Rhode Island motorcycle accident lawyer. While riding a motorcycle can be one of the most exciting things a person can do, it can also be one of the most dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 4,600 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2014, with most being the result of crashes with automobiles, cars, trucks and vans. While this was a decrease of 2.3 percent from 2013, it’s nevertheless dangerous for motorcyclists to share the road with other motor vehicles, semi trucks and pickup trucks. While many motorcycle accidents involve other vehicles, there are various types of motorcycle accidents. If you need legal representation contact a Rhode Island motorcycle accident lawyer.
RI motorcycle accident
Rhode Island motorcycle accident lawyer
If there is one thing a motorcyclist does not want to see around a tight corner, it’s a patch of gravel waiting for them in the lane ahead. In these cases, if the cycle’s front tire hits the gravel, the result is a bad wreck that results in numerous injuries. In some of these instances, the gravel may be in the road due to a nearby construction project or road improvement project, which could possibly show negligence on the parties involved. In these cases, cyclists who have been injured often seek the services of a personal injury attorney to evaluate their case to determine if further legal action may be required.
A Car Changing Lanes
While many motorcycle accidents involve the cycle and car hitting one another, many times a car changing lanes suddenly can force a motorcycle off the road and result in serious injuries. Because most drivers are usually looking only for other vehicles when attempting to change lanes, they often fail to spot motorcycles until it’s too late. In many cases, the driver of the car may be distracted from texting while driving, eating, spilling a drink, changing the radio station, or other act that takes their eyes off the road for a split second. Unfortunately, it is in this brief time that a motorcyclist can get seriously injured or killed.
Personal injury attorney
In these or other situations where a motorcyclist is injured or killed due to the negligence of others, a personal injury attorney may be of great help. With their ability to be objective about the situation and offer sound advice based on years of experience, riders or their families can make an informed decision as to how they will proceed. If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Rhode Island contact Providence motorcycle accident lawyer, David Slepkow. A RI motorcycle accident lawyer will help you get the compensation you are entitled to.
Motorcycle accident injury lawyers
There are several causes of motorcycle accidents on the roads. The rising concern at the increasing cases of motorcycle accidents lead to a comprehensive survey made in 2009. This survey compiled a list of possible causes for motorcycle accidents on the road. By identifying the causes behind serious motorcycle crashes, it is easier to minimize their occurrence and make the road a safer place. Understanding the causes helps in taking preventative measures to stop motorbike accidents.
- Careless maneuvering by other drivers on the road: Four-wheeled vehicles tend to cause more motorcycle accidents than others. Most drivers are unable to detect motorcyclists or do not pay enough attention to them. They tend to make abrupt swerves that invariably results in a fall or collision. Motorcyclists are either forced off their bikes or make hard hitting physical contact resulting in severe injuries to the arm, neck and face areas.
- Loss of control of bike: Many motorcyclists have been victims of accidents because they were unable to control their motorcycles and took a skid or fall. In a motorcycle crash of this nature, the rider’s arms or legs often tend to get caught beneath his machine resulting in serious lacerations or even fractures. Control is defined as the ability to stop the bike at will in a safe manner.
- Sudden stops trigger accidents: Speeding was not a contributing factor for bike accidents. More clearly indicated was the occurrence of sudden stops as a cause for accidents. In fact, statistics indicated that as much as 70% of motorcycle accidents occurred when the motorcyclist was cruising at speeds less than 30 miles per hour. The solution is that motorcyclists are advised to slow down instead of clamping down the brake. The sudden switch in momentum makes the rider fly over the bike and sustain serious injuries.
- Age: The age factor has shown contradictory results in Europe and the US. In Europe, more young riders had had accidents while in the US, statistics favored middle-aged riders as more prone to accidents. But the DOT suggests that age perhaps is a redundant factor when it comes to accidents and the cause is more related to rashness while riding.
- Concealed objects: Another reason was cited as hidden objects that riders failed to detect until the last moment. Many times, the blinding glare of sunlight or low visibility during rains or snow can render solid objects nearly invisible until the rider was too close for comfort. Conversely, statistics indicated that motorcyclists who wore dark clothes were more likely to be missed than those who wore bright clothes.
Importance of protective gear in preventing accidents
The main issue that the study was able to highlight effectively was the importance of protective gear in preventing accidents. Since the study was based in Europe, helmets did not figure as a cause helmets are compulsory for motorcycle riding. The low results of motorcycle accidents were a clear proof of the fact that helmets made all the difference to bike riding. Perhaps it is time for the US to enforce all present regulations that require helmets to reduce the significance of catastrophic injuries sustained by motorcyclists in accidents of all types.
After a sudden death, a family can be emotionally and financially devastated, but even innocent victims are still required to prove their case. Families of those who died in a RI motorcycle accident as a result of the negligence of others deserve justice and fair compensation. If your family member died as a result of a motorcycle accident, you can contact us for a free consultation and case evaluation. Learn how we might be able to help you. We’re experienced, compassionate, aggressive and successful lawyers. Families of those who died as a result of the negligence of others deserve justice and fair compensation.
Motorcycle accident RI
The most recent ascertainable statistics from the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) are from 2013. In that year, 4,668 people on motorcycles lost their lives. About 88,000 were injured. Of the fatalities, 1,296 were related to alcohol consumption. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the number of deaths in motorcycle accidents in 2013 was 26 times that of fatalities in cars. As reported by the NHTSA, half of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. Vehicles turning left in front of a motorcycle accounted for 42 percent of the two vehicle accident motorcyclist fatalities.
You’re completely vulnerable to fatal injuries if you’re in a motorcycle accident in Rhode Island. There’s no steel body and frame around you. There aren’t any bumpers, air bags or seat belts either. That’s why most motorcycle accidents in RI result in severe injuries or fatalities. Sadly, a RI motorcycle accident can result in death or serious injury.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
Most motorcycle accidents in Providence, Pawtucket, Bristol or Cumberland RI aren’t caused by motorcyclists. Experienced Smart bikers in Rhode Island take precautions to attempt to avoid accident situations. Reasonable precautions can reduce the probability of a RI motorcycle accident The most common causes of fatal motorcycle accidents are:
- Vehicles turning left in front of motorcyclists
- Rear-end collisions
- Other vehicles changing lanes
- Vehicles failing to yield the right-of-way when entering a roadway or intersection
- Head-on collisions
The Wrongful Death Act
When a fatality occurs as the result of the negligence of somebody else, the decedent’s family might bring a case under the Rhode Island Wrongful Death Act called the “Death By Wrongful Act” statute. “§ 10-7-1 Liability for damages for causing death. – Whenever the death of a person shall be caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or default of another, and the act, neglect, or default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages in respect thereof, the person who, or the corporation which, would have been liable if death had not ensued shall be liable to an action for damages, notwithstanding the death of the person injured, and although the death shall have been caused under such circumstances as amount in law to a felony.” TITLE 10 Courts and civil procedure–Procedure in particular actions CHAPTER 10-7, Death By Wrongful Act,
The RI wrongful death statute details which family members are permitted to bring the action and the damages like medical bills, lost earnings and funeral expenses that the family can seek.
Contacting a RI motorcycle accident lawyer
If you were injured in a RI motorcycle accident, contact Rhode Island motorcycle accident attorney, David Slepkow. David Slepkow will help you get the compensation that you are entitled to.
Since motorcycles present smaller and lower profiles on the road, they’re less visible than passenger cars in traffic. Drivers and passengers of motorcycles have no enclosure around them to protect them. They don’t have seat belts or air bags either. Anybody on a motorcycle is vulnerable to serious injuries even with a light impact. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the number of deaths per mile traveled by motorcycle was 26 times the number of deaths traveled in passenger cars. In 2013, there were 4,668 motorcycle accident fatalities. There was a significant drop in 2014, when 4,586 people were killed, but there was also a significant rise in motorcycle accident injuries from 2013 when about 88,000 people were injured and 2014 when about 92,000 were injured.
It’s quite common for fatally injured motorcyclists to die from head injuries. Only 19 states and the District of Columbia have helmet laws though. As per the IIHS, helmet use prevents about 37 percent of all deaths and about 67 percent of all traumatic brain injuries.
Common causes of motorcycle accidents
The failure of other drivers to see motorcyclists in traffic is the largest cause of bike accidents. Either the motorcycle was never seen, or it was too late to avoid a collision after the other driver saw it. This is particularly true in head on collisions and when other vehicles are making left turns. Other common motorcycle accident scenarios involve:
- Lane splitting
- Dangerous driving like excessive speed, distracted or fatigued driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions
Common motorcycle accident injuries
Bike crashes in East providence are quick and violent occurrences. The overwhelming majority of them result in injuries or deaths. Upon impact, most motorcyclists are thrown from their bikes. It’s not unusual for them to strike stationary objects before coming to rest on the ground. Aside from head and neck injuries that predominate, other common motorcycle crash injuries include but aren’t limited to:
- Traumatic spinal cord injuries
- Hip and leg fractures
- Spinal fractures and disc herniation
- Shoulder, arm and hand fractures and dislocations
- Severe cuts, scrapes and bruises
Yes, some motorcycle accidents in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations are attributable to the negligence of motorcyclists, but most of the time, other people using the roadway just don’t see them. Awareness is warranted by both motorcyclists and drivers of other vehicles on the road. If you were injured in a RI motorcycle accident then contact a Rhode island motorcycle accident attorney.
motorcycle accident injury lawyers
Riding a motorcycle on any street or off-road area can be extremely dangerous to the health of the biker and passenger. Even though motorcycle accidents are less likely to occur than other types of vehicle collisions, they tend to produce more catastrophic injuries and deaths. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a motorcycle rider has a 35 times greater chance of dying in a collision that had they been a passenger or driver in a vehicle accident.
Riding a motorcycle in Rhode island and Providence Plantations is inherently dangerous because of the inattentive and sometimes illegal driving practices of other motorists sharing the roadway. This is true even for bike riders who take a proactive approach at driving defensively at all times. By understanding the most common types of motorcycle accidents in Rhode Island, bikers can remain alert to prevent the accident from occurring while riding. These RI accidents include:
Motorcycle-Car crash
A major misconception by many motorists on the road is that motorcycle accidents are caused by a biker’s aggressive behavior. In fact, many serious accidents are the result of inattentive drivers who had no idea a motorcycle was in the area. Many motorcycle-car collisions in Warwick, Cranston and Pawtucket are caused because of the “blind spot” where a motorist sharing the roadway could not see the biker due to nighttime conditions or adverse weather. Many of these Barrington, Bristol and Warren accidents could be avoided if drivers take that extra moment to check blind spots and remain alert at intersections or whenever entering a merging area on the roadway.
Sudden Stop Collision
While many rear end collisions cause serious damage to vehicles, when a motorcycle is involved the results can be catastrophic. A sudden stop into the back of a motorcycle can cause serious injuries or fatalities to the biker and/or passenger. In addition, if the motorcycle rear ends into a stopped or slow-moving vehicle, the biker can easily be thrown over the handlebars causing extensive injury or death. These types of collisions can be avoided when the motorcyclist chooses to follow a safe distance behind others and remains alert to provide adequate time to come to a complete stop safely.
Single- motorcycle Accident
The small frame and two wheels of a motorcycle makes it highly susceptible to toppling over, sliding or skidding under all conditions. Many of these accidents occur because of adverse weather conditions, curving roads and slick surfaces. Motorcycle riders can be seriously injured or killed in a single bike accident if roadway conditions are hazardous including streets under road construction, road surfaces built with grooves or from the pitfalls of traveling over a railroad crossing.
Open-Door motorcycle accident
“Dooring” accidents tend to occur in busy urban areas where a motorist enters or exits a parked vehicle along the side of the street. In many situations, vehicle drivers fail to look in the mirror to see any approaching traffic and opens the door into the direct path of the motorcyclist. These types of Rhode Island accidents often produce catastrophic results, especially if the biker is thrown over the handlebars or into the vehicle. These accidents can be easily avoided if drivers sharing the roadway follow rules of the road. Additionally, bikers must follow posted speed limits and operate their motorcycle at a safe distance away from the parked vehicles along the road.
Precautionary Measures to prevent motorcycle accident
Any time motorcyclists take to the roadway in Providence, they assume the risks involved in being injured or killed. However, protecting yourself can significantly lessen the potential of being involved in a serious accident. In addition, the biker should take all precautionary measures possible should an accident occur. This includes wearing a helmet, wearing protective safety gear and inspecting the bike to ensure it will operate safely even under the worst conditions.
It is important to remember that a motorcycle is often more challenging to spot than a passenger vehicle on the roadway. In addition, the potential of an accident is often exacerbated when drivers are inattentive, distracted, or fail to follow the rules of the road when merging or changing lanes.
Left Turn Bike Accidents
Almost 50 percent of all motorcycle accidents involve a vehicle turning left and hitting a motorcycle that they did not see. In fact, this is one of the most common types of accident between any two motor vehicles on the road. Drivers of all types of vehicles such as cars, trucks, vans and suvs should take extra precaution when turning left to make sure that they are not missing any other vehicle from their view when completing the turn. If you were injured in a RI left turn accident then contact a Rhode Island motorcycle accident attorney or RI motorcycle accident lawyers.
Lane Splitting collisions in Providence
Motorcycle drivers in Rhode Island would benefit greatly from never attempting to lane split. Lane splitting occurs when a motorcycle dodges through stopped traffic by driving in between two lanes of cars or between a car and the shoulder of the road. While this may seem like a logical action to take in stopped traffic, it is one of the most dangerous. Slowed or stopped vehicles are not anticipating that a motorcycle is going to pass them when traffic is not moving and this is how accidents occur.
Head On Collisions in Warwick, Cranston
Almost 78 percent of all motorcycle fatalities are attributed to head-on collisions. Most of these types of accidents occur in the evening hours. All Motorcycle Accidents Have The Potential To Be Catastrophic or deadly. Of course, there are many other events that can lead to a motorcycle accident. Road debris, drunk driving, and speeding on the part of the motorcyclist or the other driver can lead to a serious accident. Because motorcycles do not provide all of the safety features that other types of vehicle provide, it is very important that all drivers remain cautious when operating a motorcycle or operating a vehicle near one.
Important Facts To Remember
When you are operating a motorcycle, it is very important that you understand all of the laws within your state regulating the operation of this type of vehicle. State laws vary, and there are also many urban legends surrounding motorcycle use. For your safety, and to operate your motorcycle legally, you should review the following state laws:
• Helmet requirements. Even “no-helmet” states have insurance and age requirements that must be followed before a motorcycle can be operated without a helmet.
• Age requirements. Some states have laws about the age of the driver of a motorcycle or the legal age for passengers.
• Insurance requirements. Some states require you to have a health insurance policy that covers motorcycle use before operating the vehicle.
Over 50% of motorcyclist fatalities are over 40
Many people assume that younger riders are most likely to be killed in a motorcycle accident, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 54% of motorcyclists killed in accidents in 2014 were over the age of 40. The average age of a rider killed in a crash was 42 years old.
While younger riders usually have less experience riding, older riders seem to sustain more serious injuries. Brown University research cites reduced reaction time and vision, increased fragility, and the larger-sized motorcycles that older riders tend to prefer, which tend to roll over. Riders aged 60 and older were almost three times more likely to be admitted to a hospital following a motorcycle accident whereas riders between 40 and 59 were twice as likely to be admitted than younger riders.
One-third of riders in fatal crashes were drunk driving
According to NHTSA, 29% of riders involved in fatal accidents in 2014 had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher, which fits the definition of drunk driving. This compares with 22% of passenger car drivers in a fatal accident and 2% of commercial truck drivers.
Riders killed in a motorcycle accident between the ages of 35 and 39 had the highest rate of drunk driving at 42% following by those between 40 and 45 (41%), which is contrary to popular opinion that riders in their 20s would be most responsible for riding under the influence.
Super sports motorcycle riders are 4x more likely to be killed
A report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that super sports motorcycles are almost four times more likely to die in an accident than other motorcycle riders. Super sports bikes can reach speeds of up to 190 mph and have a lightweight design made for racing. This type of bike is most popular with riders under 30. According to the IIHS, super sports riders also had the youngest average age of fatality in an accident at just 27. Touring motorcycle riders, by comparison, were 51 years old on average when involved in a motorcycle fatality. Speed was a factor in 57% of super sports fatalities in 2005 compared to 27% on standard and cruising motorcycles.
If you were injured in a motorcycle wreck in Rhode Island, contact a RI motorcycle accident attorney. The lawyer will need to rely on extensive experience in dealing with RI motorcycle accidents. If your loved one, spouse or family member was killed in a tragic fatal motorcycle crash, contact A Rhode Island wrongful death lawyer. A RI motorcycle accident attorney will have extensive experience litigating fatal car and motorcycle collisions. If you are seeking an asbestos lawsuit attorney or a firefighter foam lawsuit lawyer, contact us.