Cleveland Motorcycle Accident Attorneys
Ohio Motorcycle Accident Claims
Because of the design of motorcycles, bikers are extremely vulnerable when
on the road. If they are involved in an accident, they are more likely
than a passenger in a vehicle to sustain serious injury, and in extreme
cases, death.
Since 2015, over 3,000 motorcycle accidents have happened each year on Ohio roads.
Every year, over 100 of those are fatal collisions, and more than 1,000
are injury-causing. Although bikers may practice defensive riding, sometimes
collisions with negligent or reckless motorists can't be anticipated or
avoided. If you or a loved one was harmed in a motorcycle accident caused
by another person, reach out to
Henderson & Weatherly to discuss your legal options.
At our firm, our Cleveland motorcycle accident attorneys are aware of the
substantial harm that can result from these types of crashes. We also
know that medical treatment for injuries can lead to hefty bills and an
inability to return to life as normal. When you turn to us for legal representation,
we can thoroughly investigate your case, determine liability, and work
toward recovering just compensation on your behalf. We believe that you
shouldn't be stuck with financial burdens that resulted from someone else's
negligence. That is why we will fight relentlessly for you.
To learn about how we can help with your claim or lawsuit, call us at
(216) 220-6776 or
contact us online today. We offer a free initial consultation.
On This Page
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accident claims are sometimes won based on the evidence that
the plaintiff can bring to negotiations and litigation. Oftentimes, the
most useful evidence can be found in the immediate aftermath of the wreck.
For this reason, what you did before leaving the scene of the motorcycle
accident is important.
Let our Cleveland motorcycle accident lawyers know if you took these steps
after the crash:
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Call 911: If someone was seriously injured or the debris could cause other motorists
to crash, you need to call 911. The first responders can render emergency
medical care, take control of the scene, and write accident reports, which
our attorneys can use when building your claim.
-
Exchange information: As with any motor vehicle accident, you must exchange contact and insurance
information with any other involved party after a motorcycle accident.
This information is essential for starting the claim later.
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Take photographs: Insurance defense teams will work tirelessly to defeat any argument that
a plaintiff brings. However, they have a harder time fighting tangible
evidence like photographs. Prepare your case from the start by taking
many photos of the scene right after the crash happened if you can.
-
See a doctor: You should head to the doctor the same day as the accident, assuming you
aren’t taken to the hospital for serious injuries. A doctor can
diagnose your injuries, which could be subtle right now but get worse
soon. A note in your medical record can also show when you suffered your
injuries and how they happened, which is beneficial for your case.
Common Reasons for Motorcycle Accidents in Cleveland
The following are the most common reasons for motorcycle accidents on roads
and freeways.
Lane Splitting
Lane splitting, or lane sharing, happens when a biker drives through two
lanes of stopped or slow-moving vehicles. It usually occurs during traffic
jams. While Ohio doesn’t explicitly outlaw lane splitting, bikers
could be cited for failing to drive in marked lanes or engaging in unsafe
lane changing by law enforcement. So, bikers in Ohio could participate
in lane splitting if they don’t mind risking the citation to get
to their destinations more quickly. The danger in this practice is car
drivers don’t always expect a motorcycle, or anything else for that
matter, to be between their cars and the cars in the next lane. While
they may check for large objects in the rearview mirror, they may not
check again, during which time a biker could have driven into their way
while they changed lanes. Bikers are also in much closer proximity to
cars and have less room to maneuver if they need to get out of the way quickly.
Speeding
Speeding can be dangerous in any vehicle, but it’s particularly deadly
on motorcycles. According to statistics, half of the accidents involving
a single motorcycle are caused by speeding or alcohol use. Motorcycles
can go incredibly fast, particularly those designed for racing, such as
supersport bikes. Their light frames and lack of protection make crashing
a deadly experience for any driver, and the faster you go, the less control
you have over the vehicle you’re driving.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol and driving any vehicle is a poor decision, but it can
lead to severe consequences for bikers in particular. Just as speeding
can result in many crashes, alcohol makes its own contribution. Alcohol
lowers the inhibitions of those who drink it, which means people are more
likely to make poor decisions when driving, such as speeding. Likewise,
it can influence the balance and coordination of the drinker. Because
motorcycles require balance to drive them well and safely, a drunk biker
can often lose that balance and fall over. At high speeds, this could
be disastrous.
Road Hazards
Motorcycles are less able to respond to dangers on the road than cars and
other vehicles. While they are more maneuverable, if the driver doesn’t
have enough time to avoid road hazards, such as potholes, road kill, ice,
or sand, one of the wheels could slip over the hazard and take the driver
down. These accidents are more likely to happen if drivers take blind
corners at high speeds.
Collisions
Around 56% of all motorcycle-related deaths involve crashes of motorcycles
and other vehicles. In many of these accidents, the car strikes the motorcycle
from the front. In only 5% of accidents, the car will hit the bike from
behind. If there is a head-on collision between car and bike, the motorcyclist
will often die as a result. As stated earlier, the fatality is largely
the result of the severe lack of protection a motorcycle offers its driver.
When bikes collide with fixed objects as well, it can lead to deadly results.
Around 25% of motorcyclist deaths involve colliding with fixed objects,
such as walls or trees.
Left-Hand Turns
Cars making left-hand turns account for about 42% of all accidents involving
motorcycles and cars. When the turning car strikes a motorcycle, the bike
is usually going straight through an intersection, passing the car, or
trying to overtake the vehicle. While these types of accidents can also
affect cars, again, the car offers more protection for its occupant than
the motorcycle.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Cleveland
Motorcycle accidents can happen in a variety of ways: A driver might have
been distracted and turned left in front of the biker without seeing them,
an intoxicated driver might have weaved into the biker's lane and hit
them, or a motorist might have collided with a motorcyclist while changing
lanes. Those are just a few of the causes of motorcycle accidents, but
whatever the reason, the rider may suffer serious injury as a result.
Some examples of injuries that may occur in a motorcycle accident include:
-
Head and neck injuries: A helmet can save a rider's life, but they may still suffer an injury,
such as a concussion, when their head makes impact with the asphalt. Additionally,
the sudden jolt of the neck after being hit by a vehicle or falling onto
the ground can cause injury to the spine, ligaments, muscles, and tissue
in that area of the body.
-
Road rash: In some motorcycle accidents, the rider is flung from their bike and skids
across the asphalt. The movement can result in layers of skin being peeled
away. In some cases, it can expose the muscle, tissue, and bone underneath.
-
Arm injuries: When people start falling, their natural tendency is to protect themselves
by extending their arms. Typically, motorcyclists do this when they are
flung from their bikes during an accident. Because of the speed at which
they're traveling, upon impact, they may suffer broken arms, shoulders,
elbows, and/or fingers. Additionally, they may sustain permanent nerve damage.
-
Leg injuries: In a motorcycle crash, the bike might fall on top of the rider, or the
biker may be launched from the vehicle and suffer injuries to their lower
extremities, such as a broken leg or twisted ankle. In some cases, they
might suffer lacerations or torn ligaments.
Often after a motorcycle accident, the rush of adrenaline prevents the
rider from immediately recognizing that they have been injured. Regardless
of how they are feeling right after the crash, it's essential that they
seek medical attention to determine the extent of the harm suffered.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, it's crucial
that you get the medical care you need. Then, reach out to Henderson & Weatherly to get started on your case.
Overview of a Motorcycle Accident Case
Henderson & Weatherly and our Cleveland motorcycle accident
lawyers are here to help you from start to finish. You don’t have
to worry about the complexities and challenges of your claim when we are
leading the way.
In a typical motorcycle accident case, you can expect these steps:
- Investigate the accident to determine liability.
- Calculate the damages owed to you, which could require you to first reach
maximum medical improvement (MMI).
- Send a demand letter to the defendant for the compensation owed to you.
- File a claim in court if the demand letter is not accepted.
- Prepare for court and litigate on your behalf if necessary.
Damages Available in a Motorcycle Accident Claim
We want to secure justice in your name if you were hit while riding. To
make that happen, compensation needs to be secured, too. How much compensation
will set things right, though? The answer depends on the specifics of
your motorcycle accident and the losses it has caused you to suffer.
Compensation in motorcycle accident claims usually takes two forms:
-
Economic: Losses that can be tracked with receipts, bills, paystubs, etc. are economic.
Lost wages and medical bills are the two most common types of economic damages.
-
Non-economic: Losses that are harder to calculate but are just as serious to the plaintiff
are non-economic, such as pain, suffering, and a lowered enjoyment of life.
Motorcycle Accident Statute of Limitations
Ohio uses a
two-year statute of limitations that begins on the “date of action,” which means the date
of the motorcycle accident in your case. You must file a claim before
two years pass, or you can’t file one after. To make sure that your
claim is ready to be filed on time, leave it up to our Cleveland motorcycle
accident attorneys.
Available 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
If you’ve been injured on a motorcycle because of the negligence
or carelessness of another person, don’t hesitate to talk to one
of our Cleveland motorcycle accident attorneys as soon as possible. Our
firm is dedicated to helping the victims of
personal injury seek compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, property damage,
and pain and suffering.
Our Cleveland personal injury team is prepared to deliver the effective
and personalized representation you need. We can work hard at developing
a compelling strategy for your case and protecting your rights.
We are consistently available, responsive, and honest communicators.
Contact us at
(216) 220-6776 to schedule your free consultation with our Cleveland motorcycle accident lawyers.
