Representing People Injured In Motorcycle Accidents In Maryland

What causes motorcycle accidents?

Most motorcycle accidents are caused by head-on collisions, which means a car or truck hits the motorcycle from the front. These cases are often fatal. Many accidents also occur when cars make left-hand turns and end up either hitting the motorcyclist or turning so closely in front that the motorcyclist hits them. In either case, the driver making the left-hand turn is usually at-fault, unless the motorcyclist was speeding or driving in the wrong lane. Motorcycle accidents can also happen when a motorcyclist drives between lanes, usually in a traffic-jam when vehicles are moving slowly.

Of course, just as in car accidents, driving distracted or under the influence of drugs and alcohol can cause motorcycle accidents, as can unsafe road conditions and malfunctioning vehicles.

Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries, and have a higher fatality rate than car crashes do. If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle accident, there are several things you should do right away.

Whether a motorcyclist is skilled and respectful of traffic laws or not, accidents can and do happen. Other motorists — drivers of cars, trucks and buses — often claim they “did not see” a motorcycle before a crash. Besides inattentive drivers, defective roadways are also frequent triggers for motorcycle accidents.

Regardless of how and when your motorcycle accident took place, if you have been seriously injured, you need to talk to a lawyer promptly. At Otway Russo, P.C., in Salisbury, our motorcycle accident attorneys offer free consultations to people injured in motorcycle wrecks in or around Delmarva Peninsula and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We offer valuable information and explain how we can help pursue maximum available compensation after a motorcycle accident.

What should I do after getting in a motorcycle accident?

After checking yourself and everyone else involved in the accident for injuries and calling an ambulance if necessary, you should take pictures of the scene of the accident. These pictures will be helpful later in determining who or what was at fault in the accident and how much damage was caused. Only take pictures if you can do so safely. Then, if possible, move your vehicle to a safe location off the road, where it won’t obstruct traffic.

If you haven’t already, call the police at 9-1-1. When the police arrive, give a detailed report of the accident, but try not to say anything incriminating. Get the name of the reporting officer so you can contact him or her later if you need to.

Before you leave the scene of the accident, make sure you have all the information you need. This includes names, contact information, license plate numbers, and insurance company names for everyone involved in the accident, as well as the names and contact info of any witnesses.

After leaving the scene and taking care of any injuries, you should call your insurance agent to report the incident. Be ready to give him or her all the details, including license plate numbers and location. However, do not give an estimate of the damages sustained in the accident until you have spoken to a lawyer, and once again, avoid saying anything that suggests you may have been at fault.

What are common motorcycle accident injuries?

Most injuries from motorcycle accidents affect the legs and feet, but many also affect the head and neck areas. Of course, it’s possible to sustain injuries to any part of your body in an accident, especially if you’re on a motorcycle, in which case you have much less protection than someone riding in a car.

An injury to the head or neck can result in a concussion, paralysis, or brain damage. Many motorcyclists develop road rash after being in an accident: a consequence of the body chafing against the concrete after being thrown from a bike or knocked to the ground.

One common feature of motorcycle accidents is that they tend to result in serious injuries to bikers with or without helmets or leather clothing. The human body out in the open is no match for a car, truck or bus. Injured motorcycle riders tend to suffer from:

• Back and neck injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations
• Crush injuries
• Road rash (serious skin injury)

Your motorcycle may have encountered a bad pothole or you may have been hit by a car. Your medical care needs are likely acute at this time. You may have critical questions about your motorcycle insurance coverage. You should also be interested in discovering whether another motorist or any person or organization was negligent. Documented evidence can help build a strong injury claim or lawsuit.

Depending on what part of your body sustains the greatest impact, and what part of your body you land on if you fall off your motorcycle, you may sustain leg or arm injuries that can take the form of fractures, nerve damage, scrapes, cuts, or broken bones. After getting in a motorcycle accident, you should see a medical provider immediately, even if you think your injury is only minor.

How is a settlement determined?

After an accident, the insurance company of the at-fault driver should offer a financial settlement to the accident victim. This amount includes money for any damages to the motorcycle or car, medical expenses for injuries or trauma sustained in the accident, lost earning ability, and lost wages.

Negotiating a settlement can be tricky, as the insurance company will try to settle for as little as possible. If you feel like a settlement amount is too low based on the damages or injuries sustained in an accident, you should call a lawyer for advice. In some cases, an attorney will counsel you to take the claim to court so a judge or jury can award a fairer settlement. Or, the attorney may simply advise you to try to settle the case outside of court. Filing a lawsuit (or taking a claim to court) can be a lengthy, expensive process, so in some cases, it may be in your best interest to settle outside of court. A lawyer will be able to tell you how much your case is worth, whether or not you should file a lawsuit, and how to proceed with your claim.