Motorcycle Accident? Fight the Bias. Get the Compensation You Deserve.
Riders often face unfair assumptions from insurers and juries. Get matched with a motorcycle accident attorney who knows how to counter that bias and build a strong claim.
Understanding Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face a unique combination of physical vulnerability and social bias. Without the protection of a vehicle frame, airbags, and a seatbelt, riders involved in a collision are far more likely to suffer serious injury than occupants of a car or truck in the same crash. At the same time, many riders encounter an unfair assumption — from insurance adjusters, and sometimes juries — that they were speeding, lane-splitting recklessly, or otherwise responsible for the crash simply because they were on a motorcycle.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney knows how to counter that bias with solid evidence: crash reconstruction, traffic camera footage, witness statements, and adherence-to-safety-gear documentation, among other tools. They also understand the injury patterns specific to motorcycle crashes, from road rash to severe orthopedic trauma, and how to accurately value the long-term cost of that care.
Because so many motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers failing to see or yield to riders, a thorough investigation is often the difference between a lowball settlement offer and one that reflects the true cost of your injuries.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Left-turn collisions
Drivers turning left across a rider's path, often claiming they 'never saw' the motorcycle, are one of the most common causes of serious rider injury.
Lane changes without checking blind spots
Motorcycles can be hidden in a driver's blind spot far more easily than a car.
Following too closely
Motorcycles can decelerate faster than cars, increasing rear-end collision risk from tailgating drivers.
Road hazards
Potholes, gravel, and uneven pavement pose a disproportionate risk to two-wheeled vehicles.
Driver inattention
Because motorcycles present a smaller visual profile, distracted drivers are especially likely to miss them.
Common Injuries
Every case is different, but people injured in a motorcycle accident frequently experience:
- Road rash and severe abrasions
- Traumatic brain injury, even with helmet use
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Compound fractures
- Lower extremity and 'biker's arm' injuries
- Internal organ trauma
- Amputation or degloving injuries
Who Can Be Held Liable?
A negligent driver
Most motorcycle accidents are caused by the driver of another vehicle failing to yield or see the rider.
A government entity
Poorly maintained roads or missing signage relevant to rider hazards can create government liability.
A vehicle or parts manufacturer
Defective motorcycle components can support a separate product liability claim.
Compensation You May Be Entitled To
Medical treatment costs
Including trauma care, orthopedic surgery, skin grafts for road rash, and long-term rehabilitation.
Lost wages
Compensation for time away from work during recovery.
Property damage
Repair or replacement value of the motorcycle and riding gear.
Pain and suffering
Reflecting the often severe and disfiguring nature of motorcycle crash injuries.
Legal Issues Unique to Motorcycle Accidents
Anti-rider bias
Insurance adjusters and juries sometimes hold unconscious bias against motorcyclists. Building a fact-based, well-documented case is essential to countering this.
Helmet laws and comparative fault
Some states allow an insurer to argue reduced compensation if a rider wasn't wearing a helmet, even when the crash wasn't the rider's fault.
Lane-splitting legality
Rules on lane-splitting or filtering vary significantly by state and can affect how fault is assessed.
Underinsurance
Motorcycle-specific injuries are often severe enough to exceed the at-fault driver's policy limits, making uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage especially important.