Motorcycle collisions have the potential to be far more devastating than crashes involving larger vehicles. After all, motorcycles offer very little protection from physical injury. Riders break bones, suffer spinal cord injuries and even develop brain injuries because of crashes with larger vehicles.
Injured motorcycle riders often seek to hold the drivers who cause crashes accountable by seeking compensation for their losses. They may face certain complications in their pursuit of financial justice. What common complications arise when motorcycle riders need financial compensation after a crash?
1. Insufficient insurance
Many drivers resent the obligation to pay for insurance. They only carry the minimum amount of liability coverage required by law.
Particularly in cases where riders sustain catastrophic injuries, they may find that the bodily injury coverage available is not enough to pay for their medical care. They also have to consider the cost of repairing or replacing their motorcycle and offsetting their lost wages. Instead of a simple insurance claim, motorcycle riders often have to look into options for litigation after crashes.
2. Bias from police officers and others
There are numerous negative social stereotypes about motorcycle riders. People often assume that every motorcycle rider breaks the law because they notice riders doing unsafe things in traffic occasionally.
Riders may find that police officers feel inclined to take another driver’s word over theirs. They may also find themselves fighting an uphill battle against the internal biases of insurance professionals or those overseeing court proceedings. They may need help making their case sympathetic to others.
3. Challenges calculating future losses
When motorcycle riders sustain significant injuries, they likely have a stack of bills to cover. They also need to think carefully about future expenses.
Major injuries may trigger ongoing medical expenses for the rest of an individual’s life or for several years after the collision. In some cases, people with injuries caused by motorcycle crashes may also experience a marked reduction in their long-term earning potential. They may be incapable of continuing their careers or may become unable to work at all.
Motorcycle riders hurt in crashes often need help evaluating their options and optimizing their compensation. Reviewing the circumstances surrounding a motorcycle collision can help riders in their pursuit of economic justice after a crash.