How Motorcycle Accidents Are Different From Car Accidents

Not all vehicle accidents are created equal. There’s a big difference between an accident involving two similarly-sized passenger vehicles, an accident involving a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer, and an accident between a motorcycle and any other vehicle. Even within each type of collision, both parties can fare very differently. In the example of a motorcycle crashing with any other vehicle, the motorcyclist almost always bears the brunt of the collision.

As a motorcyclist, you must understand how motorcycle accidents are different from car accidents and what you can do after a crash. For more personalized guidance after a crash, call Wagner Workers’ Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers.

Injury severity: why motorcyclists suffer more

No matter the speed or type of crash you’re in, the motorcyclist tends to fare much worse than the occupants of the other vehicle. A motorcycle has no protective metal frame or airbags to safeguard its riders, leaving riders are directly exposed to the multi-ton vehicle they collide with.

This type of exposure is much more likely to lead to catastrophic injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and intense road rash. Fatal injuries are also far more likely; per mile traveled, motorcycle fatalities are 29 times higher than fatalities among passenger vehicle occupants.

Different patterns in motorcycle crashes

There are also significant differences in the types of collisions you see when motorcyclists are involved. Car accidents are commonly the result of distracted drivers, fatigue, and reckless driving. Motorcycle accidents often involve cars that fail to see a rider, fail to yield to a rider, or follow too closely. Other common triggers include road hazards that are a minor inconvenience for cars, but incredibly dangerous for motorcycles—potholes and gravel, for example. Lane-splitting, although illegal in Tennessee, is still relatively common and causes its fair share of accidents.

It is also much easier to lose control of a motorcycle than it is to lose control of a car. Motorcycles strike a careful balance, and it is all too easy for something to throw off that balance—a rider swerving to avoid an obstacle or an unexpected turn in the road, to name a couple. This increases the likelihood of single-vehicle accidents.

Public bias and misconceptions

This is a serious issue for riders across the country. Despite the fact that a significant amount of motorcycle accidents are a direct result of driver misbehavior and aggression, many people still believe that accidents are always the fault of the rider involved. People view motorcyclists as reckless and wild, unconcerned with the rules of the road and how their actions affect others. In reality, most riders are careful and cautious while on the road.

These beliefs don’t exist in a vacuum. Not only are they shared by the drivers you share the road with, they are shared by insurance adjusters, attorneys, judges, and jury members. This type of discrimination can make it incredibly difficult for motorcyclists to get a fair shot at compensation after a crash, no matter how obvious it is that the other party’s negligence caused the collision.

Legal and insurance challenges

When a motorcyclist starts fighting for compensation after a crash caused by someone else, it’s not uncommon for them to hit hurdle after hurdle. To start, they are often under intense scrutiny from insurers. Insurance adjusters are often looking for fault in a rider’s actions, even when they did everything they reasonably could to avoid a crash. Adjusters may attempt to minimize injuries or suggest that the rider contributed to the collision. Tennessee is a modified comparative fault state, so if a rider is 50% or more to blame for an accident, they cannot recover any compensation in court. Don’t be surprised if the insurance adjuster pushes your share of blame higher to decrease your compensation. This is a huge struggle for riders, as their medical bills and expenses tend to be higher than drivers’ due to the greater risk of severe injury.

Types of damages

Motorcycle accidents often result in much higher damages than other types of car accidents. Riders need more medical care in general—this includes emergency care to stabilize them, surgical care to address any injuries, and medical treatment to prevent infection caused by road rash. Motorcyclists who suffer catastrophic injuries may need long-term rehabilitative care, physical therapy, and other expensive types of care. In some cases, riders are left permanently disabled or with a permanent partial loss of mobility.

All of these losses should be fairly compensated in a personal injury settlement. But getting insurance companies to provide suitable compensation in an inexpensive accident is already a challenge; when damages start heading towards hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, you can expect them to fight even harder.

The importance of having an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer

Motorcycle accidents cannot just be lumped in with other types of vehicle accidents. They are unique and distinctly separate from car and truck collisions, which means you need a lawyer who has handled motorcycle accident claims in the past. They can look at nuances in the evidence and interpret them accurately, fight against the bias that motorcyclists face in accident claims, and bring in experts in motorcycle accident reconstruction. Choosing the right motorcycle accident lawyer can give you a fighting shot at fair compensation.

Reach out to Wagner Workers’ Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your case

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Tennessee, talking to an attorney who can help in the pursuit of compensation is your next step. Our team is here to guide you through this process and advocate for you in the face of societal bias and discrimination. Connect with us online or call us today to set up a time to talk now.