Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Westfield, New Jersey
Riding a motorcycle is an exhilarating experience that offers an array of adventures you can’t get anywhere else. The experience, however, involves risks and even the slightest accident can result in a fatal injury. As a motorcycle enthusiast, even if you wear a helmet, you are exposed to the elements and roadway hazards. An accident involving a motor vehicle can prove to have lethal consequences for any motorcycle rider.
After a Motorcycle Accident in New Jersey, Hire Qualified Legal Support
When you are involved in a motorcycle accident, even a minor one, the consequences can have a devastating effect on your life. Many motorcycle victims report having injuries that result in long-term pain and suffering. In addition, to the effect these injuries can have on your quality of life, the health care these injuries require can cause you and your family serious financial distress.
Motorcycle accident victims in the State of New Jersey have the opportunity to seek financial restitution when the accident was caused as a result of another’s negligence. Speak to a qualified personal injury attorney who has experience in motorcycle accident lawsuits in New Jersey shortly after your accident.
The attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC have extensive experience in the field of motorcycle accident claims in New Jersey. The firm works diligently to gather the information and evidence necessary to build a strong case. Moreover, the firm vigorously defends the rights of their clients in order to help them obtain the compensation they truly deserve. Contact the support of a well-versed motorcycle accident law firm today.
Recent Motorcycle Accidents Reports
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration provides statistics regarding motorcycle accidents on an annual basis. The following is some of the most recent information the agency has reported:
- Data indicates that in 2017, the most destructive event for about 3,000 of the 5,326 motorcycles that were involved in accidents involved impact with vehicles in transport.
- According to the data, motorcycles were more likely to suffer collisions with a fixed object than other automobile types.
- In 2017, there were approximately 2,600 two-vehicle deadly collisions involving a motorcycle and other type of automobile.
- The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration considers collisions as speeding-related when the vehicle operator was cited for a speeding offence or investigations concluded there was speeding involved in the accident. According to the agency, about 32% of the fatal collisions in 2017 were the result of riders who were speeding.
- In 2017, 4,885 motorcycle riders were killed in a traffic accident.
Serious Injuries Caused By Motorcycle Accidents in New Jersey
As a motorcycle rider, you are traveling with a complete vulnerability to roadway hazards and accidents because you do not have the protection that passenger vehicles typically have. One of the greatest protections not offered to riders is that of seat-belts. If you are involved in a high-speed accident, it is highly likely that you can be thrown off the motorcycle and in some cases, into oncoming traffic. Typically, riders who are involved in these types of accidents and are lucky in avoiding fatal injuries will still endure serious injuries. The following are some of the most common injuries a motorcyclist can endure in a collision:
Head Injuries – Nearly every single motorcyclist will use a helmet when riding but even a certified helmet will do little to prevent a serious brain injury upon collision. Head injuries can range from minor scrapes to severe brain damage and concussions. When a motorcyclist suffers an intense blow, the result can be a cracked skull, which is likely to be fatal.
The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration has reported that in 2016, helmets saved the lives of over 1,800 motorcycle riders. This figure could have been higher had riders been wearing this protective shield. It is important to note that not all motorcycle helmets are the same. If the helmet does not meet the standards provided by the Department of Transportation, the helmet will likely do little to prevent a catastrophic head injury.
Road Rash – This type of injury can happen when a motorcycle rider is thrown off the bike and slides across the road following an accident. When pavement or concrete rubs against the rider’s skin as he or she skids across the road, this can create severe burns. Even when a rider is wearing jeans or other protective material, the concrete can cut through the clothes and reach the skin. These injuries often lead to permanent skin damage such as skin irritations, nerve damage, and infection.
Muscle Injury – Whether the motorcycle accident was minor or serious, muscle injury can occur at any place of a person’s body. When riding a motorcycle, it is important to protect areas often disregarded, which can include eardrums.
Product Design or Manufacturing Defects in Motorcycle Accidents in New Jersey
Motorcycle riders often have a bad reputation for driving recklessly and this can affect your case. If you suffered an accident, you should know that there might be third parties who could be held accountable for your injuries and as a rider, you do not have to accept blame if you were not responsible.
Under product liability laws, all parties involved in the chain of a product’s manufacturing could be held accountable for the damages caused by the product. Contingent on the facts of the case and the type of defect, responsible parties could involve the motorcycle designer, parts manufacturer, supplier, distributors, and even the automobile dealership who sold the motorcycle.
Products liability claims are complex but a successful case can provide the injured rider the financial compensation he or she needs to recover. When the product has failed to meet the expectations of the consumer and ultimately caused him or her injuries, it could be possible to pursue a products liability lawsuit.
Seek Medical Attention After a New Jersey Motorcycle Accident
If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, the first action you should take is getting medical care for the injuries. Many motorcyclists will fail to recognize serious injuries at the moment of impact and unfortunately, this can severely affect a personal injury claim. Treating the injuries with a medical care provider will establish a medical record, which is an essential part of a successful personal injury lawsuit.
Obtain the Financial Restitution You Need to Recover – Contact the Legal Support of a Skilled New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Attorney
When riding a motorcycle, there is an extremely small margin for error. Even if you are safest, most contentious rider on the road, you cannot control the environmental conditions, the road conditions or the actions of other motorists around you. Unfortunately, when individuals are involved in motorcycle accidents, the result is usually significant injuries, scarring and sometimes death. To make matters worse, most motorcycle insurance policies do not contain a provision for the payment of medical expenses. Consequently, many injured riders are left in serious conditions, out of work and without a means to pay their medical bills.
The attorneys at Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC have many years of dedicated experience assisting motorcycle accident victims recover financially following an accident caused by a negligent party. If you or a loved one is involved in an accident as a result of riding on a motorcycle, please call us at (908) 264-7228 for a free consultation to discuss your rights and legal recourse. We can help you to get the treatment you need and the compensation that you deserve.
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We take on the insurance companies so you can focus on getting better – Smith & Williams Law Firm, LLC