Tacoma Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Four Decades of Protecting Motorcyclists

In most motorcycle vehicular accidents, it’s the rider – not the driver – who sustains the brunt of the injuries. In fact, 96 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal or serious injury collisions in Washington in 2012 were injured or killed, as opposed to 49.3 percent of car drivers and 39.4 percent of their occupants, according to the 2012 Washington State Annual Collision Summary.

If you or your loved one were recently injured in a motorcycle accident, or if your loved one was killed in a motorcycle accident, you may be eligible to file a claim for restitution if another party caused or contributed to the accident.

The Severity of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists are only protected by a limited amount of gear and are often flung from their bikes upon impact. The bodily damage can be both instantaneous and severe. In motorcycle wrecks, 30 percent of injuries involve the legs and/or feet, and 22 percent of injuries are to the neck and/or head, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Injuries that riders may sustain include:

• Fractured and shattered bones
• Head trauma
• Internal organ damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Concussions and contusions
• Lacerations, scrapes, and abrasions, e.g., road rash

A Long List of Compensable Damages

Injuries like these can easily rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of damages. Severe traumatic brain injuries or spinal injuries can reach more than $1 million in lifetime care costs.

If you are able to bring a claim against another party, the types of damages you may be able to pursue include:

• Medical bills
• All future treatments
• All surgeries, prescriptions, and medical appointments
• Injury-related transportation
• Loss of wages
• Loss of benefits
• Loss of earning capacity and loss of promotion
• The cost of medical devices, equipment, home health nurses, etc.
• The cost of remodeling your home to accommodate any disabilities
• How the injury affected your family life, your marriage, and your social life
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Funeral expenses

Successfully Proving a Claim

In order to bring a claim, a few factors must exist:

• Duty – everyone on the road has a legal duty to conduct themselves in a safe manner and obey the rules of the road. There must be at least one other party at least partially responsible for the accident.
• Breach of duty – the other party must have acted in a way that was careless or negligent; a way in which the average person would not have acted.
• Cause – their actions were the direct cause of your injuries.
• Actual damages – you sustained damages.

If these factors exist, the other party may be legally liable for your damages. You and your lawyer can work together to construct a case that proves the other party’s fault and demonstrates the severity and extent of your injuries. The more fully you can prove this, the better will be your chances of obtaining a fair financial settlement.