Motorcycles and Drunk Driving: Exercising Extreme Caution
Personal Injury Law & Legal Alternatives When You Suffer From A Motorcycle Accident
When we talk about drunk driving, we are usually talking about people driving a vehicle, such as a car or a truck. Most people don’t think of someone riding a motorcycle under the influence – though that is just as much a problem as some driving under the influence behind the wheel of a car. In many cases, it is worse – if not in frequency than in severity.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the number of deaths involving motorcyclists and drunk drivers is on the rise. The agency also reported that 27 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents were found to have been driving drunk. That’s a higher percentage than other types of drivers.
If you are injured in an accident because you are hit by a motorcyclist who has been driving drunk, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. It’s important that you talk with a Mesa personal injury attorney to learn about your rights and your legal options.
Increased Risks Associated with Motorcycle Accidents
Any accidents involving a motorcycle can result in more injuries to the motorcycle rider. To understand why, you need only look at the motorcycle design. It is a single, open-air unit. The rider is completely unprotected. There is nothing holding the rider to the seat, nor is there anything blocking the rider from the outside world.
When a motorcycle rider gets into an accident, he will almost certainly be thrown from the bike. The person could be thrown headlong into a tree or thrown many yards along the highway. Head injuries, spinal injuries, skin abrasions, and more are common injuries.
But the motorcyclist isn’t the only one who can be injured in these accidents. If a motorcyclist is driving drunk, they are more likely to make errors in judgement that can lead to big accidents. Even if a motorcyclist runs a red light because of the poor decision making or slowed response time caused by drinking, that can cause a car to swerve or to hit the cyclist or other cars or property, which can cause a chain reaction that can lead to extensive injuries and even deaths.
Litigating a Personal Injury Claim against a Motorcyclist
If you are injured in an accident with a motorcyclist who was driving drunk, you may entitled to compensation for what you have suffered. If it can be shown that the accident was caused by the motorcyclist, you can sue for remuneration.
You need to consult with a Mesa personal injury attorney to learn whether you have cause for a personal injury lawsuit and what it might be worth. However, if your attorney says that you have a suit, you may be able to get compensation for things like the medical care you received for your injuries, any future medical care or physical therapy you will need because of your injuries, the money you lost from time lost at work, damage to your vehicle or other property and more.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you may even be able to sue for your pain and suffering and get additional payment. If you have a loved one who died in an accident with a motorcyclist who was driving drunk, you may also be able to sue for your loss. You need to talk with a personal injury attorney to understand what’s possible and to learn about what rights you have under the law. Don’t let the insurance company dismiss you or try to offer you a lower settlement than you deserve.
Call Mesa Injury Lawyers today to talk with one of our personal injury attorneys about the circumstances of your accident and to learn whether you have cause for a personal injury lawsuit. Our personal injury lawyers will thoroughly review the details of your accident and pursue all legal strategies for getting you the compensation you deserve. We also represent clients who have lost a loved one to a car crash. Our car crash injury attorneys are committed to help you get justice for all that you have lost. Call us in Mesa today to start talking with one of our experienced Mesa personal injury attorneys about your case.
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Mesa Injury Lawyer
1731 West Baseline Road Suite #103
Mesa, AZ 85202
Tel: 602-600-6001
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Website: injurylawyersmesa.com