Helping Injured Riders Obtain the Fair Compensation and Justice They Deserve
If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident, you may be dealing with serious injuries and concerned about how you will support yourself and your family. Although a rider may suffer minor injuries that heal quickly, many motorcyclists suffer devastating injuries that can take weeks or months to heal. In other instances, injured bikers may suffer catastrophic injuries that leave them permanently disabled.
All too often, insurance companies are quick to blame motorcyclists for causing accidents in an attempt to deny large claims. Delays or denied claims can result in injured motorcyclists and their families suffering financial hardships.
For these reasons, anyone who has suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident must hire an experienced attorney who will fight to protect their rights. Our skilled Fayetteville motorcycle accident attorneys have extensive experience helping personal injury victims and would be honored to provide you with legal representation.
Contact O’Malley Tunstall PC at our Fayetteville, NC, law offices to schedule a free initial consultation so that we may evaluate your case and determine what legal options may suit your needs.
Is Distracted Driving the Main Cause of Motorcycle Accidents?
A contributing factor to the increasing number of motorcycle accidents is distracted driving. Unfortunately, in our modern age, many other drivers are paying more attention to their cell phones than the road. Drivers are also distracted by their car’s navigation, entertainment system, or passengers.
However, according to accident reports, most motorcycle accidents and fatalities occur when cars make left turns in front of motorcyclists at intersections. A car turning right at an intersection does not have to cross oncoming traffic to negotiate the turn. However, a dangerous situation for motorcyclists occurs when they are making a left turn as they must guard against oncoming traffic and be watchful that cars are not trying to pass them on the left in the other lane. Sadly, many motorcyclists sustain severe injuries because automobile drivers fail to notice them.
Finally, several other factors frequently lead to motorcycle accidents, which include:
- Speeding/reckless driving
- Impaired driving
- Adverse weather conditions
- Poor road conditions, including potholes and oil spills.
- Drivers fail to check blind spots when attempting to change lanes.
- Drivers opening doors in front of unsuspecting motorcyclists.
- Following too closely.
If you would like to learn more about the leading causes of motorcycle accidents, contact our law firm to schedule an appointment with a Fayetteville motorcycle accident attorney who can answer your questions.
What Types of Injuries are Typically Sustained in Motorcycle Accidents?
Unfortunately, motorcyclists do not enjoy the same protections as those who travel in enclosed vehicles, which can lead to them suffering severe injuries. Safety devices in cars and trucks, such as seat belts and airbags, help to provide an extra layer of protection not offered to motorcyclists. Even if motorcycle riders are wearing a helmet and other protective gear, they may still suffer extensive injuries.
Some of the types of motorcycle accident injuries include:
Frequently Reported Injuries
Some of the most frequently reported motorcycle accident injuries include
- Head, neck, and back injuries.
- Lower extremity injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Facial trauma
- Road rash
- Cuts, bruises, and lacerations
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- PTSD
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, be sure to seek medical attention immediately to protect your health and ability to file a personal injury claim.
Catastrophic Injuries
In some instances, motorcycle accidents result in victims suffering catastrophic injuries. In North Carolina, catastrophic injuries are those that result in a permanent disability and have life-altering consequences. Common examples of catastrophic injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
Catastrophic injuries typically result in injured victims needing specialized care and may considerably reduce their lifespan. For example, spinal cord injuries occur after the victim has suffered trauma to their ligaments, vertebrae, or spinal discs. Such injuries may result in partial or total paralysis. Motorcycle accident victims are more prone to suffering total paralysis if the injury occurs in the upper spine.
Individuals with spinal cord injuries may experience a loss of sensation or feeling in their extremities, neck and back pain and pressure, and loss of bladder control.
If you are a motorcycle rider who is dealing with a spinal cord or traumatic brain injury, contact O’Malley Tunstall PC today to schedule a free case evaluation so that we can help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Why Do Insurance Companies Like to Blame Motorcyclists For Causing Accidents?
Insurance companies are often too quick to blame motorcyclists for causing accidents. Many insurers feel that motorcyclists are reckless and often take risks when maneuvering through traffic. To make matters more complicated, North Carolina follows a contributory negligence doctrine that stipulates if it can be proven that an accident victim is even slightly to blame for the collision, they cannot seek monetary compensation.
As a result of this state law, insurance companies often use deceitful tactics to try and blame injured victims for motorcycle accidents. Some of the reasons that an insurance company may blame an injured motorcyclist include:
- Many insurers automatically assume that the motorcyclists must be to blame for causing the accident even though the evidence, such as witness statements, proves otherwise.
- Insurance providers believe motorcyclists are more prone to injury because they do not act as cautiously as those operating other motor vehicles.
- Insurers know that motorcycle riders typically suffer severe injuries that can result in them having to pay large claims. Sadly, insurance companies are more concerned about protecting their bottom line than paying for injuries.
It is vital that you hire an experienced attorney to assist you with your motorcycle accident case if you have been injured. All too often, insurers try to trick injured victims into making recorded statements giving details of the accident, only to use it against them to try to deny claims.
You should never speak to the insurance company without first consulting with a Fayetteville motorcycle accident attorney who can advise you of your rights. Our law firm has in-depth experience handling motorcycle accident claims and would be honored to assist you.
Can Your Law Firm Help Me Recover Compensation for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
Individuals injured in motorcycle crashes are usually most concerned with how they can recover compensation for their injuries. North Carolina law allows a motorcycle accident victim to file a personal injury claim to try and seek compensation for damages they have incurred.
Although no law states that an accident victim must hire an attorney to assist them with filing a personal injury claim, it is in their best interests to do so.
Due to the legal intricacies involved with filing an insurance claim and the methods insurance companies use, having an experienced Fayetteville motorcycle accident attorney is critical to obtaining a financial recovery.
With the help of a knowledgeable motorcycle accident lawyer, you may be able to recover compensatory and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
Economic or compensatory damages are those expenses that can be assigned a monetary value. It should be noted that any damages that may be awarded in a motorcycle accident claim depend on the unique circumstances involved in the case and may include:
- Medical bills
- Related medical expenses, including physical therapy and rehabilitation costs.
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Property damage
Non Economic Damages
In some motorcycle accident cases, injured victims are able to recover non-economic damages that cover intangible losses that cannot be assigned a monetary value. In certain circumstances, non-economic damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement and scarring
What are the Benefits of Hiring an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer to Help Me File an Insurance Claim?
Many accident victims hesitate to hire a lawyer to help them file insurance claims. Many injured victims mistakenly believe they cannot afford to hire a lawyer because they cannot afford legal fees. However, victims of motor vehicle accidents should always hire an attorney who will act as their legal advocate with the insurance company.
When insurance providers know that victims have attorneys helping them with motorcycle accident claims, they are more prone to negotiating fair compensation. Insurers know that personal injury lawyers understand the laws and cannot be taken advantage of as they may do to clients who have no legal representation.
Personal injury lawyers also assist clients with filling out confusing insurance paperwork. An attorney can review the paperwork and ensure it is turned in promptly to avoid missing critical deadlines.
Most motorcycle accident claims are settled out of court through negotiations between personal injury lawyers and insurance company representatives. However, when the insurance company is unwilling to offer a fair settlement, it may be necessary to file a personal injury lawsuit to try and obtain a satisfactory settlement.
If you have suffered a severe injury and are unsure of what steps you must take to file an insurance claim, contact our Fayetteville motorcycle accident lawyer to schedule a free case evaluation today.
What Makes Your Fayetteville Motorcycle Accident Lawyer the Best Choice to Handle My Personal Injury Claim?
O’Malley Tunstall PC is a law firm passionately committed to helping motorcycle accident victims obtain maximum compensation for their injuries. Our motorcycle accident lawyers understand that after suffering a serious injury, you need time to recover without having to worry about dealing with the insurance company.
We work hard on your behalf to safeguard your legal rights and not allow the insurance company to try and blame you for causing the accident.
When you come to us for help, our legal team will immediately begin gathering evidence, such as the police report and medical records, to build and strengthen your claim.
Our dedicated team of legal professionals has the means to hire accident reconstruction specialists who can prove who was the at-fault party that caused the accident.
If your loved one suffered a serious injury such as brain damage or other catastrophic injuries, our law firm will fight to help you get the justice your family deserves. Regardless of the factors involved in the case, we take time to listen to clients and work to obtain financial compensation that will adequately provide for their present and future needs.
Contact O’Malley Tunstall PC today by calling (919) 277-0150 and ask to schedule a free no-obligation case evaluation with a Fayetteville motorcycle accident lawyer who will determine your legal options.