Motorcycle Accidents

Protecting You Is Our Top Priority

A motorcycle is one of the most dangerous modes of transportation, due to the fact that the motorist is completely exposed, and because they are much smaller, and often faster, than other vehicles on the road. Motorcycle accidents can have serious and even fatal consequences. However, it is important to know that motorcyclists have legal rights. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you need an attorney who has an in-depth understanding of the ins and outs of motorcycle accidents and associated legal issues. At the New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York law offices of Vlasac & Shmaruk, you will receive exceptional treatment and top legal counsel. Our attorneys specialize in motorcycle accident cases, and work diligently to see to it that victims are compensated fairly for injuries. To learn more about motorcycle accidents and your rights, contact us today at any of our New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or New York offices.

Common Motorcycle Injuries

It has been reported that 80% of all accidents involving motorcycles result in death or injury. The types of injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents are generally more likely to be of a catastrophic nature than those generally suffered in a car or truck accident. Due to greater exposure and less protection, common injuries to motorcyclists resulting from accidents include:

• Wrongful death
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Limb severance
• Broken bones and fractures
• Burns and lacerations
• Road rash

Types of Motorcycle Accident Cases

Many drivers who cause motorcycle accidents claim that they did not see the motorcycle. The most common type of accident involving an inattentive automobile driver occurs when the driver makes a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle. Some other causes of motorcycle accidents may be a lack of experience of the rider or faulty equipment such as bald tires or loose breaks.

Our injury attorneys have experience dealing with all aspects of motorcycle accidents. Additionally, as insurance and traffic laws differ between motorcycles and automobiles in each state, a well-versed motorcycle accident attorney is necessary for such cases. While the differences may seem slight to the casual observer, our talented injury lawyers know that these differences can have a major impact on the outcome of a motorcycle accident case. Our lawyers work hard to achieve the best possible outcome for clients through negotiation, and if necessary, litigation.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics

There were more than 5,200 deaths and 96,000 injuries as a result of motorcycle accidents in 2008. Due to greater exposure and the risks inherent with that exposure, motorcyclists are more than 35 times more likely to die in an accident and nine times more likely to be injured than occupants of passenger cars. In addition, motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, making them harder to spot or track by other drivers.

Motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic accident fatalities and 17 percent of occupant fatalities. More than three-quarters of motorcyclists involved in an accident are struck from the front. At the same time, motorcyclists are more likely to have a fatal collision with a fixed object than drivers of passenger vehicles or light trucks.

In New Jersey, 65 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2009, accounting to 11 percent of all accident fatalities. On average there are about 70 deaths and 2,000 injuries relating to motorcycle accidents each year in the state.

In Pennsylvania, 204 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2009, accounting for 16 percent of all accident fatalities. That year there were more than 825,000 licensed motorcyclists in the state yet only 26,000 had been trained in the state’s Motor Cycle Safety Program.

Learn More about Motorcycle Accidents

If you or a loved one has been seriously harmed in a motorcycle accident, we urge you to learn your rights. You deserve compensation for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, or wrongful death, and a top attorney from Vlasac & Shmaruk will do everything to make sure that happens. To learn more about motorcycle accidents and your legal options, contact any of our offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or New York today.