An open road is a dangerous place. At any given moment, there are 218 million cars, large trucks, and motorcycles traveling on the road, according to IHS Automotive. These drivers commute to and from work, transport goods, and take vacations.
Unfortunately, all of these drivers on the road means a greater chance of getting into an accident. In one recent year, 6.4 million accidents occurred in the United States, resulting in injury, property damage, or death.
If you ride a motorcycle or drive a car, these accidents can completely upend your life. While there are some similarities between car and motorcycle accidents, there are significant differences. Motorcyclists often suffer more severe injuries due to the lack of protection. They also face unfair biases when trying to collect compensation.
For these reasons, injured bikers need to contact a law firm that understands the difference between motorcycle accidents vs. car accidents in Arkansas. They need a skilled motorcycle accident lawyer with experience representing injured motorcyclists who know what they’re up against.
One of the main ways motorcycle accidents differ from car accidents in Arkansas is in injury severity. Motorcyclists suffer serious and often fatal injuries in crashes due to the lack of protection.
Today’s cars contain various safety features designed to reduce the number of fatalities on the road. Newer cars have anti-lock brakes, extensive airbag systems, seatbelts, electronic stability control, tire pressure monitors, and collision warning systems. They have backup and side-view cameras; many even come with pedestrian detection systems.
On the other hand, motorcycles do not have many safety features. No seatbelts or airbags, or steel cage keep you safe from harm. Instead, motorcyclists must rely on helmets and protective riding suits.
Because motorcycles offer very little protection in the event of an accident, riders are much more likely to suffer broken bones, road rash, and other serious injuries than people in cars. These more serious injuries can lead to higher medical bills and longer recovery times, which can significantly impact your case.
Insurance companies also treat motorcycle accident claims differently than car accident claims. Many insurance adjusters have internal biases against motorcyclists. They may see them as reckless or daredevils and try to reduce their compensation by claiming that the biker contributed to the accident.
In addition, since motorcycle accident injuries are often more severe and life-threatening, many adjusters try to offer quick lowball settlements to injured bikers. They hope this lowball settlement will get accepted because they know the long-term issues the motorcyclist may face. They don’t want injured motorcyclists to realize how long their recovery might take.
For these reasons, negotiating a fair motorcycle claim can be complicated and requires an experienced law firm with the skills and resources necessary to tackle them.
Another difference between Arkansas motorcycle and car accidents is how they happen. Car accidents are usually the result of one driver being distracted or failing to follow the rules of the road.
Many motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers, not by motorcyclists themselves. This is because other drivers often fail to see motorcyclists on the road, which can cause drivers to pull out in front of them or rear-end them at traffic lights.
One of the main ways motorcycle accidents differ from car accidents is in the damage done. Often, a motorcycle will be totaled in an accident, while a car will only sustain cosmetic damage. This is because motorcycles are much smaller and lighter than cars, so they don’t stand up as well in a collision.
This difference in damage can impact your case in two ways. First, it means that you may not be able to ride your bike again after the accident, which can significantly impact your life if you rely on your bike for transportation or pleasure. Second, it means that repairing or replacing your motorcycle is likely to be much more expensive than fixing a car would be.
The differences between Arkansas motorcycle and car wrecks can also be seen in their statistics.
Unlike car accidents, motorcycle accidents are often caused by other drivers failing to recognize the motorcyclist on the road. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents include:
Motorcyclists cannot avoid every accident, even when they follow all the rules of the road. However, there are some ways a motorcyclist can reduce the risk of getting into a serious accident.
One of the best ways to prevent injury is to wear a DOT-approved motorcycle helmet. In states without universal helmet laws, 57% of motorcyclists killed in accidents were not wearing a helmet at the time of a crash. In states with universal helmet laws, just 8% of motorcyclists killed were not wearing a helmet. The NHTSA estimates that 1,872 motorcyclists would still be alive in 2017 had they worn helmets.
In addition to wearing a DOT-approved helmet at all times, motorcycle clothes and safety gear can also help avoid serious injury.
Motorcyclists suffer much more severe injuries than car drivers and occupants in Arkansas. The human body cannot withstand the brutal forces of a car accident or motorcycle crash. When a motorcyclist is involved in a car accident, they are often thrown from their bikes into other objects, vehicles, and oncoming traffic.
Statistics show that motorcyclists have a 98% chance of suffering an injury when they get into an accident. They’re also 26x more likely to die in an accident than passenger vehicle occupants and are 5x more likely to be hurt.
Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries include
At Rainwater, Holt & Sexton, our motorcycle accident lawyers know that motorcyclists need a different level of legal representation. Our attorneys realize that every aspect of the legal process changes when a motorcyclist gets injured—investigating, gathering evidence, and negotiating a fair settlement become more complex.
If you or someone you love suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident, you need a trusted personal injury law firm on your side from the beginning.
With offices throughout Arkansas—Little Rock, Springdale, Conway, Hot Springs, Bryant, Jacksonville, and Jonesboro—our motorcycle accident lawyers are easily accessible from the moment you need us. Contact us at Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Injury Lawyers today.
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