Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Personal injury Lawyer Matt Arnold answers the question: “I was involved in a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Do I need a lawyer?”
Motorcycles are a popular mode of transportation. They offer a convenient and inexpensive alternative to driving a car, truck, or SUV. Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents can result in serious injuries or fatalities. All drivers need to be aware of the ways they can improve motorcycle safety on the roads. May is designated as National Motorcycle Safety Month. Governmental agencies across the country focus on motorcycle safety education during the month of May.
Why Motorcycle Accidents are Dangerous
Motorcycles are fun to ride, but riders can suffer serious injuries if they get into a crash. Other vehicles are less likely to see motorcycles and therefore they may hit them unexpectedly. North Carolina has more than 189,000 registered motorcycles. All drivers need to be aware that they share the road with motorcycles. Some of the most common causes for accidents include speeding, distracted driving, and failure to obey traffic signals. Large SUVs are more common than ever and because of their size and height they can make it more difficult to see motorcycles on the road. Distracted driving, such as texting while behind the wheel, can result in crashes.
When a larger motor vehicle collides with a motorcycle, the motorcyclist is more likely to suffer severe or life threatening injuries. The most common injuries are head trauma, back trauma, internal injuries, and broken bones. Severe head and neck injuries occur when the rider’s body hits the pavement. Some of these injuries may require immediate surgery and may cause brain trauma and disabilities.
Motorcycle Accident Prevention
Motorcycle riders should pay particular attention to the rules of the road and follow traffic laws. Ride at a safe speed and do not ride on the shoulder or between lanes of traffic. Wear the proper safety gear and clothing. A helmet can help protect your head in an accident and may save your life. Long sleeves, long pants, and proper shoes will provide limited protection in a crash. Make sure that your motorcycle lights are operating properly and wear reflective clothing when you ride at night.
It is essential to gain as much knowledge and expertise before you ride your motorcycle. North Carolina offers a motorcycle safety education program. The program provides classes for beginning riders as well as courses for those with some riding experience. Participation allows you to garner more experience so you will be a safer driver on the road. Learn how to share the road with other drivers and drive in a defense manner. You can take a course through the North Carolina Community College System. They offer courses through the North Carolina Motorcycle Safety Education Program. Successful completion of the course provides you with a waiver that exempts you from taking the riding portion of the license exam at the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles.
If you were seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact our office at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to discuss your accident with our legal team.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/191002/number-of-registered-motorcycles-in-the-us-by-state/
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/motorcycle-1440028
See Our Related Video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taAhrp46q3w&list=PLmCumX4VjiLou2xhyv6JLk67U1r9g_QR9&index=28
See Our Related Blog Posts:
Motorcycle Accidents in North Carolina
Vehicle Accident Investigations