If you are the victim of a motorcycle accident in Idaho Falls, then your life can turn upside down in seconds. Motorcycle accidents can cause devastating injuries that can last a lifetime, and pain that never goes away. If you are suffering from nonstop pain following an accident, then you know that there is no amount of money that can cure your pain. Compensation can, however, provide you with the financial stability to heal more and more every day, and the legal team at Litster Frost Injury Lawyers serving Idaho Falls are dedicated to helping you gain the compensation you deserve and bring you justice for the pain you have suffered.
Were You the Only Person Involved in Your Accident? You May Still be Able to Bring a Claim
Each year, a substantial number of bikers are injured in single vehicle motorcycle accidents. If you are the victim of a single vehicle motorcycle accident, you may not think that you are entitled to receive any type of compensation for your injury, but this isn’t always the case. If your injury was caused by another driver’s negligence or poor road conditions, then you may be able to recover damages even if you were the only person involved in your accident. In these cases, it is even more important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to help you with your case, because your insurance company might try to blame your accident on your actions. An attorney will work to prove to your insurance company that you were not at fault in your accident.
A Factor That Could Impact Your Case
Motorcycle helmet laws vary greatly from state to state, with some states having a mandatory helmet law, some having a partial helmet law which make helmets mandatory for riders under a certain age, and two states having no law at all. Idaho, along with more than half the states in the country, has instituted a partial motorcycle helmet law which makes helmets mandatory for riders who are 17 years of age or younger. Over age 17, riders can choose whether or not to wear a motorcycle helmet. Despite an adult rider’s right to choose whether to wear a helmet in Idaho, the choice to forego wearing a helmet can have a grave impact on your personal injury case, as a biased judge may consider you to be at least partially at fault for your injuries for not wearing a helmet at the time of your accident.
Were Dangerous Roads in Idaho Falls to Blame for Your Motorcycle Accident?
From hot springs and deserts to canyons and lakes, Idaho is home to dozens of beautiful scenic motorcycle routes. With Idaho Falls nestled between several national forests to its west and Yellowstone National Park to its east, countless motorcycles pass through Idaho Falls each and every day.
The city of Idaho Falls and the Idaho Transportation Department are responsible for maintaining roads so that they are safe to drive on. Unfortunately they are not always able to keep up with the basic maintenance needed to prevent some accidents. Common hazards include:
- Icy roads: Idaho Falls can get especially cold in the winter, with the average low temperature in December and January being around 11 to 12 degrees and the average high temperature being 28 to 29 degrees. When precipitation is added to this mix, roads can quickly become covered in ice and can present a huge hazard to motorcyclists.
- Narrow roads: Narrow roads present a unique hazard to motorcyclists who are traveling on Idaho’s winding roads. When the driver of a vehicle turns a sharp corner, he may not always stay in his lane. When a biker is turning in an oncoming lane, even the slightest lane-crossing from a vehicle can lead to a collision.
- Poor road conditions: With the average low temperature dipping below freezing six months out of the year in Idaho Falls, snow plows are frequently used to reduce dangerous road conditions. While the use of snow plows lessens vehicle hazards, overuse cause significant damage to roads. This damage creates yet another hazard for bikers to be on the lookout for, as motorcycles are significantly lighter than vehicles and can easily be jarred by a road condition that might not have an impact on an automobile.
- Overgrowth of foliage: Idaho is home to vast national forests which provide for beautiful scenery for a motorcycle trip. Overgrowth of trees, bushes, and plants, however, can produce dangerous blind corners and lessen visibility for both bikers and automobile drivers. A driver who is unable to see a biker due to overgrown foliage can cause a major accident when rounding a corner.
Motorcycle Injuries For Which You Might Receive Compensation
While any type of accident can produce serious injuries, motorcycle-related injuries can be catastrophic due to the extremely high level of exposure of a biker compared to someone in a vehicle. While a vehicle has airbags, safety features, and can act as a shield to encapsulate a rider in an accident, a motorcycle leaves a rider almost completely exposed to whatever object collides with the rider. Although injuries can be as simple as typical bumps and bruises, you may need to seek compensation for the treatment of much more severe injuries such as:
- Broken bones: In an average car wreck, the exterior of the vehicle can prevent you from experiencing a large number of injuries. On a motorcycle, however, your body experiences the full brunt of a crash, which can lead to broken bones from falling onto the road or becoming pinned between your motorcycle and whatever hits you.
- Road rash: If you are thrown from your motorcycle on impact and are not wearing protective clothing, then you may experience severe burns from sliding across the road.
- Head and neck injuries: Motorcycle accidents can produce devastating head and neck injuries, especially if you are not wearing a helmet at the time of your collision. While a helmet can prevent a large amount of injury, it does not prevent all types of head and neck injuries. Injuries can be as simple as a mild concussion or as severe as brain bleeding or a broken neck.
- Spinal injuries: If you are thrown from your motorcycle or pinned between a vehicle and another object, then you may sustain serious injuries to your back and spinal cord. Spinal injuries can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.
Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Let us Help You Get Back on the Road
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in the Idaho Falls area, then your primary focus should be on healing to the maximum extent possible. You don’t have to fight your personal injury accident alone–the attorneys at Litster Frost are dedicated to formulating a case on your behalf to recover the compensation that you deserve and take the weight of a personal injury suit off of your shoulders. Our attorneys can make sure that you do not jeopardize your legal rights to overall justice and relief from as much pain, suffering, and anxiety as possible. You don’t need to suffer without compensation–to schedule a consultation to speak with a personal injury attorney at Litster Frost about your accident, fill out an online evaluation form or call (208) 333-3336 today.
