With historically mild winters and warm temperatures for the rest of the year, it is no surprise that Tennessee and the surrounding states have some of the highest numbers of registered motorcycles in the country. However, having a high number of motorcycles registered does not always guarantee a higher level of safety for those who ride.
Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are some of the most severe, and being involved in one can change your life.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to make sure you get the resources you need to be able to recover as fully as possible from the accident. If left to insurance companies, they will likely try to protect themselves and their financial interests by offering you as little as possible for your accident.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, alone, or unsure about where to start or how to advocate for yourself or a loved one, contact Ali Awad and the attorneys at CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm. With millions of social media followers looking to his advice, he has experience with helping people in their time of greatest need.
The CEO Lawyer and his well-established team will be there to guide you through the legal process and help you to have the best chance at recovering the compensation you need.
A Chattanooga Motorcycle Accident Attorney Serving Victims
From the views at Lookout Mountain to a vibrant downtown scene, Chattanooga has a little something for everyone. If camping is your thing or if visiting local restaurants is more your speed, Chattanooga has plenty of options to make everyone happy, no matter their interests. With over 3 million visitors a year, Chattanooga is a popular destination city in the south.
Of course, with so many people coming to visit from out of town and many others passing through on congested interstates, it is no surprise that traffic accidents are a regular occurrence in Chattanooga. In Hamilton County, where Chattanooga is located, there is an average of 25,000 people who are injured in traffic accidents every year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), even though motorcycle crashes don’t happen nearly as often as other types of traffic accidents, they are much more likely to result in serious injury or even death. Unfortunately, the number of motorcyclists who are killed due to traffic accidents all over the country has increased by 11% in the past year.
Thankfully, not every motorcycle accident results in death for the driver.
However, being involved in a serious accident is still a major event that can result in major expenses. Not only will you be faced with property damage, but you will likely also have medical bills and other expenses that can add up quickly.
Healing from a serious accident, mentally, emotionally, and physically, can be a long and challenging road. The last thing you should have to do is worry about having the financial means to pay for your recovery.
However, left on their own, insurance companies will try to give you the minimum amount they can get away with, which may leave you without enough money to cover your care. Hiring an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer can give you peace of mind.
You can know that someone is fighting for you when dealing with insurance companies, and they can be there making sure that all your legal obligations are fulfilled, leaving you to focus on your recovery.
Our experienced attorneys care deeply for victims of accidents and want to do anything within our power to help you recover. With years of experience serving this area, we have seen many different accident scenarios.
We are dedicated to working with you. We want to ensure that you have the education about what damages you may be entitled to.
We also aim to give you the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve. Let us provide you with the legal support that you need in order to recover during this difficult and stressful time.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
As with any motor vehicle accident, there are many different reasons why a motorcycle accident may occur. No matter how cautious the motorcyclist is, accidents can happen to anyone at any time.
A collision is especially dangerous for motorcyclists because — though there can be minor car accidents — there is really no such thing as a minor motorcycle accident. The NHTSA reports that 80% of reported motorcycle accidents resulted in injury or death to the motorcyclist.
The NHTSA further says that motorcycle accidents are most likely to occur during the day in a populated area with no inclement weather. Though some motorcycle accidents occur on the interstate, a majority happen on other busy roadways.
Some of the main causes of motorcycle accidents are:
Left Handed Turns
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about a third of all motorcycle accidents occur when another vehicle turns in front of a motorcycle. Motorcycles can be difficult for other drivers to see, which puts them at an increased risk of an accident.
Fender Benders
When a vehicle doesn’t slow down or stop quickly enough and hit the car in front of it, it is likely to cause a minor accident or a “fender bender.” However, this same type of accident can be much more serious when a motorcycle is involved.
Getting hit from behind, even at slow speeds, can cause the driver of the motorcycle to be ejected from their bike or caught beneath the tires of the car that caused the collision.
Lane Changes
It can be difficult for the driver of a full-size vehicle to see a motorcycle in a side or rearview mirror, and they may try to change lanes without knowing the motorcycle is there. When this happens, it can be deadly for the motorcyclist.
Road Debris
While road debris may be an inconvenience to someone driving a full-size vehicle, it can cause major issues for a motorcyclist. It is important that the road is free from loose gravel or debris, as a motorcyclist needs to constantly maintain their balance and traction with the road.
An encounter with road debris could cause the driver to lose their balance or traction with the road and result in a serious accident. If the debris was in the road due to negligence, the motorcyclist may be able to file a claim against the highway agency or property owner.
Impaired Driving
About 43% of motorcycle accidents happen when the driver is impaired in some way. Since motorcycles take more skill and concentration to drive, it is important that the driver not be impaired in any way while operating the motorcycle. If you are injured by an impaired driver, the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm can help with your drunk driving accident case.
Inclement Weather
Inclement weather makes it more difficult for drivers of any type of vehicle to drive safely, and motorcycles offer no exceptions. In fact, inclement weather may affect motorcycles even more than other vehicles.
Not only can wet roads cause less traction and an increased braking time, but other issues, like sudden temperature changes, can also affect tire pressure. Changes in tire pressure can also contribute to changes in the motorcycles’ performance and can increase the likelihood of an accident.
Common Injuries from Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents tend to be very serious, with 80% of them resulting in either injury or death of the driver. This is a substantially higher rate of injury and death than an accident involving two full-sized vehicles, as motorcycles are unable to provide any protection to their driver.
Common injuries that result from motorcycle accidents are:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Internal Injuries such as organ damage or internal bleeding
- Fractures/Broken Bones
- Road Rash
- Amputations
- Lacerations
Any time you are involved in an accident, even if it seems minor, it is imperative that you see a doctor as soon as you can and get checked over. Often, many injuries from accidents don’t appear immediately.
Further, there are many injuries that can only be diagnosed by a medical professional, such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
A medical report from a doctor is often the only evidence that you will have that the injury you received was a result of the accident you were involved in. Without this important evidence, insurance companies may try to claim that your injuries happened under different circumstances and may try to avoid paying for the care and treatment of that injury.
How Can The CEO Lawyer Help Me?
In addition to providing you with education about your rights and other legal assistance, we want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to help you during this extremely stressful time. We are happy to provide these services to our clients at no extra charge:
- Connecting you with a rental car provider
- Finding a quality repair shop for your vehicle
- Getting you paid for loss of use of your vehicle
- Locating a doctor who will not charge you out-of-pocket
- Providing access to pre-settlement loans
- Working to ensure you receive the highest possible settlement
Let an Experienced Chattanooga Motorcycle Accident Law Firm Help You Today!
After being in a serious accident, your first instinct may be to try to get everything taken care of as quickly as possible just so you can move on. However, that is probably not in your best interest.
Though this time is very stressful and overwhelming, it is critical that you reach out to an experienced motorcycle accident attorney from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm. With years of experience in personal injury cases, one of our dedicated attorneys will work with you to ensure that you are given the best chance at receiving fair compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve been through.
When you contact one of our attorneys, you will be asked to schedule a free case evaluation. If you are unable to come to us, we will happily come to you!
During your case evaluation, we will listen to the particulars of your case and provide you with personalized feedback about how to best proceed. Not only will we offer you legal assistance, but we will also communicate with your insurance company to ensure they are willing to give you a fair amount of compensation for your injuries.
If they refuse to offer a reasonable amount, we can take them to court, where we will fight for you to receive the compensation you need to move on. Call (423) 777-8888 or contact us online to begin your case today.
