Getting Fair Compensation after a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents are a serious problem in Alaska and around the country. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there were 4,586 deaths and 92,000 injuries from motorcycle accidents in 2014. Motorcycle accidents often result in more serious injury than automobile accidents simply because the rider is less protected than a driver or passenger in a car. In fact, the same study cited above revealed that mile for mile, a motorcyclist was 27 times as likely as the occupant of a car to die in an accident, and nearly five times as likely to be injured.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

In many cases, motorcycle accidents occur in the same ways that car accidents occur. One of the most common is when a car making a left turn strikes another car or a motorcyclist. The key difference is that the motorcyclist is more likely to be killed or seriously injured in the accident than an automobile driver or passenger who is wearing a seatbelt and protected by the exterior of the vehicle and possibly air bags. Because of this vulnerability, Alaska and other states have launched awareness campaigns to encourage drivers to be aware of and careful about motorcycles on the road. Nonetheless, distracted driving is a serious problem, and presents and even greater threat to bikers than those in cars, trucks and vans.

Motorcycle Accident Settlements in Alaska

Like car accidents, most motorcycle accident claims fall under a two-year statute of limitations. A motorcycle accident injury may be settled before filing a lawsuit, settled after filing a lawsuit, or resolved at trial.

Because Alaska is a comparative fault state, a motorcyclist who was partially responsible for his or her own injury won’t necessarily be denied recovery. Instead, the rider’s attorney may negotiate a motorcycle accident settlement, or a jury may award the motorcyclists a portion of his or her damages, pro-rated based on the degree of fault attributed to each party.

Talk to an Anchorage Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Your first step when riding a motorcycle is to be cautious and alert. No amount of financial compensation will make up for serious physical injuries. However, if you have been injured and someone else is at fault, an Anchorage attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve.

While this compensation won’t eliminate your pain, it can reduce financial stress, increase access to the medical care and other assistance you need and help to get your life back on track after a motorcycle accident. If you’ve sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident, reach out right now to find out how we can help you begin to rebuild.