Plainfield Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Most motorcycle crashes occur because of driver negligence. Motorists who fail to follow traffic and safety rules may cause avoidable collisions. When someone else’s reckless behavior causes you harm, you have the right to take legal action to hold them financially responsible.
A Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm can help identify the cause of the accident, which may include a driver neglecting to yield, turning in front of you, or cutting you off after failing to check their blind spots. Our personal injury attorneys can outline your legal options and help you file a claim.
Typical Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Some of the typical causes of motorcycle crashes include:
- Motorists changing lanes without checking their blind spots
- Drivers failing to yield the right-of-way at intersections
- Motorists making left turns at intersections and misjudging the speed the biker is traveling or failing to see them altogether
- Roadway or infrastructure hazards, such as potholes or debris in the roadways
- Cars following motorcycles too closely
- Dooring, which occurs when someone in a vehicle opens their door into the path of a motorcyclist
Our Plainfield attorneys can review the specifics of your motorbike crash to determine the cause and gather evidence that proves fault.
Bikers Are at Risk of Severe Harm
Motorcyclists have nothing surrounding them, and motorbikes don’t have safety devices such as steel cages, seat belts, or airbags. In crashes with other road users, bikers are, therefore, at much higher risk of sustaining severe and catastrophic injuries than those in enclosed vehicles. They are at a dramatically higher risk of life-threatening injuries or death.
The much smaller size of bikes also increases the risk because other drivers often fail to spot them before maneuvering. Even low-speed collisions could result in ejection, causing the rider to slide across the asphalt and suffer severe road rash. More serious injuries include back and spinal cord injuries, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries.
What Are the Insurance and Personal Injury Laws?
State insurance laws operate under a no-fault system. According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, no-fault insurance means your own auto insurance policy and Personal Injury Protection, PIP, covers your medical care after crashes, regardless of fault. All motorists in the state with registered vehicles must carry the minimum liability, PIP, and uninsured motorist coverage.
If your policy does not cover everything, you may file a claim in civil court. Civil laws allow you to sue for medical bills, including current and ongoing health-related services, lost pay, pain and suffering, and other damages. The personal injury statute of limitations requires that you commence legal action within two years of the incident.
Shared Liability
State personal injury laws generally follow a modified comparative negligence system for cases involving shared liability. If your share of fault is less than 50 percent, you can collect payment from the responsible party for their percentage of blame. However, if the civil court determines that your share of liability is over 50 percent, it will bar you from recovering a settlement.
If you suffered harm in a motorbike collision, our Plainfield attorneys can handle communications with insurers to negotiate a fair amount and then, if necessary, guide you through the civil court process. We will conduct an extensive investigation and analysis, gathering crucial evidence that demonstrates the liable party’s total percentage of fault.
Contact a Plainfield Attorney To Discuss Your Motorbike Crash
If another driver’s recklessness caused an avoidable collision in which you suffered harm, you have the right to hold them accountable. State laws follow a no-fault insurance system, meaning your policy’s PIP protection covers your immediate medical care, and personal injury laws also allow you to petition the court to initiate legal action to recover damages from the liable party.
A Plainfield motorcycle accident lawyer from our firm will fight to ensure you don’t have to cover the costs of someone else’s thoughtless actions. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and learn more.
