The aftermath of a motorcycle crash can be brutal. Riding makes you more open to serious injuries than people in other vehicles. It can take a lot of time and money to recover from a motorcycle accident. You might have to pay high medical bills and lose income. At the same time, you might feel a lot of pain in your body and mind. You do not have to do this alone, especially if someone else caused the motorcycle accident.
If you have been hurt, the lawyers at Evans Injury Attorneys are ready to help you. Our team understands what you are dealing with and will stand up for your rights. We know how to help you as your reliable Akron motorcycle accident lawyer.
Motorcycle accidents are a serious concern throughout Ohio, and Akron is no exception. The vulnerability of riders means that even a minor collision can result in severe injuries or even a wrongful death. National data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) highlights this risk, showing that motorcyclists are significantly more likely to be fatally injured in a crash compared to passenger vehicle occupants. Understanding the local statistics can put the dangers riders face into perspective.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol‘s 2023 Crash Facts report, the state saw thousands of motorcycle-involved crashes, leading to numerous injuries and fatalities. These numbers underscore the importance of road safety and awareness for all drivers. Here is a brief look at the statewide data, which reflects the risks present on Akron’s roads.
| Statistic (Ohio, 2023) | Number |
| Total Motorcycle Crashes | 4,008 |
| Fatal Motorcycle Crashes | 213 |
| Injury Motorcycle Crashes | 2,866 |
Most motorcycle accidents usually happen because another driver is not careful, not because the rider is being reckless. Many drivers in cars or trucks do not see motorcycles, and that can lead to bad crashes. A lot of these crashes take place at crossroads. They often happen when someone makes a left turn without looking or does not give the right-of-way. Actions like driving too fast or following a motorcycle too closely also put riders in danger.
There are also other things beyond what drivers do that can lead to a motorcycle accident. Roads that are in bad shape and in bad weather can create a lot of trouble, especially for motorcycles. Knowing about these causes can help when you want to prove who was wrong in your personal injury case. Next, we will talk more about these causes.
Distracted driving is one of the main reasons for traffic accidents now. If a driver is texting, talking on the phone, or not fully aware of the road, they may not see a motorcyclist. Just a second of not paying attention can lead to a big motorcycle crash.
Impaired driving is another big risk. A driver who has been drinking or using drugs reacts slowly and often makes bad choices. This puts everyone at risk, especially people on motorcycles. The careless actions of such drivers can be the reason to make a personal injury claim.
If you were in a motorcycle crash because a driver was distracted or impaired, it’s important to make sure they are held responsible. A good attorney can help you get the facts needed to show their negligence and support you in your personal injury claim. You have the right to fight for the justice you deserve.
Many accidents happen where the main issue is not another car, but the road itself. Bad road conditions are often more risky for motorcycles than for cars. The potholes, loose gravel, uneven pavement, and other debris on the road can make people lose control of their bikes and crash. This can happen even when people ride safely.
The weather can make things very hard, too. Rain makes the road slippery and hard to see. Strong winds can push and bother a motorcycle. In these weather conditions, all drivers have to be extra careful. But not everyone does this, and it can lead to problems.
Sometimes, the government can be blamed if an accident happens because roads are not kept in good shape. These types of cases can be hard to handle. But they are important for making sure the right people are called out. It helps keep accident victims safe and brings attention to poor road conditions.
Motorcycle accident victims are at high risk for severe injuries because there is not much to protect them in a crash. Unlike people in a car, the rider gets all the force from an accident on their own body. This can lead to all kinds of injuries. Some can be road rash or broken bones, while others might be much worse, like brain injuries or spinal cord injuries.
If you get into a motorcycle accident, it is important to see a doctor right away. These kinds of injuries can have a big effect on your life for a long time. They may even change your ability to work or do things you enjoy. In the next parts, you will learn more about some of the most common and severe injuries that can happen to motorcycle accident victims.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be one of the worst things that can happen in a motorcycle accident. When a motorcycle accident happens, a helmet can help, but it may not be enough. The force from the crash can still harm the brain in a big way. This can lead to problems with how you think, how you act, and how you feel. You may get memory loss. You may find it hard to focus. You could even see changes in your mood and who you are.
Spinal cord injuries also affect people deeply after a motorcycle accident. If there is damage to the spinal cord, there can be full or partial paralysis. This may change life for you and your family forever. Healing and recovery after spinal cord injuries need a lot of care. It often costs a lot of money and takes a lot of time.
For motorcycle accident victims with these terrible injuries, getting compensation is not just about fairness. It is also about making sure they have the money and help they will need for the rest of their lives. A personal injury lawyer who knows how to help accident victims can fight for their rights and help them get the care they need.
Broken bones and fractures are very common when people get into motorcycle crashes. The force from hitting the ground or another car can break arms, legs, ribs, or hips. You may need surgery, a cast, and a lot of time in physical therapy. This means you can be away from work for a long time, and your medical bills can pile up fast.
Road rash is another common injury. This happens when a rider’s skin slides on the road. Road rash may seem like a small problem, but bad cases can cut deep, cause infection, or leave scars that never go away. It is very painful and may take skin grafts or long-term care to heal.
These types of injuries, along with things like internal bleeding and harm to organs, can bring very high costs for people hurt in these crashes. If you make an injury claim, it is important to count every cost. That is how you can help make sure you get full compensation for your recovery.
What you do right after a motorcycle crash can affect your health and your chance to start a claim. It is not easy to think clearly at this time. But there are some important steps you can take to protect your rights. Make your safety, and the safety of others, the top worry.
When the area is now safe, you should start to write down what happened. The things you find or record at the scene can help you show what took place and who is at fault. These steps can help you hold the right person responsible. Next, we will guide you through what you need to do after a motorcycle crash.
Your personal safety is the most important thing. If you can, move yourself and your motorcycle out of the way of traffic. This helps stop any more accidents from happening. Check yourself and others for injuries. But do not move anyone who looks badly hurt. Moving them could make things worse.
After that, call 911 right away. Doing this does two things. First, it makes sure there will be medical help for anyone who needs it. Second, the police will also come to the motorcycle accident scene. Do you know why a police report matters so much?
The police report is an official paper that tells what happened in the motorcycle accident. It gives information about who was there, what any witnesses said, and what the first officer thought about who was at fault. This report will be very important if you want to make an insurance claim or if there is a lawsuit later.
While you wait for the authorities to get there, if you feel okay, start gathering as much evidence as you can. This will help with your injury claim later because over time, people can forget what happened. It’s good to have this proof since insurance companies may try to deny or lower your claim.
Use your smartphone to take pictures and videos of everything around. Take lots of photos of all the vehicles, showing the damage from different sides. Try to show how the cars are positioned, any skid marks on the road, plus traffic signs or signals nearby. Also, take photos of the area, like any road dangers that might have helped cause the crash.
Besides photos, make sure to get this information:
Understanding the legal side of a motorcycle accident can be hard. Ohio has some rules about riding a motorcycle, safety gear, and who is at fault in an accident case. Knowing these things is important if you want to keep your rights safe and get the compensation you deserve. Insurance companies often know the law really well and could use it to get their way.
To make sure you have the same chance as insurance companies, you need to know some main legal ideas, such as helmet rules and how fault works in Ohio. The next sections will go over these important motorcycle accident laws and show how they may be used in your accident case.
Ohio’s helmet laws can be tricky to understand. The Ohio Revised Code § 4511.53 says that all riders and passengers who are under 18 have to wear a helmet. If you are a rider with less than one year on your motorcycle license, you also need to wear a helmet, no matter your age.
For adult riders with a license for more than a year, a helmet is not required by law. But you need to know that not wearing a helmet can affect your personal injury claim. Insurance companies may say that not wearing a helmet made your head injuries worse. This could let them give you less in an injury claim.
You can still ask for money if someone else hurt you and you were not wearing a helmet. A good lawyer knows how personal injury law works and can help protect your right to fair compensation. They will fight insurance companies and work to get you the most for your personal injury.
Ohio uses a fault-based system for auto accidents. This means the person who caused the crash will be responsible for paying for the damages. The state also has a “modified comparative negligence” rule. You can find this rule in Ohio Revised Code § 2315.33. The rule can change how your accident case goes.
If you are found to be at fault for part of the accident, but your fault is 50% or less, you can still get some money for your damages. If you are 51% or more at fault, you will not get any compensation for your accident case.
If you do share some blame, your total amount will be less. The court will lower your award by your percentage of fault. Here is one example. If you win $100,000, but the court says you are 20% at fault, you will get $80,000 instead. This shows why it is so important to have a good lawyer to fight any unfair blame in your accident case.
After a motorcycle accident, you need to follow a set process to get money for your losses. This starts when you file a personal injury claim with the insurance company of the driver who caused the crash. It is very important to know about the legal deadlines you must meet. If you do not act in time, you could lose your right to get what you should have.
Your law firm will be there with you at every stage. They help with the first look into your case and with filing your injury claim. They work with you to get fair payment or, if needed, take your case to court. The next parts will show you the timeline you should follow and what happens during the legal process after your personal injury or motorcycle accident.
In Ohio, there is a set time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This is called the statute of limitations. Most motorcycle accident cases must be filed within two years after the accident. If someone died in the crash, the family has two years from the day the person died to file a wrongful death claim.
Two years sounds like a long time. But when you are busy healing from your injuries or loss, that time can go by fast. It is important to start your claim early. This way, your legal team has lots of time to check your case, look for evidence, and build your case for compensation.
If you wait too long, your motorcycle accident case can be in trouble. Key things may get lost. People you need as witnesses might forget what took place. You could miss the filing deadline. If you miss this, the court will likely drop your case forever, and you cannot get compensation at all.
The legal process for personal injury cases starts with a close look at the facts. Your lawyer will get all the important evidence, like the police report, your medical records, what witnesses say, and photos of the scene. He or she may talk with accident experts to show how the accident happened and who caused it.
After putting the evidence together, your lawyer will send a demand letter to the insurance company of the person who was at fault. This letter will explain your personal injury case and the money you want to get. The talks with insurance companies then begin. Most times, they will try to give a low first offer, but your lawyer will not take it and will try to get a fair deal for you. That way, you can be covered for all of your injury costs.
Most personal injury claims end in a settlement. So, you do not have to go to court in many cases. But if the insurance company says no to a fair offer, your lawyer will then file a lawsuit. He or she will be ready to take the case to trial and stand up for you.
While both a motorcycle accident and a car accident happen on the road, there are some clear differences between them. The biggest difference is the kind of injuries people have. When you are in a motorcycle accident, you do not have the protection of a car around you. This means injuries can be a lot more serious, with much higher medical bills and medical expenses.
There is also another problem. Many insurance companies and people on a jury may think that motorcycle riders like to take risks or are not careful. They sometimes think motorcyclists cause the accident. A good lawyer knows how to handle this. They will use facts and proof to show that the other driver was really at fault.
Here are some main ways a motorcycle accident is different from a car crash:
Whether you have questions about your motorcycle accident or want help with your personal injury case, it is important to know how these issues can impact your
Accidents with young or new drivers often bring special problems, especially regarding insurance coverage. In Ohio, people under 18 must wear helmets. New drivers also need to wear helmets for their first year. If a young driver has an accident, their parents’ insurance is usually what gets the claim.
But there can be trouble. Sometimes, parents do not put their teen on the insurance. At times, the coverage limits on the policy are not strong enough. This can make it hard for accident victims to get fair compensation for injuries and damage.
Insurance companies may also try to put the blame on the other person, especially if the victim is riding a motorcycle. They might say the rider was at fault for paying less money. Because of these tricks, it is good to have an attorney who knows what to do. A good lawyer helps you deal with insurance companies and works so you get the fairest compensation you should have, no matter how old the driver is.
If you were hurt in a motorcycle accident because of someone else’s carelessness, you can ask for money to help with your losses. A personal injury claim is there to help make you whole again by covering everything you lost. This covers the money you had to spend and the pain you went through.
To get fair compensation, you need to look carefully at all your losses. A good attorney will work with you to figure out how much your injury claim is worth, so nothing gets missed. The money you can get from your injury claim usually falls into two groups: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are the monetary losses you have because of the accident. These are easy to figure out. There are bills, receipts, and pay stubs to help show the amount. Medical bills are often the biggest part.
This group is for all medical expenses you had, have now, or will have later because you got hurt. The list goes from the first ambulance ride and emergency room visit to surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, medications, and any long-term care or medical equipment you might need.
Lost wages are another important economic damage. If you cannot work after you get hurt, you can get payment for your lost income. If you face a permanent disability that keeps you from earning money in the future, you can get payment for the lost earning ability, too.
Non-economic damages help accident victims get money for the personal losses that do not have a set cost. These are for things you cannot put a price on. They show the deep effect an accident has on people. The most used type of non-economic damages is money for pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering cover the hurt in your body, the discomfort, and the stressful feelings you have because of your injury. The money is for your daily problems, ongoing pain, and how the event made you feel, such as if you have anxiety, feel low, or have PTSD.
You can ask for money if you have lost your happiness in life. This is if you cannot take part in hobbies, fun things, or spend time with people like you could before. This type pays for the lesser quality of life you have now. An attorney will help you decide how much these personal losses are worth.
Trying to deal with a motorcycle accident claim alone can be too much when you are hurt. Insurance companies use many people and lawyers to look out for their own benefits. These people work on keeping claims as small as they can, or even making sure some claims get denied. You need someone who focuses on what is best for you. An Akron motorcycle accident lawyer helps make things fair.
If you get help from a lawyer, you can spend time getting better. They will take care of the hard parts of your injury claim for you. A lawyer will fight to get you the fair compensation you need to help you move on with your life.
Having a personal injury lawyer with you makes your claim much stronger right from the start. The law firm will take care of a full investigation into the accident. They gather important proof that you may not get by yourself. This can include getting camera footage, talking to people who saw what happened, and meeting with others who know about accidents.
All this preparation helps your attorney show that the other driver is at fault. It also helps show the real losses you have from the accident. When your injury claim has strong proof, it is really hard for the insurance company to push back or pay less.
In the end, having legal representation shows the insurance company you mean business about your personal injury claim. You have made it clear you do not want to be taken advantage of. Most of the time, this leads to better talks for a settlement and a better result for you than if you went alone.
Dealing with insurance companies after a motorcycle accident can be tough. The people working at these companies know how to talk you into taking less money. Some may try to make you say the accident was partly your fault. They can also make it seem like your injuries are not as bad as they are. You might be offered some money before you know what your claim is really worth.
When you have a lawyer, they speak to the insurance company for you. Your lawyer deals with everything and stops the company from using tricks on you. Your lawyer will try to get you a deal that covers all your losses. They will know how much your case is actually worth and won’t let the company push you into a bad agreement.
If the insurance company will not agree to a fair deal, your lawyer can take the case to court. This shows the company that you are serious. It can help you get the money you should have after a motorcycle accident.
Choosing the right legal help is one of the first things to do after a motorcycle accident. Not every personal injury lawyer will know how to handle the problems that can come up with motorcycle accident cases. The law firm you pick should have lots of years of experience and a record that shows they win cases for injured riders.
If you want to find the best Akron motorcycle accident lawyer for your own case, you should look for certain qualities. The right law firm and lawyer can help a lot with the outcome. Take time to find someone who has years of experience with motorcycle accident cases, so you get good results.
When you look for a law firm to help with your motorcycle accident or a personal injury case, be sure to pick one with a lot of experience in these areas. If you go to someone who works on many types of cases, they may not have enough knowledge about motorcycle accidents. They might not know how to handle common biases against riders or figure out what your long-term costs will be with a big injury.
Find a lawyer who can speak well in meetings and fight hard in court. You want someone who will go to trial if the insurance company will not give you a fair deal. Read reviews from other clients and see what success the law firm has had before. This can tell you about how hard they will work for you and what you might expect.
Consider these important qualities:
Most personal injury law firms will give you a free consultation. This is your chance to talk to a personal injury lawyer. You can find out if they can handle your motorcycle accident case. It helps to come ready with your questions. You want to make sure they are right for your accident case.
This first meeting goes both ways. You get to decide if the personal injury lawyer fits your needs. They also look at the details of your case. You can ask direct questions about their past results, fees, and what they plan to do for you.
Here are some key questions to ask:
One of the most important things to look for when you choose an attorney is whether they have real experience with cases like yours. A lawyer who has helped other motorcycle accident victims knows the problems you might face. They see how insurance can treat you unfairly. They also know how to prove just how much you have lost from the accident.
When you meet with them, you should ask about their work with other motorcycle crash cases. Ask if those cases had a head injury or if people argued about who was at fault. How they answer can show you if they really know these kinds of things. This helps you see if they have what it takes to handle all the tricky parts that could come up in your own case.
Having a lawyer who has a record of getting good results for people hurt in motorcycle accidents matters a lot. It shows that they know how to get the job done. With them, you know they will not be trying to figure things out for the first time with your case. They already have ways that have worked before, and they will use this to fight hard for you.
Yes, most personal injury lawyers in our law firm work on what is called a contingency fee. This means you do not have to pay any money at the start. The fee for your attorney will be a part of the final money you get from your case, either from a settlement or a verdict. So, you only pay if you win your case.
The time it takes to finish a motorcycle accident claim can be different for each case. Some simple personal injury cases settle in a few months. Others that have severe injuries or where people do not agree on who caused the crash can take a year or even longer. It can take more time if you need to go to court to get fair compensation.
Most motorcycle accident cases end by settling with the insurance company. They rarely go to court. If the insurance company will not give accident victims a fair offer, a good lawyer will take the case to trial. They fight to get accident victims the compensation they need.
In Ohio, you have two years from the date of the motorcycle accident to file a personal injury claim. You should reach out to a law firm before this time runs out. This helps you protect your right to make an injury claim and get compensation.
If the driver who caused your accident was uninsured, underinsured, or fled the scene, you may still have options. Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may apply. A lawyer can review your insurance policy and determine how to pursue compensation.
Recovering from a motorcycle accident is hard. You should not have to handle the legal and insurance processes by yourself. Talking to pushy insurance adjusters can make you feel stressed, especially when you want to heal. Your main goal should be to get better, not to fight for the payment you deserve.
Let the skilled team at Evans Injury Attorneys help you with these problems. We work hard for injured riders. As your Akron motorcycle accident lawyer, we are here to manage every part of your case. We take care of looking into what happened and talking to others, so you can take time to recover.
Give us a call at (678) 792-0067 to get your free consultation with an experienced Akron motorcycle accident lawyer. Take the first step to make sure your rights are protected.
Evans Injury Attorneys
3985 Steve Reynolds BlvdFree Consultation
(678) 792-0067By Appointment Only
Evans Injury Attorneys
435 E. Martin Luther King Sr.,Free Consultation
(678) 792-0067By Appointment Only
Evans Injury Attorneys
2208 Ingleside Ave,Free Consultation
(678) 792-0067By Appointment Only
Evans Injury Attorneys
400 Interstate N Pkwy suite 1125,Free Consultation
(678) 792-0067By Appointment Only
Evans Injury Attorneys
100 Grace Hopper LnFree Consultation
(678) 792-0067