Motorcycle riders face unique dangers on the road and unique challenges in the legal system. Without the protection of an enclosed vehicle, motorcycle accident injuries tend to be severe. Riders also face bias from insurance adjusters and juries who unfairly blame motorcyclists for accidents.
Motorcycle accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries because riders lack the structural protection of a car. Common motorcycle accident injuries include road rash and severe skin abrasions, broken bones and compound fractures, traumatic brain injuries even with helmet use, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, limb amputation, and internal organ damage. Medical treatment for these injuries is often extensive and expensive, requiring multiple surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
One of the biggest challenges in motorcycle accident cases is the bias that riders face. Insurance adjusters and jurors sometimes assume the motorcyclist was at fault simply because they were on a motorcycle. Attorney Mike Zara understands this dynamic and works to overcome it by presenting clear evidence of the other driver's negligence, using accident reconstruction experts, and educating jurors about motorcycle safety and rider rights.
Most motorcycle accidents are caused by other drivers who fail to see motorcyclists. Common causes include left-turn accidents where a car turns in front of a motorcycle, lane-change collisions from drivers who do not check blind spots, rear-end collisions, dooring accidents in urban areas, road hazards that are minor for cars but dangerous for motorcycles, and drunk or distracted driving by other motorists.
Motorcycle accident victims may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, scarring and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, motorcycle repair or replacement, and in fatal cases, wrongful death damages for surviving family members.
Attorney Mike Zara handles motorcycle accident cases in all six states where he is licensed: