Larson & Gallivan Law offers legal services to anyone hurt in a motorcycle accident caused by the carelessness of others – especially by inattentive drivers of cars and trucks. Bringing a claim for compensation is an exhausting process. While you struggle to heal from your injuries, you should hire a firm with the resources to gather evidence to reconstruct the collision and then negotiate for compensation on your behalf.
Below, we look at 10 of the most common motorcycle accidents and identify who might be at fault. Call to speak with aVermont motorcycle accident lawyer today in a no-risk, free consultation.
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Lane Switching Accidents
Motorcyclists are at risk of a collision whenever a driver changes lanes. On a multi-lane highway, these accidents often involve a driver changing lanes to pass, but the motorcycle is in the way. They collide as a result. Many motorists aren’t even looking for motorcycles, so they pull out directly into you at high speeds.
Other lane switching accidents are accidental. A distracted or tired driver could veer or drift into a different lane. Consequently, they could crash head-on with a motorcyclist.
These accidents are often the fault of the other driver, who might be in a hurry, distracted, fatigued, or drunk. We will need to investigate in greater detail what happened.
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Left-Hand Turn Collisions
These common accidents happen when a driver pulls across traffic to make a left-hand turn into a parking lot or at an intersection. A motorcyclist coming in the other direction gets struck by the driver.
Often, the driver is to blame because they are in a hurry and don’t see the motorcyclist coming at them. Or else they are making an illegal left hand turn on a red light.
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Cornering Accidents
Taking a corner too fast can lead to accidents, especially if the motorcyclist hits gravel and loses control. Typically, no one is at fault for these crashes – weather causes sand and gravel to wash onto the roadway, and the grip ability of the motorcycles wheels is not enough to corner at speed. Novice riders often don’t know how to adjust their speed on a turn, so they end up going much too fast.
However, fault might lie with a mechanic or the motorcycle manufacturer if the bike is harder to control. For example, the motorcycle might not steer or brake properly due to a defect. In those situations, you might have a legal claim against someone who worked on the bike. Call our law firm, and don’t have your motorcycle fixed until we can inspect it.
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Rear End Collisions at Intersections
Motorcyclists who are waiting at an intersection are at real risk of getting rear-ended. A distracted or fatigued motorist might not hit the brakes in time and plow straight into the rider. These accidents are often severe because a motorcyclist gets run over.
Some protect themselves by pulling all the way over to the shoulder while waiting to pass through an intersection. That will reduce the direct nature of any impact. We highly recommend checking your mirrors for a car coming up from behind and to take defensive action.
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Lane Splitting Accidents
Some riders like to split lanes. They might do this on a multi-lane highway or downtown whenever traffic gets bottlenecked. Unfortunately, lane splitting is illegal in Vermont, as it is in most states. You will likely be at fault for a wreck if you were lane splitting at the time. You probably will not receive any compensation.
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Pothole Accidents
Hitting a pothole at high speeds can flip a motorcycle. The motorcyclists can suffer horrifying injuries when they finish pinwheeling through the air and land in the road or in a ditch. Vermont’s changing seasons take a toll on the roads, and large potholes can open up, especially on country roads. In this type of accident, you might sue the government for failing to keep the road safe. Call our firm as soon as you can so we can document the pothole.
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Drunk Driving Accidents
Too many motorists are intoxicated. Dozens of people arekilled each year in accidents involving alcohol and drugs, and hundreds more end up in the hospital with injuries. Drunk driving collisions cost the state millions of dollars, and motorcyclists could easily suffer major injuries in a crash.
There is little you can do to control other driver’s behavior. However, you should avoid having a drink before hopping on a bike. Don’t do any drugs, either, not even marijuana—it’s extremely dangerous.
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Fatal Accidents
Unfortunately, some people end up dying while out on their motorcycle. We extend our condolences to family members. You should know that you might qualify to bring a wrongful death claim. This is a personal injury lawsuit brought by surviving family members like a surviving spouse or child. We seek damages for your losses, including lost financial support and lost services. Call us as soon as possible to review if you can file this claim. The statute of limitations for these claims is shorter than for personal injury cases – you only have two years to file suit for wrongful death in Vermont.
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Open Door Accidents
Like bicyclists, motorcyclists can get injured in an “open door” accident. If you ride near the shoulder, then you could drive straight into a door if a passenger in a parked car opens the door without checking over their shoulder. These can be serious accidents if you are thrown off the bike and end up getting run over. We can sue the driver or passenger for compensation.
While riding, always scan ahead to see if someone is in a parked car. You can also ride in the middle of the lane to avoid any opened doors.
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Speed Related Accidents
Speed is involved with many accidents on Vermont’s roads. If another driver is speeding, they are likely:
- Following too closely
- Passing illegally around a corner
- At risk of losing control of their vehicle
- Unable to stop in time
We can hold a motorist responsible for going too fast when they cause an accident. Drivers also need to adjust their driving to weather conditions. They should reduce speed in the rain, for example.
Call Larson & Gallivan Law Today
We are proud to help motorcyclists obtain compensation following a crash. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our office to review what steps to take next.
