Motorcycle Accidents

Are There More Motorcycle Accidents Than Car Accidents?

While there are more car accidents than motorcycle accidents on the roadways in the United States, motorcyclists are much more likely to sustain severe or catastrophic injuries or die following an automobile accident. According to the National Safety Council, while motorcyclists make up only 3 percent of all vehicles on the roadways, they account for 14 percent of all traffic-related deaths. They are 28 times more likely to suffer a fatal injury from an accident than those in passenger vehicles. Fatalities among motorcyclists and their passengers increased by 11 percent in the United States from 2019-2020. However, the rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased by 23 percent. In other words, there are more motorcycles on the roadways, therefore more accidents and resulting deaths. 

Why Are Motorcycle Accident Claims More Complex Than Car Accident Claims?

A motorcycle accident can be traumatic, disrupting your life even more than a car accident. When you are involved in a car accident, you at least have some protection, including being surrounded by a steel and glass “cage,” along with seatbelts and airbags. A motorcyclist has none of these things, and during a motorcycle accident, the motorcyclist is often flung from their bike, landing on concrete, or colliding with a fixed object at a high rate of speed.

There also exist certain biases that insurance companies and juries may have regarding motorcyclists. The stereotype of the hard-living, risk-taking biker is not valid today, yet many people still believe it to be true. In reality, motorcyclists today tend to be older, often professionals like lawyers and doctors.

Many motorcyclists use their bikes to get back and forth to work to save money on gas. Yet despite all this, biases and stereotypes against motorcyclists persist. Because of the potential biases against motorcyclists, you must have a highly experienced Fairbanks motorcycle accident lawyer fighting against these biases for you and your future.

Your attorney will also ensure a jury fully understands the extent of your injuries and that you did nothing wrong to cause the accident. Motorcyclists have the same right to be on the road as any other vehicle, so when another driver is negligent, you are entitled to total compensation for your injuries and other damages.

What Do I Do After a Motorcycle Accident?

Here at Ringstad Law Office, P.C., we hope you are never involved in a motorcycle accident. You may have worn all the appropriate safety gear and followed safe driving practices to the best of your ability, but accidents happen. When they do, you must be aware of what you should and shouldn’t do after the accident.

DO:

• Seek medical treatment first before doing anything else
• Note the time of the accident if you’re able
• Exchange information with the other driver (name, address, insurance company, and insurance policy)
• Contact police and/or emergency personnel
• Check to see if there are witnesses and get their contact information
• Take photographs of the scene
• Call your insurance agent and notify them of the accident
• Contact an experienced Fairbanks motorcycle accident lawyer from Ringstad Law Office

DON’T:

• Apologize—even saying “I’m sorry” when you mean you’re sorry the accident occurred can be misconstrued as an admission of guilt.
• Tell the police you feel okay—your injuries may be more extensive than you realize in the moment.
• Accept fault for the accident on the scene.
• Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you. We’ll aggressively defend you, fighting for your rights every step of the way.

Your health and safety are the biggest priorities. Seek medical attention for your injuries as soon as possible and record photographic evidence of those injuries as they progress. Keep your medical bills, doctor visits, surgeries, and anything else that lawyers can use to build your case.