Goodyear, Arizona Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcyclists have just as much right to use Goodyear roads as drivers. Both Arizona motorcyclists and drivers owe one another a duty of care to operate their vehicles with caution. In most cases where a car and a motorcycle collide, the driver’s negligent behavior caused the motorcycle accident. The motorcyclist tends to suffer more serious injuries as compared to the occupants of the car.
In order to meet the motorcyclist’s burden of proof, your attorney needs to show that the defendant’s careless, reckless or negligent behavior was responsible for the motorcyclist’s injuries and the defendant is responsible for the resulting medical bills and general damages damages.
With the skilled Goodyear injury attorneys of Lerner and Rowe on your side, you can rest assured that your claim will be well-represented. To schedule a free consultation with a top Arizona motorcycle accident attorney, give us a call at 602-977-1900 or complete a free online case review today.
Why Choose Lerner and Rowe’s Goodyear Motorcycle Accident Lawyers?
At Lerner and Rowe, we often see injured Arizona motorcyclists who are in crisis because a driver was reckless and caused them to suffer severe motorcycle accident injuries. Our mission is to maximize their compensation for their damages, which often include hefty medical bills, lost wages from taking time away from work to recover and pain and suffering in an Arizona motorcycle accident lawsuit. Over the span of nearly 20 years we have acquired a reputation as capable, compassionate advocates who are invested in their clients’ well-being.
The motorcycle accident attorneys of Lerner and Rowe are resourceful investigators who will consider every angle and piece of evidence obtained in order to establish the defendant’s negligence, verify your injuries and demonstrate the value of your damages. We are also accomplished negotiators who are unafraid to stand up to powerful insurance companies on behalf of our clients. Our team has used our specialized knowledge and cultivated skill set to recover billions in compensation for our injured clients.
We know that no two Goodyear motorcycle accidents are the same, whether that be a T-bone motorcycle accident at the intersection of Litchfield and McDowell, a “dooring” accident in a local neighborhood when a stationary vehicle opens their door in front of a motorcyclists without checking their surroundings or a rear-end collision on I-10. We are committed to providing the individualized attention that your Goodyear motorcycle accident claim deserves.
Understanding Goodyear, Arizona Motorcycle Crashes
Goodyear, Arizona takes its name from the tire company that initially bought land in the area, which is in Maricopa County. The city of Goodyear is less than 20 miles west of Phoenix and is one of its fastest-growing suburbs with a population of about 105,406. Local bikers, tourists and riders passing through on their way to one of Arizona’s best motorcycle rides take advantage of Goodyear’s dry heat and convenient highway access.
While cities like Goodyear offer convenient rest stops for motorcyclists traversing Maricopa County, it’s crucial to remember the importance of safety on the road. In 2021 alone, 160 motorcyclists lost their lives in Arizona, with 95 of those fatalities occurring within Maricopa County.
Considering that left-turn collisions were the most common type of Arizona motorcycle accident, and by far the deadliest, riders should remain cautious at Goodyear’s worst intersections. The Arizona Republic reports that the intersection of Dysart and McDowell, as well as Litchfield and McDowell, are among the most dangerous intersections in the Southwest Valley.
Common Causes of Goodyear, Arizona Motorcycle Accidents
Based on data reported by the Arizona Department of Transportation, the first harmful event in nearly 60% of motorcycle accidents was a collision with a moving vehicle. The vast majority of Arizona motorcycle accidents occurred during daylight hours on dry roads, which mostly limits the causes of motorcycle crashes to operator error, a defective mechanical component, or the occasional pothole.
Motorcyclists who are inexperienced, impaired or distracted can certainly be responsible for a collision, but motorcycle accidents are more commonly the result of a driver’s failure to detect and compensate for a motorcycle’s presence.
Considering that motorcycles are admittedly harder to spot and easier to overturn, Goodyear drivers cannot afford to let anything interfere with their ability to notice a motorcyclist in their path. Arizona motorcycle accidents may be caused by:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Texting and driving
- Ignoring traffic laws
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
- Reckless maneuvering
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to check blind spots
- Mechanical failures
- Poor road maintenance
- Road rage and aggressive driving
Injuries Handled by Our Goodyear Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcyclists are at a significant disadvantage in a collision with a larger vehicle such as a car or truck. The average passenger vehicle is over five times the weight of a motorcycle and a fully loaded semi-truck is over 100 times heavier. The force of that weight bearing down on an exposed motorcyclist can inflict life-threatening injuries from blunt force trauma alone.
Motorcycles do not have an outer frame to absorb the impact of a vehicle or a fixed object like a utility pole, guardrail or tree. The lack of a frame, or restraints, also means that there is nothing to stop them from being ejected where they can be thrown into the path of another vehicle or against the hard surface of the road. Given these circumstances, many motorcycle crash survivors live with the consequences of their injuries for months, years or a lifetime. Motorcycle accident injuries may include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Disfigurement
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Amputation
- Soft tissue injury
- Fractured or broken bones
- Crush injury
- Deep lacerations
- Contusions
- Road rash
- Biker’s arm
- Severe burns
- Dental injuries
- Facial injuries
- Whiplash injury
Seek Medical Aid After a Motorcycle Accident ASAP
In the aftermath of a Goodyear motorcycle accident, you may not recognize the true severity of your injuries. Allow a medical provider to evaluate and treat you immediately and continue with whatever follow-up care they recommend.
Prompt medical intervention protects your health. It is also needed to demonstrate that the damages you are seeking are appropriate for the level of injury you sustained in the motorcycle accident. Without a credible medical record, an insurance company could justify a lower settlement or reject your personal injury claim entirely.
What Damages Are Available in a Goodyear Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit?
The expenses associated with a Goodyear motorcycle accident can quickly drive a family into debt, even if the other driver was entirely at fault for the collision. Your motorcycle accident injuries may leave you stuck in a hospital bed, recuperating at home or attending doctor appointments causing you to miss work. Even if you can return to your job, you may have to work fewer hours or take on a lower-paying position while your injury heals.
As a result, you are bringing in less income just as the medical bills begin to arrive. In the case of catastrophic injuries, you may incur bills for the rest of your life, but be unable to earn enough to afford them. The financial consequences of motorcycle accident injuries can be compensated as economic damages in an Arizona personal injury lawsuit.
There is also the emotional and intangible impact of motorcycle accident injuries to consider. A prominent scar can be a daily reminder of a traumatic crash. Broken teeth can make it impossible to eat solid foods and may affect your self-esteem. A motorcycle you painstakingly rebuilt or worked hard to be able to afford may have been totaled. Fortunately, personal injury law recognizes these types of losses as non-economic damages. Motorcycle accident plaintiffs commonly seek compensation for damages like:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Replacing or repairing the motorcycle
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death
Why You Need a Goodyear Motorcycle Crash Attorney
Regardless of whether you just acquired your Arizona motorcycle permit or have been riding since the I-10 was constructed, you could be seriously injured in a Goodyear motorcycle accident. In that event, you should be able to focus on rehabilitating your body so you can care for your family, return to work and live a fulfilling life. To be able to do so effectively you need to hire a motorcycle accident attorney with a proven track record.
Motorcycle accident lawyers engage with insurance adjusters and legal teams for insurance companies on a regular basis which means they have a clearer idea of how to best protect your claim from being undermined and how to negotiate for fair compensation. It takes a persuasive communicator that is familiar with the law to maximize compensation, particularly in a motorcycle accident claim, and a personal injury lawyer is best equipped to accomplish this.
To pursue a motorcycle accident claim, you need a detailed knowledge of legal procedure, the intricacies of establishing liability, how to obtain evidence and what kinds of losses are considered compensatory damages. An Arizona personal injury lawyer who specializes in motorcycle accident lawsuits will have this skill set, plus the credibility, that accompanies their experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Goodyear, Arizona Motorcycle Accident Claims
Is lane splitting illegal in Arizona?
Motorcyclists are not allowed to engage in lane splitting, or traveling between two adjacent lanes headed in the same direction, while navigating Arizona roads. Lane splitting is distinct from lane filtering, which is legal in Arizona. The primary difference comes down to speed. Arizona motorcyclists can lane filter when traffic is stopped, and they may only travel up to 15 mph.
The point of allowing lane filtering, which is relatively new to the state, is to let motorcyclists reduce their risk of being rear-ended in stop-and-go traffic or at intersections by permitting them to make their way to the front of the line and quickly take off once the light changes or traffic gets moving.
How much does it cost to hire a Goodyear motorcycle accident lawyer to represent me?
Motorcycle accident attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win your case. This structure recognizes that most plaintiffs have suffered financial hardship due to their injuries and may not be able to afford upfront legal costs.
Obviously, this is not an ideal financial situation to begin with and expecting someone to pay upfront for legal representation out of their own pocket with no guarantee of results is unreasonable. At the same time, a personal injury lawyer deserves to be paid for the many hours of work and extensive legal knowledge required to negotiate a claim.
A contingency fee agreement means that the plaintiff’s financial responsibility to their motorcycle accident lawyer hinges on the attorney’s performance. If the personal injury lawyer can’t obtain compensation for their client, the client does not have to pay them a dime. If the personal injury attorney does obtain compensation, they are entitled to recover about 33% of the settlement as their contingency fee.
Do I have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Arizona?
If you are under 17, you must wear a motorcycle helmet, even if you are just a passenger. Arizona law stops short of mandating a motorcycle helmet for adult riders, but it does require eye protection, such as a visor, glasses or goggles. Despite the fact that Arizona does not have a universal motorcycle helmet law, operators and passengers should strongly consider wearing one.
The CDC reports that motorcycle helmets are about 40% effective at preventing fatal head injuries and nearly 70% effective at preventing head injuries. Arizona motorcycle operators and passengers who were not wearing a helmet at the time of their accident were more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries as compared to operators who were wearing helmets.
Contact the Goodyear Motorcycle Accident Lawyers of Lerner and Rowe
At Lerner and Rowe, we treat our injured clients with the level of respect that we would want to experience. As a client of Lerner and Rowe, you can expect to receive regular updates on your motorcycle accident case, a clear explanation of any unfamiliar legal terms or procedures and our best effort from beginning to end.
Our team of Arizona personal injury lawyers will be adamant about recovering fair compensation for your medical bills, emotional distress, lost wages and other damages. We aren’t intimidated by insurance companies trying to justify inadequate settlements. Instead, we will rise to the challenge and focus on maximizing your compensation for your motorcycle accident claim.
Give us a call at 602-977-1900 or complete an online case review today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our seasoned Goodyear motorcycle accident attorneys. You can trust our team to protect your right to seek compensation, demonstrate the value of your damages and represent your best interests throughout the personal injury claims process.