Motorcycle Accident Attorney New Jersey
More and more, riding motorcycles has become a very popular activity; but despite its popularity, the intrinsic nature of motorcycles makes riding them a potentially dangerous task. Motorcycles do not offer drivers or passengers any form of protection, primarily because there is nothing between the rider and the open road other than the few clothes that the rider is wearing and possibly a helmet. That said, if you have suffered an injury because of a motorcycle accident, you should call to schedule an appointment with a knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney who can explain all of your legal options in greater detail.
Common Motorcycle Crash Injuries
Motorcycle accidents may involve different types of injuries. The most common types of motorcycle injuries are often serious and even fatal. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 80 percent of motorcycle accidents result in life-threatening injury or death. In such cases, hiring a Motorcycle Accident Attorney New Jersey can be helpful.
Some types of motorcycle injuries are more common than others, including:
- Road abrasion or road rash
- Bone fractures
- Neck Injuries and back injuries
- Wrist and hand injuries
- Head injuries
If your motorcycle accident was caused by the recklessness or negligence of another party, you may be entitled to money damages for the injuries you suffered. Hiring a Motorcycle Accident Attorney New Jersey will ensure that you get the right compensation for the damages and injuries you have suffered. The experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney New Jersey at the Law Offices of Dan T. Matrafajlo are dedicated to aggressively fighting to protect your legal rights and getting you the full compensation that you deserve.
Causes of Motorcycle Accident in New Jersey
There can be a whole host of reasons for a motorcycle accident. For instance, due to the small size of a motorcycle, a lot of drivers of passenger vehicles and big-rig trucks simply do not see motorcyclists. Accordingly, a motorcycle may be in a car’s blind spot when the driver of the vehicle attempts to change lanes and an accident may occur from that lane change. Furthermore, the motorcycle itself (or one of its parts) may be defective or broken such that its defect can cause a serious accident. For example, defective brakes on a motorcycle might not allow the driver to stop in time to avoid an accident. This requires an experienced Motorcycle Accident Attorney New Jersey who can handle your case well.
When considering how to best handle a personal injury case that involved a motorcycle accident, it may turn out that the best way for the parties to resolve the dispute is through settlement or through some type of alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration or mediation. However, in the absence of a settlement or alternative dispute resolution, the case will proceed to trial.
How Can a New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Attorney Help?
At trial, the Motorcycle Accident Attorney New Jersey for each side will present their evidence and arguments, and the judge or jury will decide the unresolved issues. Once the judge or jury has reached a decision, the judge will enter a judgement for the successful party. Either or both parties can then appeal the judge’s decision to a higher court. If the case is settled, however, it cannot be appealed if both parties have agreed to the terms of the settlement. Call Motorcycle Accident Attorney New Jersey Dan T. Matrafajlo at 908-248-4404 for a free consultation.
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Motorcycles offer riders no structural protection — no frame, airbags, or seatbelts — so nearly all of the force of a crash is absorbed by the rider's body. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 80% of motorcycle accidents result in serious injury or death, compared to a much lower rate for passenger vehicle occupants.
Common motorcycle accident injuries include road rash (abrasion), bone fractures, neck and back injuries, wrist and hand injuries, and head injuries including traumatic brain injury. Because riders lack the protective structure of a car, these injuries tend to be more severe than those seen in typical car accidents.
Common causes include drivers failing to see motorcycles due to their smaller profile — especially during lane changes when a bike is in a blind spot — as well as defective motorcycle parts, such as faulty brakes, that prevent a rider from stopping in time. Left-turn collisions, where a driver turns into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, are also a frequent cause.
It's best to avoid giving a recorded statement — including to your own insurer — before speaking with an attorney. Adjusters may ask questions designed to get you to say something that reduces the value of your claim, and any statement you give can be used against you later in the process.
Case value depends on the severity of your injuries, medical costs (current and future), lost income, degree of fault, and the long-term impact on your life. Because motorcycle injuries tend to be more severe than car accident injuries, cases can involve significant damages. A free consultation with our attorneys can give you a realistic sense of what your claim may be worth.
New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which allows you to recover compensation even if you were partially at fault, as long as you're not more than 50% responsible. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies frequently try to shift blame onto motorcyclists using stereotypes about reckless riding, so having an attorney who can push back on these assumptions matters.
Yes, New Jersey requires every motorcycle rider and passenger to wear a DOT-approved helmet. If you weren't wearing one at the time of the crash, the insurance company may try to argue it contributed to your injuries, which can complicate your claim. It doesn't automatically bar you from recovering compensation, but it's an issue an experienced attorney should address directly.
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney investigates the crash, requests and reviews the police accident report, consults accident reconstruction and medical experts, gathers eyewitness statements, and pushes back against insurance company bias against motorcyclists. Cases are frequently resolved through settlement or mediation, though the attorney is also prepared to take the case to trial if a fair settlement isn't offered.
