Fort Washington Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Countless people ride motorcycles on roads across the United States every day. Unfortunately, motorcycle crashes and collisions also happen every day, just like car accidents. Worse still, it is common for motorcycle riders to have much worse injuries than anyone else involved in these accidents because they are much more exposed than people in enclosed vehicle cabins. The treatment required to heal from such injuries can easily add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and there is no guarantee that any victim of a motorcycle accident will ever make a total recovery.

If you are considering filing a claim after a motorcycle collision, you need legal counsel in your corner. Our attorneys have represented many motorcycle accident plaintiffs in the past, and we are ready to go to work helping you with your claim. We have the drive, professionalism, and experience to effectively represent you, and we will not stop fighting until all legal options have been exhausted.

Reach out to Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s motorcycle accident lawyers at (410) 694-7291 to get a free review of your claim.

Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Fort Washington

Motorcycle accidents do not just happen of their own accord. Many motorcycle crashes, though, will look like this is the case. However, many “single-vehicle” motorcycle crashes are actually caused by something else another party did. Some causes of motorcycle crashes you can sue for include:

Driver Negligence

One of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents of all kinds is negligence. In law, negligence simply means that another party was careless and, as a result, someone else got hurt. There are a lot of different ways that drivers can be negligent. First, ignoring traffic laws is a form of negligence. So, if another motorist hits you while you are riding your motorcycle and they were speeding, ran a red light, or under the influence of drugs and alcohol, you can sue them for negligently injuring you.

Second, drivers can be negligent by acting unreasonably. Whether a driver acted reasonably or not is a question that is determined on a case-by-case- basis and needs to be answered by the jury, so our motorcycle accident lawyers will work hard to ensure that the jury fully understands the negligent conduct of the defendant in your case.

Finally, some motorists have special rules that they need to follow in order to be careful. For example, truckers have strict hours of service requirements that are published by the FMCSA. If a trucker is behind the wheel for too long, becomes fatigued, and hits you, they can be found negligent in court.

Defective Vehicles

Sometimes, motorcycle accidents are caused because there is something wrong with one or both of the vehicles involved. When a vehicle has a dangerous problem, it is called “defective.” Vehicles can be defective as part of their design or because a mistake was made somewhere along the line.

If a motorcycle or car has a problem inherent in its design that makes it dangerous when used in its expected manner, it is said to have a “design defect.” An example of a design defect in a motorcycle would be a fuel tank that leaks gasoline even when “sealed” shut.

However, if the motorcycle has a problem that stems from a mistake made in the construction or maintenance of the vehicle, it is said to have a “manufacturing defect.” Examples of manufacturing effects would include the use of substandard materials in the construction of the motorcycle or incorrectly installing critical parts.

The type of defect in the vehicles involved in your crash can inform who you should sue. If the problem is a design defect, you should file a claim against the company that designed your motorcycle or other vehicle. However, if the problem stems from a manufacturing or maintenance issue, you may want to look into suing any repair shops that worked on the vehicle or the makers of any defective components.

Poor Road Conditions

Potholes, debris cluttering the road, and defective guardrails can all lead to motorcycle accidents. When accidents happen because of poor road conditions, the culprit is often a government entity responsible for maintaining the roads. There are special rules for suing government entities, so you should discuss this with our motorcycle accident lawyers if you think this applies to your case.

Damages You Can Get in Fort Washington Motorcycle Accident Cases

When you bring a civil case to court, the objective is to be awarded damages to cover the effects of the accident. Ultimately, courts are trying to put the plaintiff in as close a position as possible to where they were prior to getting hurt. Of course, depending on the nature of the plaintiff’s injuries, this may not be literally possible, so financial payouts are used as a substitute.

First, you can get financial compensation based on any economic hardship you experienced because of your injuries. This includes not just medical bills but lost opportunities to earn income stemming from missing time at work, taking a less lucrative job, or being unable to work altogether because of your injuries.

Second, you can get financial compensation for more nebulous things like “pain and suffering” and emotional distress. There will not be any receipts or bills to prove those damages, so you will need to convince the court of their value with the help of our attorneys.

Finally, in some cases, you may be able to get “punitive damages” if the defendant has acted particularly badly. Courts do not always award these damages, so you should have them in mind from the start of talking with our lawyers if you are planning on seeking them.

Speak to One of Our Fort Washington Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Now

Have our motorcycle accident lawyers analyze your case for free by calling Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291.