Despite the fact that motorcycles only make up about 0.6% of vehicles traveling the roads each year in the U.S., they account for 18% of occupant fatalities and 4% of injuries. And over the past ten years, in particular, motorcycle accident deaths have increased by 27%.
The issue is that motorcyclists have less protection for their bodies when they get into an accident, which means their injuries are often much more serious. Neck injuries are especially a problem because even if the rider wears a helmet, this doesn’t protect the neck, which is just as important as the head.
Unfortunately, as the neck is connected to the spinal cord, injuries in this area can be quite severe and even life-threatening. Victims that suffer a neck injury after a motorcycle accident could face years of medical treatments and physical therapy, which can cost a lot of money. Their entire life can be affected as well if they are left disabled and unable to work.
This is why it is so important for motorcycle accident victims to work with a highly experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyer when filing their accident claim. With the right lawyer, you can rest assured that you will win the high-value settlement you need to help cover the cost of medical expenses and other potential damages, such as loss of income. You can even be compensated for physical pain & suffering and emotional distress.
Motorcycle Accidents in California
As California is full of beautiful sunshine and scenic roads, which make for perfect motorcycle rides, it has the highest number of registered motorcycles in the country at over 780,000. However, California also has some of the worst traffic congestion and some of the most dangerous roads and intersections. That, combined with all the motorcycles, means we often see a significant number of motorcycle accidents each year.
This also means thousands, even millions of dollars each year are spent on motorcycle accidents and claims. From the medical costs of treatment for motorcycle accident injuries and other out-of-pocket related expenses to lost income and property damage, the financial losses can be quite a burden. Not to mention how much a severe injury can impact a person’s quality of life.
And the worse the motorcycle accident injury is, the higher the cost. Motorcycle neck injuries can be especially problematic as they can leave victims permanently disabled and impaired. Some of the worst neck injuries can even result in death, which can leave loved ones behind to carry the emotional and financial burden of the accident.
Serious Neck Injuries and Other Motorcycle Accident Injuries
While any vehicle accident victim can suffer severe injuries, motorcycle accident injuries are often the worst due to the fact that motorcycle riders have little to protect them from impact. Even if the rider is wearing safety gear, they can easily be thrown from their bike in an accident or run over and crushed by other larger vehicles, resulting in catastrophic injuries.
Though neck injuries are sometimes the worst due to the neck’s connection to the spinal cord, other severe motorcycle accident injuries can include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Crushed bones and limbs
- Amputations
- Lacerations
- Severe facial injuries
- Severe road burn
- Leg injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
The various kinds of severe neck injuries that can result from a motorcycle accident are:
- Cervical fractures
- Whiplash
- Herniated or ruptured discs
- Cervical spondylolisthesis
- Fractured vertebrae
- Neck compressions
- Pinched nerves
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
The road to recovery from neck injuries, in particular, can be long and challenging. Even if a neck injury doesn’t affect the spinal column, it can still require months and even years of physical therapy, and there is no guarantee that the pain, discomfort, or limited mobility will ever fully go away. And neck surgery, even if it does fix the problem, can be extremely risky and expensive.
Recovering Compensation for Neck Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Because motorcycle accident neck injuries can be so catastrophic and expensive, it’s important to work with an attorney who can make sure your claim is adequately valued. There are many factors that can play a role in how much a victim is awarded for their injury claim, and it’s not uncommon for some claims to be undervalued when there is a lack of evidence or professional legal representation protecting the victim’s rights.
The right motorcycle accident injury lawyer can help you gather all the information you need to prove the extent of your injury and all that you have lost and suffered. Primarily, these factors or details that play a role in how much you are awarded are known as “damages.”
After a motorcycle accident, the damages that you can recover compensation for include:
- Hospital bills
- Current and future medical expenses
- Cost of therapy or rehabilitation services
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income or reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Physical pain & suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent impairment or disability
- Loss of consortium
The key to winning a high-value settlement for a motorcycle accident injury case is to gather as much evidence as possible that shows how the above things have affected your life financially, physically, and emotionally. An attorney can then use that evidence to build a strong case to ensure you are awarded the full and fair settlement you deserve.
California Motorcycle Accident Injury Lawyers: We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus On Your Life
If you are injured in a motorcycle accident in California and need help filing your claim, our team can assist you. At Sally Morin, our California neck injury and motorcycle injury lawyers see tons of cases like this every year because motorcycle accidents are so common in our state. As such, we understand how devastating these accidents can be and know what it takes to fight for the rights of our clients to ensure they get the full and fair settlement they deserve.
If you’ve suffered motorcycle accident injuries, call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.
