PROVIDENCE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER

Providence Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you're suffering from injuries after a crash on your bike, the medical bills are likely piling up, you've missed a ton of work, your motorcycle may be totaled, and you're probably still in a lot of pain.

A motorcycle accident is one of the most dangerous types of traffic collisions. Riders are exceedingly vulnerable since they don't have the same protection of an enclosure that other motor vehicles have. As you might expect, crashes involving motorcycles tend to result in more serious injuries and extensive vehicle damage.

Let an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer help you get the compensation you're entitled to after your traumatic collision. Contact Attorney Louis W. Grande today.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Rhode Island

According to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, motorcycle riders are roughly 28 times more at risk of experiencing fatality after a traffic collision.

Between 2018 and 2019, 31 Rhode Island motorcyclists lost their lives in auto accidents, with Providence County containing the highest fatalities. Roughly 30% of riders who died in motorcycle accidents in 2019 weren't wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.

Sadly, motorcycle accident fatalities represent 14% of all traffic collisions, while they only make up 3% of all registered motor vehicles. Riders between the ages of 21 and 34 make up 42% of motorcycle crashes.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Regardless of fault, when it comes to motorcycle collisions, two of the most common causes of accidents involve:

• Excessive speed – a factor in 44% of motorcycle accidents
• Alcohol impairment – a factor in 42% of motorcycle accidents

Aside from speeding and drunk driving, certain traffic scenarios pose a higher risk to motorcyclists in Rhode Island.

Lane-Splitting

It's a common practice, but lane-splitting – or the act of a motorcyclist driving on the white lines between two lanes of stopped or slowed traffic – is illegal in Rhode Island. The unlawful practice is risky since vehicles could change lanes without seeing the rider, and the motorcycle will be traveling at high enough speeds to not be able to stop in time.

Blind Spots

Cars and trucks have blind spots, and drivers don't always check them diligently before changing lanes or swerving to avoid a traffic risk in front of them. Motorcycles are small vehicles, so they're even more difficult to see if a rider is in a car's blind spot.

Dooring

When a driver on the side of the road opens their door without checking for traffic approaching behind them, a motorcyclist could hit the door due to the inability to stop in time. This is a significant risk to riders driving in urban areas.

Rear-Ending

One of the most common types of traffic accidents, a rear-end collision, can cause catastrophic injuries to a motorcyclist. If a rider is hit from behind, there's a risk of being "sandwiched" between the two vehicles. If the rider hits another vehicle from behind, the risk of being thrown from their bike at great speed is enormous.

 

Possible Compensation in Motorcycle Accident Claims

In a motorcycle accident claim the injured party can typically recover two types of damages. The two categories of damages have to do with whether the loss is financially measurable.

Economic Damages

Also called "compensatory damages," economic damages can be directly calculated and include:

• Payment for medical bills and medical expenses
• Compensation for property damage and vehicle repairs
• Repayment for lost wages due to the injury

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages are a little more difficult to measure since there is typically no calculable loss, but injured parties are no less entitled to such damages.

Non-economic damages include:

• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Pain and suffering
• Decreased earning capacity due to the injury

Who Is at Fault in Motorcycle Accidents?

Riders get a bad rap for being careless or reckless drivers on the road, leading to the belief that motorcyclists are at fault more often for the accidents they're involved in. However, by some estimates, fault for multi-vehicle motorcycle accidents may be an even split between the rider and the other vehicle than is commonly believed.

How Is Fault Determined in Rhode Island Traffic Accidents?

Rhode Island uses a comparative negligence fault system to determine who is liable for every traffic collision. This means that a percentage of fault is assigned to each party involved in the accident—whichever party shares a higher percentage of the fault is responsible for paying damages to the other parties.

The amount of compensation awarded, however, is reduced by the amount of fault the injured person shares for the collision.

Injured riders should always seek legal aid from experienced motorcycle accident attorneys after a collision, even if they think they may share some of the blame for the collision.

A Providence Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

If you've been injured as a result of someone else's negligent actions while you were riding your motorcycle, you deserve to be compensated for your financial losses and severe injuries.

Our Providence motorcycle accident lawyers will work diligently and aggressively to ensure that you get every penny of the settlement you're entitled to get your life back on track. Call now for a free consultation.