Motorcycle riders are in a unique position on the road. They enjoy the freedoms that come with their chosen form of transportation, but they are also left exposed to dangers not met by automobile drivers and other motorists. The lack of any substantial protective barriers between a motorcycle and the road, as well as the difficulty that other motorists may have in anticipating and seeing a motorcycle, leave riders prone to serious and life altering injury in the event of an accident. Motorcycle riders, therefore, must be aware of their legal rights and remedies if they are involved in any traffic accident.

Personal Injury Risks for Motorcyclists

The risks that riders face, and the need to protect their rights of recovery after an accident, become readily apparent through a review of some statistics:

• In 66% of motorcycle accidents involving another vehicle, the driver of the other vehicle violated the rider's right of way and caused the accident.
• Motorcyclists are about 26 times more likely to die in a crash than someone riding in a passenger car, and are 5 times as likely to be seriously injured.
• Per mile traveled in 1998, motorcyclists were about 16 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die, and about 3 times as likely to be injured, in a motor vehicle crash.

Motorcyclists have to deal with significant problems each and every time they engage in travel including but not limited to:

• Visual Recognition: Motorcycles make smaller visual targets, which are more likely to be obscured by other vehicles, or by road and weather conditions. This is an issue especially at intersections, where approximately 70 % of motorcycle-versus-vehicle collisions occur.
• Road Hazards: Hazards that are minor irritations for an automobile can be a major hazard for a motorcycle rider. These include potholes, oil slicks, puddles, debris, or other objects on the roadway, ruts, uneven pavement, and railroad tracks.

Defective Motorcycle Design or Manufacture

Motorcycles lack crashworthiness and occupant protection. Unlike a car, a motorcycle is lightweight; it has no doors, no roof, no airbags, and no safety belts. A motorcycle is less stable than a car because it only has two wheels. Although several factors can contribute to a motorcycle accident, operator experience and failure to appreciate the limitations of a motorcycle is rarely the cause.

A defect in a motorcycle's design or manufacture should be considered as a potential cause of an accident, especially one where only the motorcycle rider is involved.

The Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Hanratty Law Group can fully evaluate any relevant product liability issues or recalls involving your motorcycle and can help determine whether you have a claim against the motorcycle manufacturer for your injuries.

You pay nothing unless we
recover compensation on your behalf

There are no up front costs to you on your personal injury case and our fees are contingent on the ultimate success of your case. If you have any questions or would like to speak with one of our attorneys about an auto accident claim or a personal injury accident please call (702) 821-1379 or e-mail us to arrange a free confidential consultation with one of our attorneys.

Our firm also graciously accepts attorney referrals, and serve clients that live in any jurisdiction that have been injured in an accident within the State of Nevada. If you have any questions, please call our office today.