Motorcycle accident injury laws
If you ride a motorcycle, you find yourself exposed to dangers when you’re out on the road that drivers in other vehicles don’t experience. Safety issues such as not having a protective “barrier” between other vehicles, the roadway, and you is probably the number one danger to which you’re exposed. Often, cars and other vehicles on the road have a hard time seeing motorcyclists which can also lead to accidents and injuries, sometimes serious in nature.
Some other types of accidents result from hazards in the roads such as potholes, debris, ruts, and uneven pavement. Additionally, riding a motorcycle requires more skill and coordination than most people realize, so some accidents occur as a result of driver inexperience.
Here are some sobering statistics involving motorcycle accidents:
- approximately 75% of motorcycle accidents involving other drivers resulted from a violation of the motorcyclist’s right of way; in other words, negligence on the part of the other driver
- motorcyclists are about 5 times as likely to be injured in a crash vs. drivers and passengers of other vehicles
If you’ve sustained injuries from a motorcycle accident, you should get legal help from an attorney who specializes in personal injury cases of this nature. Each state has its own laws governing motorcycle accidents as far as liability is concerned, so, if you live in South Dakota, you need to enlist the services of motorcycle accident injury lawyers, Gregory Yates and Michael Schubeck, of Rapid City Attorneys.
Know your rights
With 40 years of combined experience in litigating personal injury cases, Greg Yates and Michael Schubeck have successfully recovered millions of dollars on the behalf of their many clients through settlements, jury verdicts, and awards. They are both very knowledgeable when it comes to personal injury laws in the state of South Dakota, specifically laws for motorcycles and motorcyclists’ rights.
Legally speaking, accidents involving motorcycles, like other vehicles, are based on the concept of negligence. Some states practice what is known as “contributory negligence” meaning that, if a motorcyclist is determined to be somewhat at fault for the accident, he or she may not be able to recover the full amount of damages for hospital bills, expenses for ambulance providers, and other accident–related expenses.
For example, if you are in an accident and are not wearing a helmet in a state the mandates helmets and you sustain head injuries, you can still recover damages, but they may be limited due to the idea of contributory negligence. This is why it is important for you to have an attorney that is experienced in South Dakota personal injury law.
How can we help?
Injured in a motorcycle accident? Call our Rapid City law office to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. You’ll need to provide us with the details of your crash and the type of insurance coverage that you have. If you’re looking for the best motorcycle accident injury attorneys in South Dakota, call the offices of Gregory Yates and Michael Schubeck.