How You Might Be Blamed For Your Motorcycle Accident
Posted on: 2 November 2020
If you are involved in an accident on a motorcycle, and the other driver is negligent, you might assume that the other driver will be held responsible for your injuries. However, if you don't take safety precautions, you may be held partially at fault for your injuries. You'll need to know what safety precautions you may be expected to follow before fighting your case with a motorcycle accident lawyer.
Helmet Requirements
The legal requirements for wearing a helmet can vary from state-to-state, but it's important to know the specific circumstances where you need to wear a motorcycle. For example, if you are an adult and have medical insurance that will cover the cost of your injuries, you may not be required to wear a helmet.
Maintenance Requirements
Make sure that your bike is in good condition. If you are aware of an issue, do not fix it, and are involved in an accident, you may be held responsible for the accident. It's especially important to make sure that the tires are kept in good condition.
Lack of Visibility
You will want to do everything to make yourself visible including wearing bright clothing. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions, low-light areas, and foliage can increase the risk of an auto accident. However, just because the driver couldn't see you, that doesn't mean that you can't prove that the driver was negligent. Talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer to see what he thinks.
Not Practicing Defensive Driving
You should always drive defensively on a motorcycle by leaving enough space between you and the other drivers. Do not speed and keep your hands on your brakes at all times so you can stop when necessary. Even when lane-splitting is legal, make sure to do so sparingly and not when it would be dangerous to do so. However, even when you do drive defensively, the other driver may make false claims about your driving. Therefore, you'll need help from an attorney to gather evidence to prove that you were not partially at fault.
Proving that you are not partially at fault is important because there could be a lot of money on the line. Even being considered 5% at fault can lead to the loss of tens of thousands of dollars. You would then have to come up with that money yourself to pay for expenses. However, a skilled motorcycle accident attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
If you have additional questions, reach out to a local motorcycle accident attorney.
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