The cost of a motorcycle accident can easily bury a person or family. Beyond the simple property damage of a collision, bikers can suffer catastrophic injuries and disabilities that take them away from work and make it difficult for them to put food on the table.
Even if you have good health insurance, you are still looking at expensive medical bills and weeks to months of lost wages. When it comes time to file a claim, it is important to include all of the costs you have suffered and fight for the maximum available award. A tough lawyer can help.
According Fox 21 News, a 33 year old motorcyclist was killed last month when he attempted to pass between two trucks on Colorado Interstate 25. While the accident remains under investigation, Colorado State Troopers don’t believe drugs or alcohol were involved.
Motorcyclists from across the country come to experience Colorado’s open roads and natural beauty every year. Unfortunately, no matter how careful a motorcyclist is when driving on the road, other drivers are always a risk. If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident the damages, including medical bills, can be staggering. Colorado does not require motorcyclists to wear a helmet. One of the most frequently asked questions about motorcycle accidents is whether not wearing a helmet will bar or lessen an injured motorcyclist’s right to seek financial compensation.
From Rocky Mountain National Park to the Comanche National Grassland, Colorado’s natural beauty is unparalleled. As the temperatures rise, motorcyclists flock to Colorado to ride through the scenery on the many roads that traverse our state. Enjoying the highway on a motorcycle comes with risks, however. According to statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,668 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2013 alone. Additionally, 88,000 people were injured in a motorcycle accident.
In an effort to reduce the growing number of motorcycle fatalities in the United States, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute recently petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to make anti-lock brakes a mandatory feature of all new motorcycles sold in the United States. Studies conducted by the IIHS found that anti-lock brakes could reduce fatal motorcycle accidents by at least 31% because they would allow riders to fully brake in an emergency. Motorcyclists tend to avoid braking with full force when their bike does not have anti-lock brakes because it may cause the front wheel to lock and increase the chance of a serious collision.
Tens of thousands of motorcyclists across the U.S. are injured or killed in crashes each year, imposing a high personal and financial cost on bikers and their families. Many experienced motorcycle accident attorneys in Colorado and other states are dedicated to helping families deal with many of these costs, which topped $16 billion in 2010.
The number comes from a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which bases its estimate on data gathered from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), state traffic safety officials, and non-profit organizations that focus on highway safety. The estimate includes all the financial losses caused by motorcycle crashes each year, such as medical bills, lost wages, repairs, and other costs.