People often think that people who ride motorcycles are reckless, willing to take risks, and don't follow traffic laws. This idea is not true, and many statistics show that most motorcycle accidents are not the rider's fault but are instead the fault of another driver.
A large study done by the University of Southern California (USC) found that about three-quarters of motorcycle accidents involved a crash with another vehicle, usually a passenger car. It was also found that in two-thirds of the accidents with more than one car, the other car's driver ignored the motorcycle's right-of-way and caused the accident. Also, the USC study found that most motorcycle accidents happen because drivers don't see and pay attention to motorcycles in traffic. The driver of the other car that crashed into the motorcycle either didn't see the motorcycle before the crash or didn't see it in time to stop the crash.
These results show that motorcycle riders have gotten an unfairly bad name from both the general public and insurance companies that cover them. Because motorcycles are so small, they are more likely to get into accidents with other cars. Most passenger cars have a blind spot where a motorcycle can easily fit. The truth is that most people who ride motorcycles are good drivers who watch out for cars that don't see them. Even though drivers are aware of other drivers, accidents still happen.
When these kinds of accidents happen, the insurance company of the driver who is at fault will do everything it can to keep the motorcycle rider from getting the money he or she deserves. As a way to save money, insurance companies will often push the person who was hurt to make a quick settlement. Most people aren't insurance experts, so they don't know if their insurance company is giving them a bad deal or not. When a check is put in front of someone, it can be hard to resist signing it.
Most of the time, it's a mistake to take the first offer from an insurance company. Sometimes the other driver's insurance company will try to get out of paying for the accident and the injuries it caused. They often try to make it look like the biker was to blame for the accident. Since motorcyclists have a bad reputation for not being careful, it's not hard to persuade a jury of this.
This is why it is so important to have an experienced and qualified lawyer on your side if you are hurt in a motorcycle accident. A good lawyer will help make sure that you get the settlement you deserve, which will pay for both your medical bills and the damage to your motorcycle. If you don't have a lawyer to defend you, it will cost you more than just money. It will also give you a lot of headaches and hurt your heart. Trying to fight an insurance company on your own while you're also hurting physically can be a lot to handle.
In the event of an accident, only a trained lawyer will be on your side. Your lawyer only works for you. The insurance company is in business to make money for its shareholders, so it will do everything it can to keep you from getting the money you deserve.
