Frequently we are asked to look into motorcycle accidents. In fact, I can tell you the first case I ever handled doing personal injury work was a motorcycle accident. Motorcycles have become very prevalent on the road. The injuries that result from a motorcycle accident are much more severe than those that we see from motor vehicles.
The number of injuries and even death coming from motorcycle accidents has increased drastically in the last ten years. They’re difficult to see. They’re difficult to follow. They move quickly, and unless you hear them, many times it’s very difficult to avoid them.
Handling a motorcycle accident has several unique aspects. Obviously, the negligence issue of whether someone has done something wrong and caused injury to a motorcycle operator is no different than what happens in a motor vehicle accident. Motorcycles have to follow the same rules of the road as the automobiles do, so if there is fault on the part of the operator of a motor vehicle who collides with a motorcycle, that part of it is pretty much the same.
The difference in motorcycle accidents is that people who ride on motorcycles don’t get the benefit of the medical coverage that’s provided through their auto insurance. Typically, in an auto case and you’re in your own car, and you have an auto accident, you have what’s called personal injury protection coverage. That’s medical coverage that you carry in the car. You don’t get that with a motorcycle because that’s been excluded by virtue of the law, so generally, you don’t have that coverage. You don’t have that benefit for you.
Also, you have to keep in mind that if you have an accident, and you’re on a motorcycle, and your accident is with a private passenger vehicle, nine times out of ten you’re going to be subject to the verbal threshold, which means you have to show serious and permanent injury before you can recover. Those are two things that apply to motorcycles, and don’t apply to anyone else.
However, motorcycles have their own aspects and their own issues. There is a prejudice that you see against motorcycles. We feel that when you’re handling a case involving a motorcycle. The best way to deal with that is to have someone on your side who has handled motorcycle accidents before; who has represented people who ride motorcycles so that they can present your case as a motorcycle rider in the best light.
The law firm of Mattleman, Weinroth & Miller, P.C., is composed of experienced personal injury attorneys throughout the state of New Jersey. Please contact the office for a free initial consultation and get any questions answered regarding your specific case.