Article Summary
- Motorcyclists are more vulnerable to injury in an accident than those in a passenger vehicle
- Motorcycle accidents are on the rise.
- A number of factors are involved in determining motorcycle accident compensation, including liability, the cost of medical treatment and lost wages.
- An experienced motorcycle accident attorney understands Arizona’s helmet law, understands that insurance companies can be biased against motorcyclists and understands what evidence is needed to prove liability.
There are certain times of the year when Arizona is the perfect place to be for people who love riding motorcycles. With the exception of summer, Arizona’s weather offers peak riding opportunities. However, the state also ranks as one of the top five most dangerous states for motorcyclists, according to data released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Safety on the road is a real concern, especially as motorcycle accidents and fatalities have increased in recent years nationwide.
Besides following traffic laws and remaining vigilant while on the road, there are few additional things motorcyclists can do to protect themselves from accidents. The one exception is the choice to wear a helmet, even though Arizona only requires riders to wear one if they are under the age of 18.
Motorcyclists are much more vulnerable to injury in accidents than people riding in passenger vehicles, purely because of the lack of protection that a full vehicle provides. That exposure makes serious injury a greater possibility. And when injuries happen, the topic of compensation becomes relevant.
Motorcycle Accident Compensation
Following a motorcycle accident, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed with questions, process and recovery. It’s a lot for one person to handle, which is why many people choose to work with a motorcycle accident lawyer like Torgenson Law. There are so many variables that go into determining a motorcycle accident settlement and many of those variables are foreign to the average person.
For the experienced attorneys at Torgenson Law, motorcycle injury compensation is part of our everyday vocabulary.
For example, we understand that insurance companies often like to shift blame for an accident to avoid having to make a hefty payout. A natural social bias against motorcyclists, seen traditionally as “reckless” or “thrill seekers” or “risk takers,” can be leveraged against individuals as part of an effort to deflect blame.
But a motorcyclist with an experienced legal team on their side would have support in determining and proving liability for the accident, as well as compiling all relevant damages that would need to be covered. The team at Torgenson Law makes sure that every motorcycle accident claim includes witness statements, police reports, dashcam or helmet footage, medical records and any other tangible factors that help illustrate the true dynamics and ensuing fallout of an accident.
In addition, the Torgenson Law team analyzes how compensation may be affected by Arizona’s comparative negligence rule, which allows parties to receive compensation even if they are partly at fault.
With comparative negligence, a motorcyclist who is partly at fault could receive compensation that is reduced by the percentage of fault they’ve been assigned. Maximizing a motorcycle accident claim involves a willingness to negotiate, and even potentially litigate, a case. It requires strong evidence and it involves determining liability even when, and maybe especially when, it is being disputed.
Motorcycle crash damages are unique to each individual who files a claim. That variability makes it tough to pin down an average motorcycle accident settlement. Damages are based on the severity of the crash, the significance of the injuries the rider endured, the cost of treatment after the accident, and lost income because of the accident. In extreme cases, it also looks at the cost of long-term care if the accident caused a permanent disability, and it factors in the emotional toll of pain and suffering.
A motorcycle accident claim is often treated differently by insurers than a car accident claim, and experienced attorneys aim to balance the scales to make sure their clients receive a fair shake.
No one should navigate a motorcycle accident settlement alone. The team at Torgenson Law is here to support you through this process, ensuring your best interests are represented so you can focus on recovery. If you or a loved one have been in a motorcycle accident, reach out to our team today.
No pressure, no upfront costs, just answers from a legal team that takes your recovery personally.
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