Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Delaware
Safeguarding the Rights of Bikers in Delaware
Are you looking for a motorcycle accident attorney in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania? Then you’re in the right place. Motorcycle accidents are an all too common cause of injury and death in our region. Our managing partner, Ben Schwartz, is a former motorcyclist and amateur cyclist. This means our law firm has firsthand experience dealing with inattentive motorists who don’t seem to care about sharing the road with bikers. If you or a family member has suffered injuries in such an accident, contact our motorcycle accident lawyers in Delaware today.
Are There Challenges After a Motorcycle Accident?
Motorcycle accidents present unique challenges. Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers medical expenses and lost wages, may have special deductions and exclusions for these wrecks. For instance, there can be exclusions for accidents that occur off-road or which do not involve another motor vehicle. Delaware motorcycle accident lawyers can help you better understand these nuances and help submit your PIP forms.
Motorcyclists may also run into issues with claims of liability. In many cases, insurance companies and the attorneys of at-fault drivers will claim that a biker holds some level of responsibility for their accident. Unfortunately, many in the public have a preconceived notion that riders engage in inherently dangerous behaviors. This is just one of the many reasons that victims of motorcycle accidents should seek an attorney. Don’t let yourself be taken advantage of.
What Leads to Motorcycle Vehicle Accidents?
There have been several major studies of motorcycle accidents. The most trusted U.S. study is called the Hurt Report, named after Professor Harry Hurt. The study was initiated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and published in 1981. The findings included the following:
- Two-thirds of motorcycle vs. car collisions occurred because the car driver failed to see the motorcycle and violated the rider’s right of way.
- Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk of brain injury but does not decrease the risk of accident or neck injury.
Motorcycles are exciting vehicles to operate, but the simple fact is that they increase the risk of harm. Some studies found that the risk of accidents is 30-times higher for bikers than for passenger vehicle drivers. Driver inattention, fatigue, speeding, and other negligence can lead to serious spinal cord injuries and other harm for motorcyclists.
If this happens to you or a loved one, our team of Delaware motorcycle accident lawyers may be able to help. If you retain our legal services, our primary goal will be advocating for you and fighting until you receive the best outcome possible.
What Are Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
Anyone involved in motor vehicle accidents has the potential to sustain injuries. This is just a fact of life. Unfortunately, serious harm is more likely if you’re on a motorcycle. That’s because you don’t have many of the safety features (e.g., airbags, metal frame protection, etc.) that come standard with passenger vehicles. For this reason alone, the following injuries are not uncommon following a motorcycle accident:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Broken bones and fractures
- Joint and ligament injuries
- Abdominal and visceral injuries
- Skin abrasion (“road rash”)
- Wrongful death
Any motorcycle accident injury can be serious, but the number of fatalities in these cases is particularly disheartening. Our Delaware motorcycle accident lawyers are heartbroken when they have to take on such cases, but it’s becoming a more common occurrence. In fact, statistics from a recent year show that motorcycle deaths have hit their highest point ever. Even as safety measures improve — both on the part of passenger vehicle drivers and motorcyclists — America seems unable to prevent the continually growing tragedy of motorcycle accident deaths.
If you’ve lost a loved one in such a wreck, Delaware personal injury attorneys can help you seek compensation and file a wrongful death lawsuit. If you or a loved one sustained injuries, having legal representation can also prove invaluable. Statistics back this up. Personal injury victims who have an attorney obtain larger court awards and settlements on average. And since we provide a free injury consultation at Schwartz & Schwartz, Attorneys at Law, you have nothing to lose by reaching out to our legal professionals for advice.
Motorcycle Accidents Lawyers in Delaware May Be Able to Help
If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle accident, you may be unsure of how to move forward. You might be dealing with lost wages, pain and suffering, expensive medical bills, and a host of other difficulties on top of a severe personal injury. In some cases, you may even have to deal with prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys if the other driver faces charges. Regardless of the circumstances of your situation, reaching out to a law firm may be in your best interest.
At Schwartz & Schwartz, our personal injury attorneys will fight hard to secure maximum compensation for your injuries. Our Dover and Wilmington offices serve the local and surrounding areas, but our legal professionals can also handle motorcycle accident cases in New Jersey, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other areas. If you’ve been injured, the first step in receiving a fair settlement or court award is to work with a motorcycle accident lawyer in Delaware. Contact us today by calling (302) 678-8700. Let us help you get justice.