While motorcycles capture the heart of the rebel on the open road, they are dangerous and in the event of a crash, many bikers don’t survive.
Just taking a good hard look at a motorcycle is enough to point out that they have no protection for the rider. No seatbelts, airbags, bumpers like on cars or even crumple zones. Bikers are right out there in the wind, totally exposed to not only the elements, but also to other vehicles that may collide with them. In addition, road conditions play a huge part in many motorcycle accidents.
“On average a motorcycle may weigh in at about 500 pounds. On the other side of the fence, a car may weigh close to 3,000 pounds, an SUV about 4,000 pounds, and a big rig several thousand tons. When an accident does happen between any one of those types of vehicles, needless to say the biker doesn’t come out of it very well,” explained Robert W. Lee of the Lee Law Firm in Austin, Texas. Five hundred pounds just doesn’t hold its own against something over 6 times or more its weight.
Taking a quick look at motorcycle statistics will bring some startling revelations. For instance, in 2007 motorbike fatalities clocked in at 13% of the total number of deaths on the roads with the bikers being mostly in the age ranges between 20 to 29 years old. Inexperience played a large part in these accidents, but so did weather conditions, road conditions, and the errors of passenger vehicles. Add to this the startling revelation that about a quarter of those who died in motorcycle accidents had an invalid license.
The most interesting fact is that it isn’t always the biker that is at fault in a collision. “Accident statistics also show that many of these ‘biker meets car’ crashes are the result of something the passenger vehicle did, such as swerve into the side of the bike, turn in front of it or cut in too soon after passing. If the accident is the result of someone else’s negligence, the biker, if they survive, may be eligible to recover damages for serious personal injuries as a result of the crash,” said Lee.
“In most instances, an accident of this kind will drastically alter the lifestyle of a surviving rider, making living a normal life a difficult task. There will be extraordinary bills, medical expenses, rehabilitation expenses, medications, alterations to their home to enable them to continue living there, and lost wages; not to mention pain and suffering,” outlined Robert W. Lee of the Lee Law Firm in Austin, Texas.
If faced with consequences like this as a result of an accident, it’s wise to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who will fight to ensure a just reward for the damages.
To learn more, visit Rwleelaw.com.
