Motorcycles offer many people an exciting and economical way to travel. Many riders choose this mode of transportation as a way to save money or to obtain a shot of adrenaline. Even though riding a motorcycle is an inherently dangerous activity, this does not mean that you cannot collect compensation following a collision. In fact, the laws in West Virginia assert that drivers who are at fault for an accident are liable to pay monetary damages for all of your losses. This analysis does not care about your mode of transportation; it is only concerned with the actions of those involved. As a result, as a motorcyclist, you have the same ability to seek damages as those in full-size cars or those on foot.
A Wheeling motorcycle accident lawyer at Bordas & Bordas could help you understand and protect your rights. Our proactive injury attorneys could also help gather evidence that points toward the defendant’s negligence and use that evidence to seek appropriate compensation during settlement talks or at trial.
It is impossible to understate the effects that a motorcycle crash can have on you. As a motorcyclist, you are already in a vulnerable position being in the open air, often with little more than a helmet or a padded jacket for protection. Any collision with another object could throw you from the saddle and result in a harsh landing on pavement. When these events occur on prominent roads in the area where you may be moving at high speed—such as I-70, I-470, or Route 250—the resulting injuries might be life-threatening.
The most common source of these accidents is contact with another vehicle. A driver who is tailgating, who does not check blind spots before changing lanes, or who ignores a red light or stop sign may come into direct contact with you. Even in cases where direct contact does not occur, if you make a sudden turn or braking maneuver to avoid a collision, you could hit a curb, a parked car, or a building.
The physical damages associated with these wrecks will vary. You may be lucky and escape with some cuts and scrapes. However, motorcycle crashes tend to result in serious injuries that can include broken bones, separated joints, and brain injuries. A seasoned Wheeling motorcycle collision attorney could investigate the causes of a wreck and help you measure the full extent of your losses to pursue fair recovery.
No matter how severe your injuries may be, you are powerless to collect reimbursement if you cannot prove that the defendant driver is liable. Normally, this means proving that a defendant was negligent and that this negligence caused the accident.
All drivers assume a duty to keep other people safe while on the road. This extends to motorcyclists as well as the drivers of full-size cars. The most difficult part of most motorcycle accident claims is acquiring evidence that proves a defendant to be the negligent party. One of the determined motorcyclist injury attorneys at our firm in Wheeling could take the lead in gathering a police report, witness statements, and accident reconstruction data to place blame on another motorist.
Time is of the essence, as West Virginia Code § 55-2-12 gives most riders only two years from the date of a crash to file a legal claim. Talking with a lawyer now allows us to begin providing the support needed to build you a powerful case.
Motorcycle wrecks are always a traumatic experience. You may suffer from intense physical injuries that require weeks or months of rehabilitation. At the same time, you may be losing income from being left unable to work and emotional trauma from flashbacks or PTSD.
A driver who is at fault for these collisions, or their insurance company, must pay for your losses. This includes covering the damage to your bike, your medical bills, and reductions in your quality of life.
A Wheeling motorcycle accident lawyer at Bordas & Bordas may be able to help you prove your claim. They can stand by your side to gather vital evidence, represent your interests before aggressive insurance companies, and even take the case to court, if it is necessary, to obtain the compensation that you deserve. Start the process by giving us a call to set up your free consultation today.
