Motorcycle Accidents FAQs
What are some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents?
How common are motorcycle accidents?
When there is a motorcycle accident injury or death, who is allowed to sue?
Who can be held responsible in a motorcycle accident?
Is an investigation of my motorcycle accident really that important?
After the accident, how long do I have before I should file a lawsuit?
Is it important to retain an attorney for my motorcycle accident case?
What are some of the most
common causes of motorcycle accidents?
The most common causes are:
- Negligence or carelessness of another driver.
- Unsafe road conditions, such as snow or ice.
- Improper maintenance of roads.
- Defective motorcycle design.
- Faulty repair work on your motorcycle.
How common are motorcycle accidents?
Each year, approximately 2,000 motorcyclists are killed, and
more than 50,000 are injured in traffic accidents.
When there is a motorcycle accident injury or death, who is
allowed to sue?
If any other party is at fault, the operator of a motorcycle
and his/her survivors in a wrongful death case can sue for
damages. Normally, the passenger on a motorcycle can sue the
driver of the motorcycle if he or she is at fault and/or any
other person or entity that is responsible for their
injuries. Any other person injured by a motorcyclist, such
as a pedestrian, can recover damages against the motorcycle
operator and any other responsible party.
Who can be held responsible in a motorcycle accident?
Any person or entity that in any way causes a motorcycle
accident through his or her wrongful conduct will be
considered to be at fault and held responsible for the
injury or death. This includes a wide array of potential
defendants including other vehicle drivers, motorcycle
manufacturers, owners of dangerous private or public
property, repair shops and any other person or entity that
contributed to the accident.
Is an investigation of my motorcycle accident really that
important?
It is not only important, it is critical. Do not assume that
motorcyclists are usually at fault for causing accidents, or
that they are responsible for their own injuries. Contact an
attorney with Chalik & Chalik Law Offices to ensure that a
thorough investigation is performed to establish fault by
other responsible people or entities, and to establish that
the motorcyclist did little or nothing to contribute to the
accident. An investigation should consist of an examination
of the scene, an examination of the instrumentalities that
were involved in the accident, and obtaining statements from
witnesses and the reports from investigating agencies.
After the accident, how long do I have before I should file
a lawsuit?
One year. Occasionally, this time period can be extended if,
for some reason, you were not able to discover your injury
or the negligent cause of your injury for a period of time
after the accident. However, in a serious injury case, a
delayed accrual of the statute of limitations for late
discovery is extraordinarily rare.
Is it important to retain an attorney for my motorcycle
accident case?
Yes, especially if the motorcycle accident has resulted in a
serious injury or death. Without an attorney, there may be
an assumption that the motorcyclist was at fault and
evidence will be gathered by the other side to support that
contention. You need to hire an attorney to perform
investigation and retain the right experts to prove your
case and your injuries. Contact a motorcycle accident lawyer
at Chalik & Chalik Law Offices today to discuss your case.
For
more information, please see our
Motorcycle Accidents
page.
