As personal injury lawyers who have handled hundreds of car accidents, we’ve seen many kinds of accidents repeat themselves. One common accident we’ve seen time and again is when a car turns left directly in front of a bike or motorcycle, cutting them off and causing an accident. In fact, we’ve even seen documentation in motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson’s owner’s manual about this occurrence. In the manual, it mentions that this is one of the most common types of accidents for motorcyclists and that the driver of the car usually doesn’t even notice the motorcycle rider. For some strange reason, many drivers forget that they should not only be looking for other oncoming cars and trucks, but also bikes and motorcycles, too.
In many of these cases, the driver of the car will typically claim that the motorcyclist was speeding or that a bicyclist came out of nowhere and should have been paying more attention. They will try to blame the victim of the accident simply because, in their mind, they were following the law and it must have been the other motorcycle or bike rider who was at fault.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a similar train of thought with many people, including those who sit on juries. There is an undeniable bias when it comes to personal injury cases involving motorcycles or bicycles. Why? We don’t really know for sure. As you know, driving a motorcycle or riding a bike are perfectly legal activities – and someone should not be punished for engaging in a perfectly legal activity, especially when they are injured due to someone else’s negligence. So, we can only guess that many people probably don’t ride a motorcycle or haven’t ridden a bike since childhood. They may view motorcycle drivers and bicycle riders less favorably than the driver of a car or truck.
As a result of this bias, it is critically important that victims don’t just assume justice will be done simply because they are the victim. Insurance companies are especially aggressive when it comes to defending motorcycle and bicycle accident cases. That’s why in these kinds of personal injury claims, every “i” must be dotted and every “t” must be crossed. Personal injury cases involving bikes and motorcycles must be properly worked up and vital evidence must be gathered efficiently and correctly. In short, everything must be done to prevent the at fault driver from getting away with the injuries and damages they caused. Here at Breyer Law Offices, we work hard to ensure that drivers are held accountable for not paying attention or breaking the law and causing injuries to an innocent motorcyclist or bicycle rider.
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle or bicycle accident and you’re looking for answers, please contact us today. We are always available to answer your questions about a possible personal injury claim. We’ve represented thousands of clients and we understand that dealing with a lawyer and a possible lawsuit can seem intimidating and daunting. But rest assured that we will do everything possible to answer your questions and provide the guidance and advice you need so you can make the best decision for you and your family. Contact us today for more information and to schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation.