Motorcyclists can sustain severe, life-threatening injuries in a collision. Between the medical costs and the recovery time, it can be months before they’re healed. It’s likely the crash occurred because of negligence and could have been prevented. When a negligent party is responsible, the motorcyclist may have grounds for a claim. If this has happened to you or a loved one, our Minnesota motorcycle accident lawyer can help you get the justice you deserve.
Madia can help you or your loved one get the compensation necessary for a full recovery. We will do everything we can to hold the other party accountable for their actions. We will fight for your future with a thorough accident investigation, application of the state laws, and a passion for getting justice for those who have been hurt.
Minnesota Motorcycle Laws
One of the most important pieces of information that you should know before you get onto your motorcycle and ride it through the streets is the law. There are many laws that apply to motorbike operators in the state of Minnesota, and you need to abide by them in order to be considered legal while on the road.
Following the rules for motorcyclists can also help you ensure that you are not held liable in the event of an accident because you can prove that you were following all the laws and safety regulations that are required of you. Here are our state’s laws and regulations for motorcyclists and their passengers:
- Riders must have liability insurance and carry proof of that insurance while riding.
- All riders and passengers must wear eye protection in the form of a face shield, goggles, or glasses regardless of whether or not there is a windshield.
- Riders with permits or under the age of 18 must wear a helmet.
- Motorcycles must have a headlight and it is required to be on the entire time it is in operation, but they are not allowed to have more than four headlights.
- Bikes must have a red or yellow tail light and a stop lamp.
- They must also have a rear-view mirror and a horn.
- Motorcycles need at least one brake on the front or rear tire, and it can be operated by hand or foot.
- Motorcycles must have visible turn signals, and riders can also use hand signals.
- License plates must be displayed on the motorbike.
- Motorcyclists have the same duties as regular drivers and are allowed full use of lanes.
- Anyone riding on a motorcycle must be on a fixed seat, and if they are a passenger, they have to be able to reach the footrests for their seat as well.
- Motorcyclists cannot lane split.
- Headphones can only be worn in one ear while riding.
All these laws might seem common sense, but if you’re new to the motorcycle world, you might not have working knowledge of all these regulations. It’s important to remember that most of these are in place for motorcyclists’ safety and following the law can sometimes be the difference between an accident and riding smoothly.
However, not all accidents can be avoided. If you’ve followed all the laws and regulations, our Minneapolis motorcycle accident attorney can help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
For a legal consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer serving Minneapolis, call 612-349-2729
Causes of Motorcycle Crashes
Unfortunately, these types of accidents affect many Minnesota residents each year. In 2019, Minnesota had 44 fatalities from motorcycle accidents. 840 motorcyclists were injured.
There were 412,104 licensed operators and 216,773 registered motorcycles in Minnesota in the same year. With so many bikers on the road, drivers need to be aware of how to share the road safely. However, dangerous driving behaviors can lead to serious injuries and fatalities. When Madia is seeking justice for you, we’ll first look at what caused the crash.
- Inexperience with Motorcyclists. If a driver isn’t used to motorcyclists, they may not know how to maneuver their car around them. When a driver is passing, they need to make sure the rider has plenty of room and warning. A driver that passes to closely could hit the rider and knock them off balance. Additionally, drivers may not see motorcyclists in intersections because they are much smaller than other cars. The driver could turn and not notice an oncoming rider until it’s too late.
- Reckless Driving. Negligent driving behaviors like speeding, following too closely, and distracted driving can all cause serious accidents and injuries. The driver doesn’t have enough time to stop or avoid the motorcyclist in front of them when they’re driving recklessly.
- Road Rage. Some drivers may not be used to having motorcyclists on the road and may become angry if they are cut off or otherwise affected by a motorcyclist on the road. If a driver is angry and they allow this to inform how they’re driving, they may try to get back at the motorcyclist by bumping their back tire or cutting them off. Both of these instances are extremely dangerous and can cause the rider to lose their balance and fall from the bike.
- Dooring. Sometimes, when someone is exiting their vehicle, they may not notice a biker. When they open their door, they can hit the biker and cause them to fall.
- Defective Motorcycle Parts. If a motorcycle has defective parts, they could malfunction while the rider is using it. They could experience a tire blow out, braking issues, or steering issues.
- Poor Weather Conditions. Sleet, snow, and ice are common dangers for the road. They make the road slick and it’s difficult to see. Rain and fog can also obstruct a rider’s vision.
- Poor Road Conditions. In addition to the weather affecting the state of the road, other flaws or issues with the road can possibly cause a biker to lose their balance and fall. For example, large cracks or potholes can create hazards for riders. If they don’t see the pothole in time, they may get caught and fall. Other road conditions include debris. The motorcyclist may not see it in time and have to ride over it, or they could try to avoid it and they may have to swerve. Both of these instances could cause an accident.
With Madia as your Minnesota motorcycle accident lawyer, there are several pieces of evidence we will refer to so that we can determine the cause of your accident. For example, the police report, your recollections, and eyewitness accounts will all help us in our investigation. We’ll also see if any cameras captured the collision.
When we have determined the cause of the accident, we will then look into how you were harmed. Motorcycle injuries can be debilitating, which is why it’s essential to have an experienced lawyer fighting for you.
Minneapolis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Near Me 612-349-2729
Why Are Motorcycle Accident Injuries So Severe?
Motorcyclists face a different level of risk when they’re involved in an accident. They don’t have the protection that a car provides. The most that riders can do to protect themselves is to wear a helmet, thick protective clothing, appropriate shoes, and gloves. However, this doesn’t always prevent injuries.
When a collision occurs, it’s likely that the rider will fall from their bike. They have the impact of the initial accident and they will also have the impact of hitting the ground, which can result in serious injuries. If the accident happened at a high speed, the impact can be deadly.
Injuries to the brain, spine, and bones are all possible outcomes in a motorcycle crash. In some cases, the rider could try to brace their fall by holding out an arm or leg to catch themselves. Unfortunately, this can put the full force of the impact on that limb. This can result in serious breaks, sprains, and strains.
These traumatic injuries can have permanent consequences. Permanent loss of brain function or losing function in the legs are both catastrophic injuries that can happen in a motorcycle accident. These injuries will need extensive care with continued treatment.
In addition to catastrophic injuries, there are other serious injuries that motorcyclists may suffer from in an accident. Let’s take a look at what road rash is and how it can affect a rider.
Road Rash
Motorcyclists may also suffer from injuries known as road rash. When there is friction between the skin and the ground, it can damage the skin and cause road rash—a type of burn. There are different levels of severity that this kind of injury can be.
If it’s a minor injury, the skin may only be scraped. The top of the skin could blister or appear red. These may be able to heal at home.
A step above this injury is if the skin breaks. Once the skin is broken, there’s an increased risk of the injury becoming infected. If there’s fluid draining from the wound, swelling, or you have a fever, then the injury could be infected. There’s also the chance that pieces of dirt, gravel, or other debris could get into the open wound and will need to be removed.
In more severe road rash injuries, the scrape can reach below layers of skin to the point where fat and muscle are exposed. If this is the case, the person will likely need immediate treatment. Surgery involving skin grafts could be necessary. If the nerve damage is too severe, the damaged limb could be amputated.
As you’re dealing with the outcome of these injuries, you will likely have a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about how long it will take for your injuries to heal, what you’re going to need to go through for treatment, and how you’re going to afford the cost of care. That’s where Madia comes in.
Our Minneapolis motorcycle accident lawyer will carefully evaluate the costs of your injuries. We’ll look at medical records to see the types of injuries you sustained as well as what it will take for these injuries to recover. We’ll make sure to understand the full extent of your injuries.
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Do You Have a Valid Motorcycle Accident Claim?
Madia Newville can help people who have been injured in motorcycle collisions get the recovery they need. If you were injured in an accident and are wondering if this is an option for you, contact us to see if we can help. When we are assessing how you were hurt and why, we’ll also make sure that certain elements are present in what happened to you. When we are building your claim, we’ll need to show these elements so you have the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve.
The first item your motorcycle accident lawyer will need to establish is that you were owed a duty of care by the other party. When you’re on the road, you’re supposed to drive safely so no harm comes to other drivers. They owe you that duty of care as well.
Then, we’ll show that the other party failed to meet that duty of care. Their negligent action, whether it was following too closely, not checking the lane before making a turn, or speeding, is what causes them to fail to meet the duty of care.
We will also work to prove that their negligence is what caused the accident, and that you suffered injuries and losses in the accident.
You deserve compensation for the costs of the injuries and losses you sustained. These occurred because someone else failed to act responsibly, and their action directly harmed you. With Madia as your motorcycle accident attorney, we will look into the damages of the accident so we can fight for you to recover the compensation you deserve.
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What Compensation Can You Receive?
When you’re dealing with the injuries of a motorbike accident, you can rely on our Minneapolis motorcycle accident lawyer to fight for you. We’ll assess the full extent of your injuries and damages. With our experienced attorneys, you can have peace of mind that we will fight for your best interests.
We will examine each aspect of your case to see how you’ve been affected. One of the major losses we’ll seek to cover is the cost of your medical expenses. This includes past medical bills and future expenses from therapy, surgery, rehabilitation, and more. If you need medical equipment, medication, or other forms of treatment for your injury, we will seek to include it in your compensation.
As you’re healing, you may also not be able to work. Your motorcycle accident lawyer will calculate the days of lost wages. If your injury will prevent you from returning to your previous job, we’ll look into the lost earning capacity. While it can be difficult to know that you won’t be able to return to the job you held, know that with Madia Newville as your lawyer, someone is seeking justice for you.
In the accident, your motorcycle could have sustained serious damage. We will fight for you to recover losses for property damage.
The remaining components of your compensation include the hidden damages of the accident. Each day when you live with your injuries, you may experience pain and suffering. The cost of living with your injuries and the pain you have to go through is a loss that we will consider when calculating your compensation.
Your injury may be preventing you from riding or doing other hobbies that you used to enjoy. In some cases, you may have trouble with certain tasks like cooking or getting dressed. This can take an emotional toll—and can be referred to as loss of enjoyment of life. We will carefully examine your noneconomic damages.
Madia has motorcycle accident lawyers who are dedicated to providing help to those who have been wrongfully injured. We understands that motorcyclists may have trouble with their claim because of bias from the insurance company.
They might argue that you acted in a way that led to the accident simply because you were on a motorcycle. If you don’t fight back, that could prevent you from receiving the compensation that you deserve. In other cases, they may not think that your injuries are as severe as you claim—and thus may try to offer less compensation. And, they might not calculate that your injuries could continue to cost you well into the future.
Madia won’t let stereotypes decide your future. When we are representing you, we’ll look over all the facts and the resulting damages so you can recover from the injuries and losses you’ve suffered.
Get the Representation You Deserve Today
When someone’s negligent actions have caused you to suffer injuries and damages, you deserve to have experienced and dependable representation. Madia stands up for responsible motorcyclists who have been harmed because of a reckless driver. We will protect your rights and fight for you to secure your financial future.
You deserve to get the recovery you need without worrying about how you’re going to pay for hospital bills, future expenses, and keep food on the table. Our Minnesota motorcycle accident lawyer will diligently fight for your compensation to cover your losses so you can put your full attention into healing.
Give our office a call today so we can start helping you move past the accident and toward recovery.
Call 612-349-2729 or complete a Case Evaluation form
