Iowa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Recovery After a Motorcycle Accident

Our motorcycle accident lawyer Iowa residents rely on knows that there is something very freeing about riding a motorcycle. However, with a smaller and less protected vehicle, you must wear safety gear and always be alert when riding. Unfortunately, even the most careful riders can get into an accident when someone else is driving negligently on the road. When this is the case, you want to speak with an attorney to ensure you get compensation for your injuries and any damage to your motorcycle. Do not hesitate to contact Des Moines Injury Law to see how we can help you. Remember, there are no fees if there is no recovery.

Common Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accident victims are particularly vulnerable to sustaining painful and severe injuries. This is because, unlike a vehicle driver, the motorcycle rider doesn’t have an exterior barrier protecting their body from harm. Drivers are often forgetful when it comes to checking their mirrors before changing lanes or making other maneuvers on the road. Even the safest motorcyclist may end up in a tragic accident simply because a car driver was being reckless. Injuries that are common for victims of motorcycle crashes include:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Whiplash
• Fractured nose or jaw
• Concussion
• Internal bleeding
• Broken tailbone
• Spinal cord damage
• Soft tissue injury
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Mental anguish
• Amputation
• Internal bleeding
• Shock
• Disability

Anyone who has been in a motorcycle accident is strongly advised to see a doctor, whether they understand the full extent of their injuries yet, or not. For many motorcyclists, they find that they require medical attention to treat the extent of their injury. Unfortunately, medical care doesn’t come cheap, which means the victim may encounter financial strife they otherwise wouldn’t have if the other party hadn’t been careless. The financial hardship may lead someone to wonder whether their situation warrants contacting a lawyer, and if they are entitled to compensation. 

Moreover, one of the factors that should also be looked into when it comes to seeing a doctor, is an accident-related injury known as whiplash. What is alarming about whiplash, is that it is not always noticeable until it is too late. Sometimes the damage is not felt from the start. This is why it is important to go see a doctor after an accident, as a means to assess any fractures that the person may not know about. Overall, motorcycle accidents should be taken very seriously, even if the damage is not felt from the start.  

What Not to Do After a Motorcycle Accident

Often following some type of motor vehicle accident (including a motorcycle accident), you hear of what you should do. You know that you should speak with your lawyer, see a doctor so they will treat your injuries, and begin the process of filing your claim as quickly as possible. However, you may not have heard of things that you should not do. It’s true, following your accident there is a list of things that you should know not to do to ensure your claim goes as smoothly as possible. 

Do Not Speak With an Insurance Agent

Your lawyer is going to be the best person for this job. You will want them to be there every step of the way to help negotiate a settlement for you. Further, insurance agents, though they purport to have your best interests in mind, only care about paying out as little as possible. If you speak with an insurance agent, they will try to get as much information out of you as possible to use against you in your claim.

Do Not Apologize After the Accident

Even if you had nothing to do with the accident, you may be tempted to apologize when you see the other driver. This can be a force of habit. However, if you apologize it can come off as if you were partially responsible for the accident. If this gets back to the other party’s insurance, they will try to use this to say that you caused the accident or were part of the reason it occurred.

Do Not Consent to a Recorded Statement

Insurance agents love to record conversations with people. In fact, insurance agents will try to get you to say as much as possible so that they can go back and use anything you say in your recovered statement to pay you as small of a settlement as possible.

Do Not Take a Settlement Offer Without Speaking With Your Lawyer

You should not be the one talking with the agent about a settlement offer. Your lawyer has the responsibility of listening to any settlement offers that come your way and can speak with you about whether it is a reasonable settlement offer or whether you should negotiate for something higher.

Do Not File a Motorcycle Claim Without a Lawyer

Many people believe that when they have been in an accident they can pursue compensation without a lawyer. While it is true that you could pursue compensation without legal help, that does not mean you will be successful. Your best option is to speak with a member of our team as soon as you have been in a motorcycle accident and see how we can help you with your claim.

Unique Risks of Riding a Motorcycle

Our motorcycle accident lawyer knows that riding a motorcycle is inherently dangerous. That is why riders take extra precautions to ensure they are careful on the road and that other cars can see them on the road. Some of the reasons why riding a motorcycle is more dangerous are:

• They are less stable

Unlike a car (which can stand up on its own), motorcycles are less stable, particularly when turning and swerving. Additionally, when a motorcycle is traveling at high speeds it can even become wobbly.  This is why even if one knows how to drive a car or truck, they still need to go to a school, which teaches them how to ride a motorcycle. This is not just because one needs to learn how motorcycles are controlled differently than cars and trucks, but starting them up is different from standard vehicles as well.  Overall, learning how to ride a motorcycle and how it differs from a standard vehicle, is essential to being safe. 

• They require a different skill level

Just because you know how to drive a car does not mean you can successfully ride a motorcycle. You must get a separate license to ride a motorcycle and go through proper training. As mentioned, motorcycles can be less stable than vehicles and a person is less protected if they are in an accident. This is why riding a motorcycle is more risky than driving a car, because the person is less shielded, outside of their helmet.  

• They do not provide proper safety

When you are driving or riding in a car, you have four “walls” and a roof over your head that can help protect you if you get in a crash. Additionally, cars come equipped with airbags for drivers and passengers. A motorcycle, on the other hand, does not have any barriers that will protect you if you fall off your motorcycle or come into contact with a vehicle or object on the road. Because of this, you are much more likely to suffer from severe and permanent damage.

• Hazards on the road

Something that may be a minor bump to a car (debris and uneven roads) could pose a serious threat to a motorcycle because of how much smaller it is. Something that may be a bump on the road to a car may cause a motorcycle to crash.

Iowa Motorcycle Accident Infographic

Iowa Motorcycle Accident Statistics

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,  there are an estimated 5,000 motorcycle-related fatalities each year in the United States.

• Motorcycle accidents account for 14% of all traffic fatalities in the United States.
• The most common type of motorcycle accident is a collision with a motor vehicle.
• Motorcycle riders are more likely to be injured or killed in a motorcycle accident than car drivers.
• Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury in a motorcycle accident by up to 85%.

Iowa Motorcycle Accident FAQs

How do I know whether I have a case for compensation?

The best way to find out whether your situation necessitates contacting a lawyer is to speak with one. Many reputable law firms, such as ours, offer free initial consultations to get an idea of what your options are and the next steps. Items to have ready for the consultation are copies of medical records, copies of the police report, photographs of injuries and/or scenes, insurance details, the other party’s information, and anything else related to what happened. The more you have for your lawyer to review, the better they can advise you on how to proceed.

What should I do after a motorcycle accident?

If you’re involved in a motorcycle crash, there are certain steps you should take to protect yourself and your loved ones. First of all, call 911 immediately. It’s also important to get information from the other driver such as his/her name and phone number as well as his/her insurance information.

Get information from other drivers and witnesses. Get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any other drivers involved in the accident, as well as any eyewitnesses to the accident. If possible, take photos of the damage to both vehicles and any visible injuries that either driver has sustained. Be sure to seek medical attention right away even if you don’t think you’ve been injured. Go to the nearest hospital or doctor’s office to get checked out. Sometimes people don’t realize they are hurt until hours or days after an accident has occurred. If you wait too long to seek treatment, the insurance company may argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident.

What is a motorcycle accident lawyer?

When most people think about a motorcycle accident lawyer Iowa the first thing that comes to mind is a person who helps you file for divorce or perhaps represents you in a criminal trial. However, did you know that lawyers can also help victims of motorcycle accidents? If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to seek legal representation from a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer. 

If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to have an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer on your side. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Iowa can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. They can also help you navigate the complex legal process after a motorcycle accident.

• The severity of the accident in terms of vehicle damage
• Who was involved in the accident
• The vehicle damage and how much would have to be paid for
• The physical damage that was suffered, due to the accident,
• The mental damage that was suffered from the experience

What is important about these factors, is that they help a motorcycle accident lawyer to better assess and break down an accident, from a multilayered perspective. The reason why this is needed is because it demonstrates how not every motorcycle accident is black and white, in terms of damage done to the vehicle, the level of mental and physical anguish, and more.

Why is a motorcycle accident lawyer needed?

Riding a motorcycle is extremely dangerous and if you have been involved in an accident, you may need to seek the help of a motorcycle accident lawyer in Iowa. The reason you need a motorcycle accident lawyer is that they specialize in this area of law and will work hard to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.

Riding a motorcycle is not just dangerous but it can be fatal. When riding a motorcycle, you are much more exposed to the elements than when driving in a car or even on a bike.

When riding a motorcycle, your body is exposed to the wind and cold as well as any debris that may come flying through the air. If there is an incident, your body could be thrown from the bike into traffic or possibly oncoming traffic which could prove fatal. This not only applies to the motorcycle rider, but this also applies to anyone who could be riding with the individual as well. This is why riding a motorcycle needs to come with a strong understanding that there is a huge risk, in comparison to cars and trucks. They include some of the following:

• Exposure to heavy rain
• Exposure to freeze cold weather
• Risk of being hit with flying debris during severe weather
• Being greater exposed to toxins in the air, in certain areas that might be more prone to smoke, smog, etc.

Des Moines Injury Law, Iowa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

699 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309

Contact Our Iowa Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

Motorcycle accidents can be severe and often result in serious injury or death. We are available for live call answering 24/7. If you are injured in a motorcycle accident, it is important to seek the help of an Iowa motorcycle accident lawyer from Des Moines Injury Law who can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Our team can imagine the pain and stress you may be going through. The aftermath of a serious accident can feel like too much for a victim to bear alone. There are professionals who can rise to the occasion and protect your best interests. Sadly, many victims don’t realize they are eligible for financial restitution until it is too late. There is only a set period of time after the accident to file a claim.