Motorcycle Accident

A motorcycle has no crumple zones, no airbags, and no enclosing frame. In a collision, the rider's body absorbs most of the energy. Road rash, fractures, head injuries, and spinal injuries are common even in relatively low-speed crashes. Medical costs and recovery time are often higher than for comparable car crashes.

Insurers and juries sometimes start with an assumption that the motorcyclist must have been going too fast or taking a risk. The reality is that a large share of motorcycle crashes involve a car driver who didn't see the motorcycle — typically at an intersection or during a lane change. Evidence like dashcam footage, intersection cameras, and independent witnesses matters more than in a typical car crash because it counteracts that initial bias.

Beyond fault, motorcycle claims often turn on:

• Whether the rider was wearing a helmet, and how that affects the claim in the state where the crash happened
• Whether the rider had a valid motorcycle endorsement
• Whether the rider was lane-splitting or lane-filtering, and whether that is legal in the state
• The rider's visibility — headlight on, clothing, lane position

Photograph the motorcycle, the other vehicle, and the road positions before the bike is moved if possible. Keep the helmet and gear — damage to them can help show the forces involved. Get medical treatment promptly; delayed treatment is often the single biggest reason motorcycle claims lose value.