Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Durham
Obtaining compensation for devastating injuries and fatalities to riders of motorcycles demands the services of a superior Durham motorcycle accident lawyer.
The safe operation of a motorcycle requires skills and coordination that someone who has never ridden one probably would not understand. Most motorcycle riders are not the thrill seekers that other motorists may think, but that public perception and bias against them creates a disadvantage for riders injured in collisions with other vehicles.
If you have been injured in a collision while riding a motorcycle, speak with a Durham NC motorcycle accident lawyer from the Clauson Law Firm, PLLC, for trusted and knowledgeable advice and guidance from someone with years of experience building the strongest case possible for maximum compensation for victims of motorcycle crashes and their families.
Crash data shows how deadly North Carolina motorcycle accidents can be
According to the most currently available crash data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, there were 176 fatalities and 2,806 injuries in the 3,566 crashes involving at least one motorcycle occurring in a single year. A good way to appreciate the violent nature of a motorcycle crash is to consider that the 176 fatalities represent almost 5% of the motorcycle collisions occurring during that year, but fatalities attributable to passenger car crashes in NC during that same year were only 0.3%.
Motorcycle crashes tend to be violent occurrences frequently resulting in the rider and passenger being thrown from the motorcycle. Not only are they exposed to injuries caused by the initial impact with another vehicle, but they risk suffering additional injuries caused by being thrown to the pavement or into other objects, such as guardrails, signposts and light poles. It also exposes them to being struck by other vehicles not involved in the initial collision.
Common Injuries Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles lack the safety features and crashworthiness that protect occupants of cars, trucks and SUVs during a collision. Instead of a steel frame, seatbelts and airbags protecting them, motorcycle riders have little to protect their body from the force of being struck by a much larger and heavier vehicle.
Some of the common injuries suffered by motorcycle operators and their passengers include the following:
- Head and brain injuries: The head of someone riding on a motorcycle may be injured during the initial collision with another vehicle. Secondary impacts to the head may occur when a rider is thrown to the pavement or when a rider is ejected from the motorcycle into stationary objects, including guardrails, signs, fences and light poles. A head injury may cause a concussion or a more serious traumatic brain injury.
- Lacerations: Lacerations common to motorcycle accidents may be severe and result in scarring and disfigurement, which may require surgery.
- Road rash: The loss of control over a motorcycle as may occur in a collision with another vehicle may cause the rider and passenger to slide along the pavement. The rough pavement tears away at clothing leaving the person's skin to be scraped along the ground. The result can be severe abrasions requiring surgical grafting of skin over the damaged area.
- Fractures: Bones in the arms, legs and other parts of the body exposed to the violent forces of the crash can be broken and require extensive medical care to heal.
- Back and spinal cord injuries: The violent nature of a motorcycle accident coupled with the lack of protection offered to a rider may cause injuries to the back and spinal cord. Temporary or permanent full or partial paralysis may occur depending upon the severity of the injury.
Riders and their passengers in North Carolina must wear a helmet when riding on a motorcycle in the state. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing an approved helmet can reduce fatalities and head injuries in a motorcycle accident.
Be assured that an attorney from our motorcycle accident lawyer Durham NC will aggressively investigate your accident, gather the evidence needed to prove another party was at fault, and work with your health care professionals to build the strongest case possible for maximum compensation for your injuries. Some of the damages we seek to recover on your behalf include the following:
- Medical expenses, including those associated with anticipated future medical care.
- Lost wages, including lost or diminished future earning capacity.
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering you endured as a result of your injuries.
- Expenses related to long-term nursing and home care required due to disability.
We are committed to fighting to make the parties at fault in causing your motorcycle accident to pay the maximum compensation you deserve.
For a free legal consultation with a Motorcycle accidents lawyer in Durham
Motorcycles provide an enjoyable way to see the scenic beauty that makes the Durham area such a great place to live, work or visit, but if an accident happens, be assured that a Durham motorcycle accident lawyer from the Clauson Law Firm, PLLC, is available for a free consultation and claim evaluation.
Speak with a Durham Motorcycle Accident Attorney Now
When you need a motorcycle accident lawyer Durham NC that you can trust, call us at 833-680-0177 or use the contact us form on our website.
Durham Motorcycle Accident Attorney FAQ's
If you live in or near Durham, you can Google “best motorcycle accident lawyer near me.” The Clauson Law Firm should be near the top of the list. The best motorcycle accident attorneys offer full service to injured accident victims by relieving them of unnecessary anxiety. We are committed to gathering all the supporting evidence and medical records and working to hold negligent car drivers accountable for failing to respect the motorcyclist’s right to the road.
Motorcycle accidents often result in more severe injuries because riders and passengers are so much more exposed. Accident scenes are subject to rapid changes and skid marks and debris fields are valuable clues to prove how the accident occurred. Whenever possible, injured motorcyclists should contact a professional motorcycle attorney immediately after the crash.
As with everyone injured in a Durham motor vehicle accident, lawyers too often see clients who waited before contacting a motorcycle accident law firm. We at Clauson Law want to begin our work for you in time to interview witnesses while their memories are fresh, to investigate the accident scene, and to advise you on what government benefits you may be entitled to receive during extended recovery.
Other motorists are at fault in most motorcycle accidents in the United States. Here in Durham, motorcycle accident attorneys know from experience that car and truck drivers fail to respect motorcyclists’ equal right to the roadway.
Whether other drivers’ neglect is the result of a motorcycle’s smaller size, or because they just don’t think of a motorcycle as an equal partner on the road, failure to yield to a bike at an intersection inflicts massive injuries on the rider and widespread pain in the rider’s family.
We at Clauson Law welcome motorcyclists and value our bike-riding clients. The fact that so many Durham motorcycle accident injuries could be prevented if other drivers obeyed the law only reinforces our commitment to secure motorcycle accident victims the largest financial compensation possible.
Generally, motorcycle accident lawyers in Durham retain one-third (33%) of the amount recovered in the case. The fee we receive is contingent on the amount of compensation we win for you. The client pays no fee when they hire Clauson Law to represent them in a motorcycle accident case. The law firm uses its own financial resources to finance the investigation and to collect all the evidence and medical records. We also advance the expert witness fees and deposition costs, so our clients have no concern about these expenses as the case progresses. Fees and costs are always explained and approved by the client in advance.
As Durham motorcycle accident attorneys, Clauson Law knows that most motorcycle accidents happen when operators of other vehicles turn left at an intersection in front of an oncoming motorcycle or change lanes without checking for a motorcycle in the adjacent lane. Other motorists’ speeding also results in accidents because they don’t see the motorcycle in time to avoid colliding with it. Other common causes are sudden stops, wet road conditions, distracted driving, and drunk or drugged driving.
