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MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

Nevada Motorcycle Accident Attorney | Arizona Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Statistics on Motorcycle Accidents

The United States is a nation on the move. From the cars that Americans rely on in their daily lives to the trucks that transport goods, motor vehicles are intricately woven in the fabric of society. Unfortunately, this reliance comes at a cost. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 40,990 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023, with tens of thousands more suffering injuries. But it’s not just auto accidents you have to worry about in Nevada; Motorcycle accidents are equally concerning and can occur at any time.

While motorcycle enthusiasts and experienced riders may understand the safety issues and conditions that increase the likelihood of an accident, they are not immune to injuries. Many situations can make the roads more dangerous for motorcycle riders, but some of the more significant ones include:

  • Road Hazards
  • Bad Weather
  • Excessive Speed
  • Lack of Experience
  • Distracted Drivers
  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Common Motorcyclist Injuries

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No one expects to be injured in a vehicle accident, but it happens. Motorcycle-related injuries can profoundly impact your life and your loved ones. Motorcyclists lack the protection provided by a car, making bikers 29 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die and four times more likely to suffer injury. This serious trauma is likely to involve:

Brain injuries: Helmets offer some protection, but head injuries are the most common type of injury.

Road rash: Abrasions from skin contact with the road during a crash.

Spinal cord injuries: Risk of severe damage from collisions or being thrown from the motorcycle.

Leg injuries: Legs often hit the ground first in a motorcycle crash, leaving the legs to bear the brunt of the impact.

Fractured bones: There is a high likelihood of broken bones in hands, feet, limbs, and back when motorcyclists lay down their bikes or are thrown from them.

Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident

If you are involved in a motorcycle crash, here’s what to do:

  1. Don’t apologize or accept blame: This could affect your compensation claim.
  2. Remain at the scene: Fleeing can negatively impact your case.
  3. Call 911: Contact authorities for serious accidents, this is required. Collect evidence: Take photos and videos of the crash site.
  4. Contact an attorney: A trusted Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorney can guide you.

Nevada has a statute of limitations of two years for most motorcycle accident lawsuits, so timely action is crucial. In some cases, different time frames may apply, such as when the victim is a child. A personal injury attorney, with a proven track record, can protect your rights and fight to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property losses, loss of future income, and pain and suffering.

At Lloyd Baker Injury Attorneys, we specialize in personal injury law. From our offices in Las Vegas and Phoenix, we serve clients who are residents of or were injured in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Our experienced attorneys fight for fair compensation, having secured over $117 million in settlements and verdicts. We listen to each client’s unique needs and are committed to achieving the best possible outcomes.

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

Nevada requires all riders and passengers to wear a helmet, no matter their age or experience. Arizona only requires a helmet for riders under eighteen, so adult riders there have a choice. Not wearing a helmet where it is optional will not automatically wreck your claim, but an insurance company may try to use it to argue your injuries were worse than they otherwise would have been.

In most cases, yes. Not wearing a helmet does not erase the other driver's responsibility for causing the crash. It can become a factor in how much you recover if the defense argues your head or facial injuries would have been less severe with a helmet, but it rarely eliminates a claim outright.

No, lane splitting, riding between lanes of stopped or slow traffic, is illegal in both Nevada and Arizona. If you were lane splitting at the time of a crash, it does not automatically mean you were at fault, but it is something the insurance company will look at closely when deciding how to handle the claim. You can read more about this and other common causes of motorcycle accidents on our blog.

Insurers know that juries and adjusters sometimes carry an unfair bias against riders, assuming they were being reckless just because they were on a motorcycle. Because of that, motorcycle claims often get more pushback and lower initial offers than a comparable car accident claim, even when the rider did nothing wrong.

Potholes, debris, and poor road maintenance can absolutely cause a motorcycle crash, and depending on who was responsible for maintaining that stretch of road, a government agency or contractor may share liability. These cases can be more complicated than a typical two driver crash, so it helps to have the scene documented as thoroughly as possible. Road hazards are one of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents, and you can find more prevention tips in our guide to avoiding the top causes of motorcycle crashes.

Modifications by themselves usually do not affect liability for the crash itself. They can come up if the insurance company tries to argue a modification contributed to your injuries or to the severity of the crash, so it is worth being upfront with your attorney about any changes made to the bike.

If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, that policy may step in to cover your losses. Whether that coverage applies to a motorcycle the same way it applies to a car depends on your specific policy, which is one more reason it helps to have someone review your coverage early on rather than assuming you are out of options.

Motorcycle injuries tend to be more severe on average, so medical costs, future care needs, and pain and suffering often make up a larger share of the claim than they would in a typical car accident case. Bike repair or replacement costs are also handled differently than vehicle repairs, since salvage value and parts availability can vary a lot by make and model.