Ohio seems to be popular amongst bikers, with a total of 388,108 registered motorcycles in our beautiful state. However, the number of motorcycle accidents occurring in our state has also been on the rise, with over a thousand collisions being reported by the Ohio State Highway Patrol each year. From those, 160 motorcyclist fatalities occurred in 2019 alone.
Although riding can be a joy for all bikers, accidents almost seem inevitable if we go by the statistics. Considering the structural makeup of motorcycles, they certainly leave their riders more vulnerable to road accidents than the occupants of passenger vehicles. When you are riding a motorcycle, take the utmost care of yourself while you are on the road, and be prepared to face the worst, lest you are indeed met with an accident.
Roads are unpredictable, and so are the accidents that occur on them. However, there are several types of motorcycle accidents that are fairly more common than others. These include:
If you are lucky enough to not collide with a larger vehicle or stationary body, then you might sustain light to severe injuries from a motorcycle accident. Common types of injuries include:
These injuries may later develop into severe cases that result in amputations, disabilities, and paralysis. Besides having physical consequences, accidents may also result in psychological trauma and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which may leave the victim’s entire life in shambles.
In the event of a motorcycle accident in which you suffer significant injuries and had no active fault in causing the accident, you are designated to receive compensation, either from the perpetrator of the accident or from your insurance company, based on the degree of severity of your injuries. In either case, though, the other party will try to get away with paying you a minuscule amount.
You should be wary of such attempts and allow your lawyer to handle such out-of-court negotiations. If need be, the matter should proceed to court to get you the compensation you deserve.
Informing the authorities and getting your injuries treated by a healthcare professional are your very first responsibilities if you ever get into a motorcycle accident. If you find the need to, it is always a good idea to hire an attorney to guide and advise you from the initial phases of the case so that you do not end up missing out on any steps.
If you choose to not hire a lawyer early on in your case, make sure that you at least collect enough documented evidence for your case. This involves pictures of your injuries as well as the accident scene. Also gather up enough information about the other vehicle(s) involved in the accident, including its license plate and insurance number, the name of its owner, and its make and model.
Handling an accident lawsuit without the help of a motorcycle crash lawyer can feel extremely complex and unnecessarily time-consuming, especially due to the nature of the laws that Ohio follows. If you or someone you know in Greenville, Ohio have gotten into a motorcycle accident, we here at Kruger & Hodges are here to help. Please reach out to our team of personal injury attorneys to schedule a free, no-risk consultation with us today. Call 937-733-6079.