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Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Highlight Key Facts Riders Should Know before Cruising on Their Bike

Although riding a motorcycle can be exciting, fun, and economical, the inherent safety risks associated with riding necessitates caution and prudence.  Because the roads are filled with distracted, intoxicated, and otherwise careless motorists, the most careful motorcyclists can be involved in a crash.  Given the vulnerability of riders, all motorcycle crashes tend to be fairly dangerous.  Motorcycle accident litigation requires special expertise and knowledge regarding the handling dynamics of a bike, common prejudices harbored against riders, and legal standards that apply specifically to motorcyclists.

Decades of experience has provided the skill and specialized knowledge our Mississippi motorcycle injury lawyers need to succeed in motorcycle crash injury litigation.  We utilize accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, private investigators, and our extensive litigation resources to build a compelling legal claim for our clients.

Proper Safety Gear Should Be Worn: Vehicle occupants in cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs have an array of safety features at their disposal including seat belts, lap belts, airbags, and a reinforced passenger compartment.  Since even a minor motorcycle accident can cause severe injury, proper protective gear is essential.  A helmet can significantly reduce the risk of experiencing traumatic brain injuries which constitute the leading cause of motorcycle fatalities.

Motorcycle Riders Need a Longer Stopping Distance: Because of the lack of stability associated with a two-wheeled vehicle, motorcyclists cannot engage the brakes of their vehicle as aggressively as drivers of passenger cars.  The need to reduce speed while operating a motorcycle less aggressively means that riders must allow for increased braking distance to avoid laying a bike down.

Downshifting Will Result in Reduced Speed: Many people who ride motorcycles suffer serious injury when they are rear-ended by a motorist.  A fair number of motorcycles do not have brake lights that are activated when a rider downshifts.  Riding enthusiasts must be especially aware of motorists who are tailgating because the drivers might not be able to tell the bike’s speed is slowing if the brake lights do not light up.

Minor Road Hazards Can Constitute a Major Problem: Government officials and the media often lament our deteriorating roadways, few travelers face greater danger from our failing infrastructure than motorcyclists.  A minor pothole, cracked or uneven pavement, or another minor road defect that might not even be noticeable to someone in a passenger car can be extremely dangerous to the rider of a two-wheeled vehicle.

Police Accident Reports Often Reflect Bias Against Motorcyclists: While the “outlaw biker” stereotype has become out-of-date, many riders still suffer from lingering negative generalizations about riders being reckless and prone to unsafe practices like speeding.  A potentially bigger issue involves the fact that motorcyclists often suffer injuries that require they be immediately transported to a hospital.  If a motorcyclist is in the emergency room when the officer is investigating the accident and interviewing witnesses, the report often will favor the driver of the passenger car who was available to explain his or her side of the story at the crash scene.

If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, our Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Lawyers have successfully represented many crash victims in obtaining compensation for their injuries.  At Barrett Law, we are here to help.  Contact our firm today at 800-707-9577 to schedule your free consultation, so we can answer any questions you may have regarding filing your claim.

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Factors Contributing to the Increased Risks of Serious Injury for Motorcyclists

All motor vehicle accidents involve some common legal issues and potential problems, but the unique nature of motorcycles means that riders who are involved in a collision often must overcome special challenges.  When an injury victim is interviewing a motorcycle accident lawyer, they can improve the probability of a favorable outcome by retaining a lawyer who has extensive experience handling motorcycle accident lawsuits.  In short, vehicle collision claims are not all created equal.  This blog post provides an overview of the unique factors that contribute to motorcycle crashes.

The most obvious risk involving motorcycles relates to their unique physical characteristics.  Motorcycles are lighter and smaller than passenger cars, and they only have two wheels.  Motorcycles also do not have an enclosure that protects the rider within a passenger compartment and that is reinforced to protect occupants.  These features of motorcycles place riders at an increased risk of serious injuries when confronted by a careless, intoxicated, or distracted passenger car driver.  The risk of a fatal crash for motorcyclists is 35 times greater than for auto accident victims based on a per mile traveled basis.

While these physical design characteristics of a motorcycle pose a significant crash risk, there are other factors that cause many motorcycle collisions:

Limited Stability: A vehicle that only has two wheels will inherently be less stable than a four-wheeled vehicle.  If a rider must suddenly swerve or brake to avoid a crash, this lack of stability increases the risk of a traffic collision.  Depending on the motorcycle and circumstances, a bike can also experience front wheel “wobble” when traveling at high rates of speed.

No Protective Barrier: Passengers in an automobile benefit from protective equipment that includes seat belts and air bags.  This safety equipment increases the benefits of a passenger compartment to keep occupants inside the vehicle.  Vehicle ejection is one of the most significant factors in fatal car accidents, but every motorcycle crash essentially involves ejection because riders do not have the benefit of a protective enclosure.

Difficulty of Operation: Motorcycles require a much higher degree of skill and experience than a car to operate safely.  When riders attempt to handle a motorcycle that is beyond their ability, the risk of a crash increases.

Difficulty Being Seen: The small profile of a motorcycle often impairs the ability of other drivers to notice the presence of riders.  This issue is compounded by the fact that motorcycles can travel in small spaces where motorists do not expect to see a vehicle.

High-Risk Practices: Motorcycles are relatively light vehicles that can travel at high rates of speed. Sport bikes provide a temptation to engage in high-risk practices that include sudden acceleration and speeding.

Unanticipated Road Hazards: Many hazards that have no impact on a passenger car constitute potentially deadly threats to motorcyclists.  Minor potholes, small oil deposits, or a little debris often cause riders to lay their bike down.

If you or a family member was injured in a motorcycle collision, our Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Lawyers have successfully represented many motorcycle accident victims and their families.  At Barrett Law, we are here to help.  Contact our firm today at 800-707-9577 to schedule your free consultation, so we can answer any questions you may have regarding filing your claim.

 

 

 

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Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Discuss Threat Posed by Distracted Drivers

Although drivers who multi-task while driving present as significant a threat of causing collisions as intoxicated drivers, many motorists who condemn the practice of driving drunk fiddle with their vehicle’s “infotainment” center or text on a cell phone.  One study that reflects the disconnect between attitudes and actions involving distracted driving found that 36 percent of respondents considered texting or talking on a cell phone to pose the greatest roadway safety risk.  Nonetheless, almost half of those drivers (45 percent) admitted to having made a serious driving mistake while talking on their phone.  Inattentive drivers who divert their concentration, eyes, and hands from exclusively focusing on the safe operation of their vehicle are responsible for a growing number of crashes, permanent disabling injuries, and wrongful deaths.  While distracted driving is dangerous to occupants of all types of vehicles, motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to injury from this unsafe practice.

 

The national scope of the distracted driving epidemic can hardly be overstated given the overwhelming popularity of portable electronic devices and their frequent use by motorists.  The study referenced above found that 7 in 10 drivers reported having been hit or nearly hit by a motorist who was talking on a cell phone.  These reports indicating the scope of the distracted driving problem are supported by actual injury-accident data.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that approximately nine people die and another 1,153 people are injured in distracted driving crashes daily throughout the U.S.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly one in five crashes on a national basis is caused by a driver who is dividing his or her attention while driving.

 

While multi-tasking drivers present a danger to occupants of all types of vehicles, the risk to motorcyclists is greater than individuals traveling in passenger cars.  Motorcyclists face a much greater risk of being involved in a collision because bikes are less visible given their relatively small size.  The more diminutive size of a bike permits riders to travel in areas of the roadway that a passenger car driver might not expect a vehicle to fit, which also contributes to the tendency of drivers not to notice a motorcyclist.  When a driver is looking down to read a text message or rubbernecking at an accident on the shoulder of the roadway, this tendency not to observe the presence of a motorcycle significantly increases.

Distracted motorists also magnifies the vulnerability of riding enthusiasts related to the natural limitations of a bike.  When motorists reach over to mop up a spilled beverage, the tendency to drift into an adjacent lane occupied by a bike can force a motorcyclist’s response that cannot be completed safely because of the lack of stability associated with operating a two-wheeled vehicle.  Since motorcycles lack the protection from injury associated with passenger cars, such as a reinforced passenger compartment, safety restraints, and air bags, the severity of injury caused by drivers who are inattentive also tend to be more serious than those suffered by occupants of cars, trucks, and SUVs.

Although distracted driving often constitutes a basis for determining a driver is negligent, most drivers who cause accidents while diverting their attention from the road do not admit to their unsafe driving practice.  Our Mississippi Motorcycle Accident Lawyers routinely subpoena phone records to investigate possible phone texting and talking activity immediately prior to and during a collision. Contact our firm today at 800.707.9577 to schedule your free consultation, so we can evaluate your situation and discuss your right to financial compensation.

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