Traer Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

When accidents happen, motorcycle injury attorneys act as committed advocates for riders. Specializing in motorcycle accidents, they manage legal challenges to ensure justice and compensation for injured riders.

Be Aware of Internal Injury Signs after a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accidents carry a high risk of serious injury. Motorcyclists are at greater risk of injury than passenger car drivers given their relative lack of protection. For example, in mid-July 2014, an Iowa motorcyclist was run over by a motorist who fled the scene, causing the biker severe injuries, reports the Traer Register.

Many motorcyclists are hospitalized each year for severe injuries that require surgery or intensive care. In some cases, bikers suffer internal injuries, some of which might not be readily apparent. Knowing some internal injury signs is therefore important.

Types of Internal Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Internal injuries are a common result of a motorcycle accident. Accident victims may experience internal bleeding in the abdomen or head or other areas depending on the location of the injury. Blunt trauma or penetration can cause internal bleeding, and though any sign of internal bleeding warrants a trip to the hospital, sometimes the bleeding will stop on its own without intervention. Severe or uncontrolled bleeding may require surgery.

Some possible internal motorcycle accident injuries include the following:

- Tears in the aorta, superior or inferior vena cava or branches.
- Tears, cuts or blunt trauma to organs such as the spleen or liver.
- Bleeding around the lungs.
- Intracranial hemorrhage.

This is just a small sample of internal injuries that motorcyclists might sustain after being thrown from the bike, run over by a vehicle, or otherwise experiencing blunt trauma in a collision.

Internal Injury Signs to Know

It’s important to be aware of some of the common internal injury signs. In many cases, the signs are obvious and severe and there will be no doubt that the individual requires immediate medical care. However, in other cases, the signs are more subtle and there is no visible accompanying injury that will alert bystanders or the victim of the seriousness of the injury.

Any of the following symptoms might be an internal injury sign and warrant a call to 911 from the accident scene or a trip to the nearest emergency room for examination:

- Loss of consciousness or headache: Pain in the skull or loss of consciousness may result from internal hemorrhaging in the brain. This is an emergency situation and requires immediate medical care.
- Swelling or pain in the abdomen: Swelling can occur due to blood in the abdomen when there is an internal injury. In addition, pain in this area may signal a more serious condition than the initial examination uncovered.
- Discolored skin: Internal bleeding can cause the skin to turn a deep purple as it seeps into the soft tissues beneath the skin’s surface. This may indicate that there is a more serious internal injury.
- Light-headedness or fainting: Blood loss that occurs internally can cause dizziness. Any type of fainting spell or feeling of dizziness requires an examination to rule out an internal injury after a motorcycle accident.

Seeking Legal Help After a Motorcycle Accident

After receiving medical treatment for internal motorcycle accident injuries, you may need to enlist the help of an attorney to recover compensation for your motorcycle injuries. If you’ve experienced large medical bills, lost time at work, or decreased ability to return to work after your accident, an attorney can help. Call a lawyer to help you explore your options to seek reimbursement for your damages.

What Happens if I Was Partially at Fault in an Iowa Motorcycle Accident?

If you are found at partial fault in an Iowa motorcycle accident, the amount of compensation you will be eligible to recover will be reduced. It’s important to realize that just because you might be partially responsible for the motorcycle accident in which you were injured, it doesn’t mean that you can’t seek compensation with the help of the injury attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair.

Iowa’s Comparative Negligence Rules

In Iowa, when courts, attorneys, and insurance adjusters calculate settlement packages, they abide by a rule known as comparative negligence. Essentially, this rule stipulates that the amount of compensation you are able to collect will be reduced by your degree of fault in the accident.

In other words, if you were at partial fault in an Iowa motorcycle accident, you will be responsible for your portion of the damages. As long as you were less than 51 percent responsible for the accident, you still may pursue financial compensation for a motorcycle accident in Iowa.

For example, if your settlement totaled $100,000 and you were found to be 25 percent at fault for the accident, you will receive only $75,000 in damages. This is why proving fault, negligence, and other important legal issues can be critical in these types of cases.

Why are Motorcycle Crashes on the Rise?

During the past 10 years, more motorcycle riders have been getting injured or killed on our roadways. Historically, August is one of the worst months for motorcycle riders. Yes, overall there are more motorcycle riders on the roads than there were 10 years ago as more women have purchased motorcycles. A sobering fact is that while motorcycles account for less than 1% of all vehicle miles in Iowa, they make up a much larger percentage of the crashes. A whopping 14% of the fatalities and 16% of severe injuries are sustained by motorcycle riders each year in Iowa.

Motorcyclists are more vulnerable on the roadways as there is very little protection for the rider. After a motorcycle accident, the injured rider needs good advice about how to deal with medical providers, insurance companies, and more. It is a common misconception that if the other driver is at fault, their car insurance will pay for the medical bill and expenses of the injured rider.

How To Protect Yourself and Your Claim

1. Seek treatment immediately and tell them everything that hurts. If you are hurt, then you need to go immediately to the emergency room or your doctor. Failing to seek medical treatment can not only result in your injuries being more severe but will also be used against you in your claim. Also, make sure you tell your medical providers about all the areas that are injured, including all pain and limitations you are having caused by the motorcycle accident.

2. Don’t rush to settle your claim. Often, insurance companies will offer you a few thousand dollars to settle your case, which may sound tempting. However, if you sign the release and agree to the settlement, you are not only giving up your rights but may have to pay for your medical care and treatment out of your pocket or reimburse your health insurance company.

3. Don’t give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster or sign anything. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask you questions in such a way that later can be used against you. Giving a recorded statement seldom helps your case and often can hurt it. Signing forms for an insurance company gives them access to information that has nothing to do with the accident and may result in them discovering information that they will use against you when it comes time to try to settle your case.

4. Documentation. Make sure to keep copies of work excuses, verification of time off work, lost pay, medical bills and records, police reports, and also you should document in a journal each day how you are feeling.

5. Never exaggerate your injuries. Your medical records should provide the information about your injuries so long as you tell your providers everything that hurts. Please don't try to make your medical condition sound worse than it is. Exaggerating your injuries can severely damage the value of your case.

6. Talk to an experienced injury attorney before you consider settling your case. Insurance adjusters settle claims for a living. You need a professional on your side to defend your rights and to protect you from getting ripped off by an insurance company. Before you even consider a settlement, you should consult with a qualified injury attorney to find out what your rights are, other potential sources of recovery, issues dealing with medical bills and subrogation, and more.

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.