Hudson Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

In times of disaster, motorcycle injury lawyers become unwavering advocates for riders. Their expertise in motorcycle accidents enables them to handle legal intricacies and secure justice and compensation for the injured.

Default May Not Be Enough: Explore Motorcycle Insurance Company Coverage

Motorcycle Insurance and the Law

Iowa motorcyclists who don’t carry motorcycle insurance can lose their licenses if pulled over by a policeman, per the Iowa Financial and Safety Responsibility Act. Additionally, a biker can be held responsible for the full cost of all repairs and medical bills if at fault for an accident. To ensure a carefree riding experience, investigate what the motorcycle insurance company has to offer. It is more than just bodily injury and property damage liability.

A little extra money on the front end could save you thousands later when you don’t have the means to make extra cash after a motorcycle crash. The following provides some optional vehicle coverage options worth considering.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

While you may carry insurance, not all drivers do. And, if you’re in an accident caused by another driver, the other driver’s insurance may not be enough to pay for your injuries. By purchasing an uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage policy, you can help to ensure that your damages are paid in the event of an accident caused by someone else.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Comprehensive coverage pays for damages that occur to your bike for things other than a motor vehicle accident, including:

- Flood
- Fire
- Vandalism

Collision coverage, on the other hand, helps cover the cost of repairs in the event that you’re involved in an accident that’s caused by colliding with another object, not another motor vehicle.

Medical Expense Coverage

Medical expense coverage is one of the most valuable types of coverage options to have, as it will pay for the medical expenses of both you and any of your passengers in the event of an accident, no matter who caused the motorcycle wreck.

Roadside Assistance Coverage

If you have an accident while on a ride, run out of gas, or experience a breakdown, roadside assistance coverage provides you with free towing. Excursion diversion insurance, sometimes called interrupted trip insurance, pairs well with roadside assistance coverage, as it provides riders with lodging, food, and transportation in the event of an accident that occurs more than 100 miles from your home. If you follow this pre-ride checklist for bikers, you may not need to use roadside assistance with any frequency.

When Damages are So Severe that Insurance Coverage is Not Enough

Despite the many types of auto insurance options for motorcyclists available, sometimes, the damages that result from an accident are so severe that insurance alone is not enough. When this happens, you should consider filing a personal injury lawsuit for damages to recover the total cost of all damages incurred. In Iowa, a claim must be filed within two years’ time under Iowa Code 614.1.

Understanding Motorcycle Helmets: Replacement After an Accident

Even the most minor motorcycle accidents can cause serious, yet virtually invisible, damage to a motorcycle helmet. Minor scratches or small dents often fail to accurately reflect any interior issues with the inner protective padding, which is why it is so important to discard a helmet if it has been involved in a wreck.

According to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, if your head struck anything at all during a motorcycle accident, chances are that the helmet absorbed at least some impact shock. This can have a serious impact on the effectiveness of the helmet in the event of another accident, which is why it should be replaced.

Most helmet manufacturers are willing to inspect a damaged helmet and make repairs if necessary, but when in doubt, it is typically best to simply buy a new one.

The same holds true if a helmet is dropped harder than normal. While helmets are designed to be durable enough to withstand normal wear and tear, if your helmet fell from a significant height or from the back of a fast-moving vehicle, chances are that the interior or the outer shell may have sustained some damage and it should be replaced to be on the safe side.

Too Tight? Too Big? A Guide to Properly Fitting Motorcycle Helmets

Even though you choose what you think is the right helmet size, it is very important to make sure that you have the proper fit.

Nearly every motorcycle shop that sells helmets will help you determine what works best but knowing what to look for and what a helmet should feel like can help you make sure that nothing is left unchecked.

What many riders forget is that helmets should be fitted for comfort and safety. This can be especially true for new riders who may be unaccustomed to how snug motorcycle helmets actually are.

Fit Checks for a Proper Helmet

Familiarize yourself with the following fit checks, which should be done with a snug helmet with the chin straps secured:

1. Forehead Gap: It is a good indication that a helmet is too big if you can slip your pinky in between your forehead and the helmet. It should be so snug that there is no additional room, even for your smallest finger.
   
2. Lifting the Helmet: When the chin strap is secure, you should not be able to lift the helmet whatsoever from your head, either from the front or the back.
   
3. Red Marks or Pressure Points: While a helmet should be snug, it should not cause any red marks or deep indentations to form on your head, face, or neck.
   
4. Side to Side Head Shake: A helmet fits properly if your skin moves along with the helmet when shaking your head firmly from side to side. If the helmet moves but your face does not, the helmet is too big.
   
5. Room for Face Shields: If the helmet has a face shield, there should be enough room in between it and your face so that your nose or chin does not touch the shield.

Safety First

It is also imperative to remember never to use a helmet that has already been involved in a previous accident – even if it was a minor one. It is impossible to tell what interior damage may have been done to the helmet, which may decrease its effectiveness in the event of another impact.

Consulting a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

The toll from severe motorcycle injuries can encompass substantial medical expenses and long-term care costs for victims and their families. Lost wages may compound matters, especially if employment becomes unrealistic for an extended period. Getting help from a motorcycle accident attorney allows the pursuit of comprehensive compensation, from financial damages and emotional distress such as pain and suffering.

Victims of these accidents should seek consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, as damages may be extensive and recovery of compensation is important.

At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys can represent you in dealings with your insurance company, or when filing a personal injury claim. Set up your consultation now by calling 641-792-3595.