Motorcycle crashes are some of the common types of traffic accidents that occur in Hackensack, New Jersey. These accidents are just as prevalent on rural roadways as on busy interstate highways in the area, including Interstate 80.
Motorcycles offer their riders very little protection. When a motorcyclist becomes involved in a traffic accident, the impact can knock them off their bike, causing them to strike the ground hard. As a result, they may suffer debilitating and permanent injuries which require ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation. In some cases, motorcycle accident victims can wind up in wheelchairs and depend upon others for lifetime medical care.
In most instances, motorcycle crashes result from other drivers' negligence. Insurance coverage differs for motorcyclists than other drivers in New Jersey. If you suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash, you might find yourself facing off against another driver's insurance company, not your no-fault policy.
You need a knowledgeable personal injury attorney advocating for you as soon as possible after your accident. The knowledgeable Hackensack motorcycle accident lawyers at Reinartz Law Firm have significant experience filing motorcycle accident claims with insurance companies and litigating them to a successful conclusion in the court system.
In fact, our skilled and compassionate attorneys have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.
At Reinartz Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers only represent victims of serious accidents—not insurance companies or their representatives. We can meet with you to discuss your legal options and help you maximize the compensation you recover for your motorcycle accident injuries.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Hackensack motorcycle accident lawyer, please call our office today or contact us online for more information.
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Common Motorcycle Crash Injuries
Statewide statistics show that of the 53 motorcycle accident fatalities that occurred in a recent year, most accident victims were in their late 20s or 30s. Moreover, the biggest contributing factors to fatal motorcycle crashes included speeding, improper passing maneuvers, and distracted driving.
Unlike car drivers and passengers, motorcyclists have minimal protection. Except for their helmets, they do not have an outer barrier or metal covering surrounding them in a crash. Therefore, the impact force may knock them off their motorcycle and onto the ground, causing debilitating and potentially deadly injuries.
A motorcycle crash victim's injuries will depend upon various factors, including how they fall to the ground, which body parts they strike on the ground, and the impact force.
Even when motorcyclists wear helmets, those helmets may crack in a forceful collision. As a result, motorcyclists may sustain a traumatic head or brain injury, such as a concussion or coma. The cyclist may suffer a road rash injury, soft tissue contusion, or broken bones. Finally, some cyclists sustain internal organ damage, spinal cord injuries, and full or partial paralysis from their accidents.
If you believe you suffered injuries in a motorcycle crash, you should not wait too long to obtain medical treatment. Instead, follow up at an urgent care facility or hospital emergency room as soon as possible after your accident—preferably on the same day.
If necessary, the medical provider on duty can render emergency treatment and make recommendations for future care. For example, depending on your injuries, you might need to follow up with a primary care doctor, neurologist, or orthopedist, for ongoing medical treatment. Alternatively, you may need to seek treatment from a physical therapist at a rehabilitation facility.
While you focus on recovering from your injuries, our legal team can start handling the legal components of your claim. We can begin gathering important case documents, including copies of the police report, eyewitness statements, and medical records to date. Once you complete your medical care, we can forward these documents to the appropriate insurance company adjuster and begin negotiating a favorable monetary settlement on your behalf.
Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycle crashes usually result from driver negligence. A negligent driver operates their vehicle unreasonably, carelessly, or recklessly under the circumstances.
Traffic law violations commonly cause motorcycle accidents. Drivers violate the rules of the road when they speed, aggressively weave in and out of heavy traffic, tailgate, fail to use their turn signals, and fail to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles at the proper times. When a car or truck driver engages in reckless or careless vehicle operation, they may not see a cyclist in the vicinity, causing a serious impact.
Another common cause of motorcycle crashes is intoxicated driving. Passenger vehicle drivers are legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Minors who are under 21 years old, along with commercial vehicle drivers, must follow stricter standards.
Drinking and driving is dangerous because alcohol significantly impairs a driver’s reaction time and ability to think clearly. Therefore, even if the intoxicated driver sees a motorcycle, they may not react in time to avoid a crash. Moreover, alcohol intoxication leads to various physical symptoms, including blurred vision, which may prevent a driver from even seeing a nearby motorcyclist.
Motorcycle crashes may also result from distracted driving when a car or truck driver fails to watch the road. Electronic devices, including GPS navigation systems, tablets, and cell phones, may prove distracting for many drivers. When a driver looks down or turns their head to the side, they may not see a motorcycle or other vehicle in the vicinity, causing a serious crash. Even a one-or-two-second distraction is long enough for a motorcycle accident to occur.
In addition to driver error and negligence, mechanical defects can sometimes cause motorcycle crashes. Motorcycle part manufacturers, including companies that manufacture handlebars, steering mechanisms, and braking components, have a duty to design and assemble their products safely and carefully.
When a defect exists in the manufacturing or design process—and it causes a motorcycle crash—the injured cyclist may have a viable legal claim against the product designer, manufacturer, or distributor.
Similarly, repair facilities are responsible for performing repair work on motorcycles in a safe and workmanlike manner. When repair facilities are negligent, they may cause a motorcycle to malfunction while out on the road, causing an accident. When that happens, the injured cyclist may have a viable legal claim against the repair facility.
Finally, some motorcycle crashes result from serious roadway defects, including deep cracks and potholes on roads, highways, parking lots, and garages. Whenever a motorcycle accident results from a roadway defect, the injured cyclist can bring a legal claim against the responsible construction company or municipality for damages.
The knowledgeable team of Hackensack motorcycle accident lawyers at Reinartz Law Firm can identify potentially responsible individuals and entities in your motorcycle accident case. We can also determine your eligibility for filing a claim or lawsuit with the responsible party’s insurance company—and take the necessary legal actions on your behalf. Our goal is to help you maximize the monetary compensation you recover for your motorcycle accident injuries.
Insurance Claims After a Crash
The mandatory PIP coverage that other drivers must purchase does not apply to motorcyclists in New Jersey.
Injured motorcyclists, instead, must file a claim against at-fault drivers and their insurers. Motorcyclists must prove that someone else caused the crash and their conduct led to your injuries.
While proving fault can make a motorcycle claim more complex, it also allows you to seek more compensation than you can under a PIP claim. However, expect the insurance company to make it difficult. If a policyholder is not liable for an accident, the insurance company avoids paying a settlement to an injured claimant. Therefore, you might have to fight harder for your compensation. You always want the right legal assistance and representation in this situation.
Our experienced legal team can help you determine the proper claims you need to file against the at-fault driver and help you pursue the maximum amount of monetary damages available in your accident case.
Recoverable Damages Following a Motorcycle Crash
If you file a claim against the at-fault party's insurance company, you can recover various damages in your motorcycle accident case. To recover these monetary damages, you must prove your claim's legal elements.
First, you must show that the at-fault driver or other responsible entity acted unreasonably under the circumstances and that their negligence caused your accident. You must also demonstrate that you suffered at least one physical injury in the accident—and that your injuries directly resulted from the accident.
To establish this, a healthcare provider must state in writing—or at a deposition or trial—that the accident caused your injury to a reasonable degree of medical probability.
Once you establish these legal elements, the damages you can recover will ultimately depend on the nature and extent of your injuries and the cost of your medical treatment.
Medical bills after a motorcycle crash can pile up very quickly. Accident victims often need to go to the hospital emergency room, undergo a significant medical procedure, and attend physical therapy sessions. Consequently, treatment bills often leave accident victims needing significant monetary compensation. This is especially true if they require future surgeries or other medical procedures.
Some of the most common damages that motorcycle crash victims can recover include compensation for out-of-pocket costs, lost income, and related medical expenses. If they suffer a permanent injury and a medical provider determines that they need future care, these anticipated costs may be compensable also.
Motorcycle accident victims can also recover damages for their past and future pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disability, permanent disfigurement, loss of the ability to use a body part, loss of life enjoyment, and loss of spousal companionship and consortium.
The skilled team of motorcycle accident lawyers at Reinartz Law Firm can determine your eligibility for these damages and will help you pursue the necessary claim or lawsuit. We will zealously advocate for your legal interests and work to maximize the damages you recover in your case.
We see firsthand how significantly a motorcycle accident can change your life and how costly the resulting injuries can be. We fight for the rights of motorcyclists who suffer injuries when someone else causes them. See our case results to see how millions have been retrieved for accident victims.
Talk With an Experienced Hackensack Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today
You must take legal action immediately if you suffered injuries in a recent motorcycle crash. Waiting too long may limit your ability to recover the monetary compensation you deserve.
At Reinartz Law Firm, Hackensack personal injury lawyers have the knowledge and skills to help you recover the damages you need following your motorcycle accident. Our legal team can assist you throughout the claims-filing and negotiation processes and answer all your questions. If you can file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company—or a lawsuit against the at-fault driver—we can take the necessary legal steps and litigate your case to a favorable conclusion.
For a free case evaluation and legal consultation with an experienced Hackensack motorcycle accident lawyer, please call us today at (201) 778-4878 or contact us online for more information.
The Reinartz Law Firm
Address: Court Plaza South - West Wing21 Main St Suite 205,
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: (201) 289-8614
"Richard guided me in my suit and made me feel confident in my decisions during my entire case. He made recommendations that I otherwise, would not have known about."
