Winter might still have some fight left in it here in Colorado, but that does not stop many people from wishing and waiting for warmer weather. When spring arrives, more people will be out on their motorcycles. Before that happens, it might be a good idea to review safety measures, including the common causes and injuries that occur in motorcycle accidents.
Drivers of passenger and commercial vehicles are often heard saying that they simply failed to see the motorcycle before they turned, changed lanes or otherwise moved into the path of a motorcycle and caused a collision. You could easily end up in a driver’s blind spot due to the smaller profile of your motorcycle. The Transportation National Highway Safety Administration once reviewed approximately 900 accidents involving a passenger car and a motorcycle. In approximately two-thirds of them, the car driver was at fault.
Helmets do help prevent severe brain injuries and death, but that does not mean that you will not suffer serious injuries if you become involved in an accident with a passenger or commercial vehicle. You could still suffer a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury and other debilitating injuries. Broken bones, road rash and lacerations can cause you to be down for a significant period while you recover.
Fortunately, if you believe that the driver of the other vehicle caused or contributed to your injuries through some sort of negligence, you could file a personal injury claim in an attempt to receive restitution. If the evidence successfully establishes such negligence, a Colorado civil court could award you damages typically seen in other motorcycle accidents. Any restitution you receive could help with your current and future medical and other needs that often arise out of these incidents.