Glendale Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Between reckless drivers and the limited protection offered by motorcycle gear, Glendale motorcyclists are at a higher risk of severe or fatal injury as compared to other motorists. When a motorcyclist has been seriously injured as a result of a negligent driver, the fallout is not confined to their physical injury. Injured Arizona motorcyclists often face staggering medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and emotional consequences like loss of quality of life. As Glendale motorcycle accident lawyers, our team at Lerner and Rowe has the experience to help you secure a settlement that reimburses you for these costs.
We can offer you the dedicated legal support and resources you need to maximize your compensation in a Glendale motorcycle accident lawsuit so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
You can reach our Glendale injury lawyers at 602-977-1900 to schedule a free consultation or complete a FREE online form today. Our team will review the facts of your case and explain how your Glendale motorcycle accident claim can benefit from our award-winning legal advice.
Why You Should Choose Lerner and Rowe to Represent Your Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit
Motorcycle accident claims demand a certain level of knowledge and dedication to navigate, which the personal injury attorneys of Lerner and Rowe have been providing injured Arizonans for nearly 20 years. We take a proactive approach that centers our clients’ needs. This has proven highly effective, making the accident injury attorneys of Lerner and Rowe one of Arizona’s most trusted negotiating teams for motorcycle accident lawsuits.
Clients seek out our personal injury attorneys based on our record of settlements and our reputation for stellar service. Our team is accessible and communicative because we believe that you deserve to feel confident about the choices being made on your behalf. It is a point of pride for us to be able to say that many of our clients found us based on a recommendation from a former client.
Motorcycle collisions in Glendale, Arizona may look different in terms of location or point of impact, from a head-on crash on West Bethany Home Road to a T-bone accident turning into the Arrowhead Towne Center to a dooring accident after a Cardinal’s game, but they are often similar in terms of the extensive damages experienced by the motorcyclist. The personal injury attorneys of Lerner and Rowe are prepared to leverage our knowledge to maximize your compensation.
Understanding Glendale, Arizona Motorcycle Crashes
Many motorcyclists find the desert climate of the Phoenix area appealing. It is not uncommon for bikers to cruise the famed Route 60 that divides the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Arizona, or enjoy a trip along one of the other major highways that frame the city. The popularity of motorcycle riding is reflected in the more than 210,000 motorcycles registered in Arizona as of 2021, which is a little more than the population of Glendale.
The volume of motorcyclists traveling Glendale roads and stopping at Glendale exits increases the likelihood of a collision. There were 1,576 motorcycle crashes in Maricopa County, where Glendale is located, in 2021. Maricopa County had more than four times the number of motorcycle accidents as compared to the county with the next highest number of motorcycle crashes. In these collisions, 95 people were killed and 1,307 were injured.
Maricopa County was responsible for nearly 60% of all motorcycle accident fatalities in 2021. The most common types of motorcycle accidents on Arizona roads were rear-end collisions and left-turn accidents, with the latter being significantly more deadly. Most fatal Arizona motorcycle accident crashes took place on a Friday, with the highest rate of alcohol involvement recorded on Fridays and Sundays.
Common Causes of Glendale, Arizona Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles are prone to instability due to their design, which means it requires less effort or force to knock them over. Additionally, they are smaller and more easily overlooked than the average passenger vehicle. When you factor in a negligent driver, the risk of a catastrophic Glendale motorcycle accident skyrockets.
Drivers who fail to account for nearby motorcyclists when turning, merging, reversing, slowing down, and generally navigating Glendale roads can potentially be found liable for negligence if their actions result in a motorcycle accident. The majority of Arizona motorcycle accidents are attributable to driver error. Common causes of Arizona motorcycle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
- Road rage and aggressive driving
- Reckless maneuvering
- Ignoring traffic laws
- Mechanical failures
- Poor road maintenance
Reducing the likelihood of an Arizona motorcycle accident starts before a driver even gets into their car. Drivers who are overly fatigued or impaired should never get behind the wheel, as their vision, reaction times, and judgment are not at full capacity, which is essential to protecting motorcyclists.
Once on the road, distractions like texting can lead drivers to engage in dangerous behaviors like speeding or swerving. Drivers may also become frustrated with the presence of a motorcyclist and use aggressive driving maneuvers to pass them, once again putting riders at risk of serious or fatal injury.
Glendale Motorcyclists Are More Likely to Suffer Severe Injuries in a Collision
Motorcyclists are incredibly exposed when sharing the road. Whereas airbags insulate car occupants from an impact and seat belts keep them within the vehicle, motorcyclists can come into direct contact with a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds with no restraint to prevent them from being thrown. Riders can significantly reduce their risk of a serious head injury by using a helmet, but this is not foolproof, nor does it prevent other catastrophic injuries.
In a collision with another vehicle, a motorcyclist may be crushed under the bike or between the bike and a guardrail, dragged with the bike, or launched into a hard surface, causing injuries that require extensive treatment. Motorcycle accident injuries can necessitate surgery, physical therapy, and casts, and still result in irreparable damage. Motorcycle accidents often involve a range of injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Crush injury
- Whiplash injury
- Contusions
- Soft tissue injury
- Fractured or broken bones
- Amputation
- Deep lacerations
- Road rash
- Biker’s arm
- Severe burns
- Dental and facial injuries
Seek Medical Attention After a Glendale Motorcycle Accident Injury
Considering the severity of most motorcycle accident injuries, refusing immediate medical attention is out of the question. Even in cases of more minor injuries, motorcyclists should get treated by a medical provider as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of unintentionally undermining a future personal injury claim.
Seeking medical attention promptly after a collision shows that you took care to reduce the risk of exacerbating your injuries and provides a reliable record of the severity of your injuries, both of which are important to recovering fair compensation in an Arizona motorcycle accident lawsuit. Otherwise, insurance companies may try to dismiss or reduce the value of your claim.
Compensation Our Glendale Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Get You
For an injured party, the goal of a personal injury claim is to recover compensation for costs they incurred as a result of another party’s negligence. When a personal injury lawyer helps a plaintiff enumerate their damages, the focus is on compensatory damages, so that the plaintiff is returned to where they were before they were injured. Although compensation in personal injury claims is financial, it can be used to acknowledge both economic and non-economic damages.
Monetary losses are virtually unavoidable in a serious Arizona motorcycle accident. Injured motorcyclists will likely accumulate medical bills, need time away from work, and potentially have to hire services to drive, cook, clean, or provide medical care. These are referred to as economic damages. The monetary costs associated with a motorcycle accident injury are rarely the full picture of the plaintiff’s experience, which is why they can also pursue non-economic damages to receive compensation for their intangible losses. Typical compensatory damages include:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Replacing or repairing the motorcycle
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death
Why You Need a Glendale Motorcycle Crash Attorney to Negotiate Your Claim
When you file a personal injury claim for damages sustained in a motorcycle accident, you will likely be negotiating with representatives for the negligent driver’s insurance company for compensation, as opposed to representatives for the driver. This means that not only will you be going up against a team with considerable resources and experience handling claims like yours, but you are also working against their agenda to minimize the impact any settlement they agree to pay you will have on your profits.
The typical motorcycle accident claim involves a high price tag for the defendant, which can make an insurance company even more inclined to look for ways to diminish the value of your claim. A personal injury attorney will be able to proactively protect your right to seek compensation in several key ways. To begin with, they will take over communications with the insurance company to ensure you don’t inadvertently undermine your claim.
As your representative, they will also help you draft statements describing the collision, prepare you to be deposed, and compile evidence to support your case. Additionally, an Arizona motorcycle accident attorney will negotiate your claim effectively by anticipating their tactics and having convincing arguments prepared to demonstrate the defendant’s liability and the value of your damages. Injured motorcyclists typically lack the necessary familiarity with the personal injury claims process, the time, or the knowledge of Arizona law to be able to advocate for themselves effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions About Glendale, Arizona Motorcycle Accident Claims
When am I allowed to use a lane filter in Arizona?
Arizona law allows motorcyclists to lane filter, or lane split, under certain conditions. This is permitted to reduce the risk of rear-end motorcycle accidents, particularly in stop-and-go traffic. If you are considering lane filtering on a motorcycle, the following must apply:
- The speed limit is lower than 45 miles per hour
- The maximum speed a motorcyclist can travel while lane filtering is 15 miles per hour
- The other vehicles must be stopped
- The road has at least two adjacent lanes in the same direction of travel
If a motorcyclist attempts to lane filter when traffic is moving, this is known as lane splitting, which is considered dangerous and illegal in Arizona. Motorcyclists who engage in lane splitting and are involved in a collision with another vehicle are more likely to be found partially liable for damages in a personal injury claim.
Do I have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Arizona?
Despite the irrefutable efficacy of motorcycle helmets in reducing the risk of serious head injury, Arizona does not have a universal helmet law for motorcyclists. Instead, it requires anyone who is under 18 to wear a helmet while on a motorcycle.
The statute also mandates that all riders, regardless of age, wear eye protection unless the bike has a windshield. Motorcycles must have at least one but no more than two headlights, and they must come with a seat, footrests, and a rearview mirror.
Does not wearing a motorcycle helmet impact my claim if I am injured?
Glendale motorcyclists should be aware that if they are injured in a collision without a helmet, they may forfeit a portion of their settlement should they choose to pursue compensation in a personal injury claim. Arizona uses a comparative negligence standard, which means that if the injured party is partially responsible for their own damages, the percentage of fault they contributed is deducted from the final amount that they settle for.
How much does a Glendale motorcycle accident attorney cost?
At Lerner and Rowe, we use a contingency fee agreement to obtain compensation for our services. The way it works is a prospective client has a free consultation meeting with one of our personal injury attorneys to discuss their claim. If the personal injury lawyer believes that the claim has merit and will result in a settlement, they can choose to take it on. Once both the client and the personal injury lawyer are in agreement, the attorney will do all of the work required to represent the client.
Once the settlement has been negotiated and the claim is officially settled, the motorcycle accident lawyer recovers their fee out of the settlement. The contingency fee is usually about 33% of the settlement’s total value. The client is not responsible for any of the motorcycle accident lawyer’s costs if they cannot settle the claim. This arrangement allows someone who has been injured because another party was reckless to access the legal assistance they need to effectively represent their interests without having to pay a large upfront fee.
Contact the Glendale Motorcycle Accident Lawyers of Lerner and Rowe
Injured Glendale motorcyclists deserve to be fairly compensated for their motorcycle injury damages, and our team at Lerner and Rowe is prepared to help you. After almost 20 years of negotiating personal injury claims for Arizonans, we have found that honest communication, a reliable work ethic, and a willingness to go the extra mile produce the best results for our clients.
After hiring Lerner and Rowe to represent you in a Glendale personal injury lawsuit, you can feel confident that we will be relentless in our pursuit of a settlement that properly compensates you for your damages like medical bills, lost wages, and emotional distress. We understand the level of trust required to trust someone else to advocate for you, and this is not a responsibility we take lightly.
With our team of experienced Glendale motorcycle accident lawyers representing you, you can rest assured that your personal injury lawsuit will receive our best work. We encourage you to reach out to us at 602-977-1900 to schedule a free consultation or complete a FREE online form today. Our team will assess your claim and work to determine its value, so you can feel confident that your compensation will be maximized in a Glendale, Arizona motorcycle accident lawsuit.