if you find yourself the victim of a motorcycle accident. A competent accident attorney will help ensure you get the settlement you deserve – a settlement covering your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, as well as paying for the damage to your motorcycle. Not hiring a lawyer to stand up for you can cost you more than just money: it can also cause you a great deal of frustration and stress along the way. Trying to fight a large insurance company on your own, while at the same time dealing with the physical injuries of a motorcycle accident, is an overwhelming task.
Daniel R. Rosen has over 25 years experience as a Colorado personal injury attorney, specializing in car and motorcycle accident cases. The Law Offices of Daniel R. Rosen, PC is a Denver-based personal injury firm with 10 offices throughout Colorado. Call 303.454.8000 for a free consultation.
Well duh! Do you really want an inexperienced personal injury lawyer when you have your family's well being on the line? No thank you sir. I think the more you spend, the more you should expect to get back.