The severity of injuries and damages associated with serious motorcycle accident cases is staggering. Many injured victims suffer spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or even wrongful death.
Scottsdale motorcycle riders hurt in accidents caused by other drivers deserve experienced and caring legal representation.
If you or a loved one suffered life-altering injuries, a motorcycle crash attorney from Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm can help you recover compensation that can go toward medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.
Victims of personal injury have the law on their side. Contact us today to see what rights you are afforded under Arizona law. A Scottsdale motorcycle accident lawyer from our law office is ready to help protect your rights and advocate for your recovery.
Do You Need a Motorcycle Accident Attorney?
The goal of a Scottsdale motorcycle accident claim is to recover full and fair financial compensation for your crash-related losses.
By filing a claim with the help of a motorcycle accident attorney, you can request that the at-fault driver’s insurance company repay you for what you lost. The totality of your losses will be calculated through a complicated legal process that your motorcycle accident attorney will handle for you.
Your legal counsel will consider all losses, both economic and non-economic. This often includes:
- Medical bills
- Cost of future medical care
- Lost wages from missed work time
- Lost future income if you aren’t able to return to your previous job
- Property damage to your bike and other valuable items
- Motorcycle repairs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability
- Compensation for family members of a victim of a fatal crash
Just because you deserve fair compensation for these damages doesn’t mean an insurance company will be willing to pay for them. Insurance companies are profit-driven enterprises that build their fortunes on policies that aim to minimize payouts and deny claims whenever possible.
Even if it’s clear that your motorcycle accident happened as a result of other drivers’ negligence, you will need to build a strong claim with plenty of evidence proving your right to financial compensation.
Your Scottsdale motorcycle accident attorney will help you through the legal process and make sure the negligent parties are held responsible.
What Causes Most Motorcycle Crashes in Scottsdale, Arizona?
A motorcycle collision may be caused by one or several contributing factors. But most automobile accidents—including both car accidents and motorcycle collisions—are caused by one thing: driver error. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has stated that as high as 98% of all motor vehicle crashes are caused by human error.
Let’s look more closely at some of the top factors that cause motorcycle accidents in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, and throughout Arizona:
Driver Negligence
This broad term refers to any behavior that violates the duty of care car drivers have to motorcycle riders, occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, and anyone else sharing the roadways.
A motorcycle rider is particularly vulnerable to negligent vehicle driver actions such as:
- Failing to check blind spots
- Turning and changing lanes without signaling
- Unsafe lane changes
- Illegal turns
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Drunk driving
- Texting and driving or other forms of distracted driving
Left-Hand Turns
Motorcycle accidents frequently happen at intersections when a car driver is turning left. Drivers often look for other cars while turning, but neglect to look for smaller, less-visible motorcycles. If the car driver doesn’t see the motorcycle driver, the bike can easily be struck by the larger passenger vehicle.
Reckless Driving
Arizona traffic laws remind car drivers to:
“Be courteous and remember that motorcycles and cars have the same right to be on the road.”
However, not every driver of a passenger vehicle follows this guidance. In Scottsdale, AZ and throughout the state, reckless driving that endangers the lives of motorcyclists is prevalent.
Motorcycle drivers are already at greater risk of injury than occupants of enclosed passenger cars. Drivers of cars and other vehicles need to keep the safety of motorcyclists in mind every time they get behind the wheel.
Defective Motorcycle Parts
Malfunctioning motorcycle parts can also cause accidents. If the rider cannot brake, steer, or otherwise operate their bike properly, a crash is likely. When manufacturing negligence causes a motorcycle rider to lose control of their vehicle and crash, a Scottsdale motorcycle accident lawyer can hold the manufacturing company accountable for selling a defective product.
Other Potential Causes of a Scottsdale, AZ Motorcycle Accident
In addition to the more common accident causes detailed above, there are other factors that may play a role in a collision. These may involve:
- Road hazards like potholes, loose gravel, and open bridge joints
- Poorly-designed roadways
- Adverse weather conditions
- Rider inexperience
- Lane splitting
Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Will Determine the Cause of Your Crash
Investigating the cause of a motorcycle accident is a serious endeavor. When you’re recovering from injuries, it may not be possible for you to track down police reports, traffic camera footage, medical records, proof of road hazards, and other sources of evidence.
Our lawyers will launch a thorough investigation to examine every detail of the crash. We’ll find out who is responsible and make sure you get justice. We’ll discuss the details of your accident during your free consultation and begin investigations from there.
What Injuries Are Common in Arizona Motorcycle Accidents?
A motorcycle doesn’t offer the same safety features a car provides. Most motorcycle accident injuries are, therefore, quite severe, requiring extensive medical care.
While helmets provide some protection, the impact of a collision can cause serious injuries to the head, spine, and limbs. Broken bones, head trauma, organ damage, facial disfigurement, and lacerations are all major concerns to motorcycle riders involved in an accident. Road rash is also common among injured motorcyclists.
Handling Permanent Disabilities
Even motorcycle accident injuries that are considered minor or moderate will likely require continued medical treatment. This may consume weeks to months of medication and therapy. When you’re unable to work and deal with bills, living expenses, and the financial dependency of others, your motorcycle accident can quickly escalate into a highly stressful life situation.
If any of your injuries are permanent, your life will be forever changed. These consequences can prevent you from being able to return to your job, even after you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). You may need to move or make renovations to your home to make it more accessible for you. Your motorcycle accident may prevent you from ever riding or doing many of the things you enjoy again.
Our attorneys understand that injured victims of motorcycle accidents face a long uphill battle to recovery.
Legal Help for Arizona Families After a Fatal Motorcycle Crash
Motorcycle accidents that claim the lives of victims leave surviving family members with debilitating emotional and financial injuries. If your loved one suffered a wrongful death in a motorcycle accident caused by the driver of another vehicle, you may be qualified under Arizona law to file a claim on their behalf.
This legal action allows families to recover the costs of funeral and burial services, medical care preceding death, loss of supporting income, and other damages. It is an important step for many who lost someone close to them in accidents caused by a negligent driver.
Despite the incredible challenges of losing a loved one, a motorcycle accident lawyer will do everything in their power to give your family the best future possible.
Speak With an Experienced Scottsdale Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
Motorcycles pose a risk. Every rider knows the hazards associated with riding. But when you are injured because another vehicle’s driver acted negligently, it is not your responsibility to take on the consequences.
The attorneys of Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm stand up for those injured in preventable Scottsdale motorcycle accidents.
To get started on your case, reach out to a Scottsdale, AZ motorcycle accident lawyer. We’re ready to go over the best way for you to reach recovery. Learn more by requesting your free consultation today.
