Taking advantage of a beautiful, clear night by hopping on a motorcycle can be a brilliant idea. Sadly, distracted and careless drivers never seem to sleep and can always present a risk to anyone on a bike after the sun goes down.
Motorists can have the benefit of motorcycles with full headlights and taillights and still miss spotting a rider and make a dangerous move. The rider may be sent into a crash and suffer life-threatening injuries.
At CCD Law of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene we believe riders have the same rights to the road as anyone else. Yet, sometimes those rights have to be vigorously protected when inattentive drivers try to wiggle out of responsibility when they cause a serious crash. The hospital bills you face and the financial burdens you bear after an accident that wasn’t your fault should not be your responsibility. Contact us for a free consultation on your case.
Nighttime Motorcycle Accidents in Coeur d’Alene
Idaho Law Enforcement responded to 507 motorcycle accidents in 2017. Those accidents resulted in the tragic deaths of 26 riders.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also found that in one year 43% of all motorcycle accidents happen between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. In further analysis, over half of those nighttime motorcycle collisions happen on weekend nights (55% on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights).
The high incidences of motorcycle accidents at night are astonishing when you consider that there are generally fewer motorcycles on the roads after dark. The numbers are also surprising considering that the common excuse given by drivers who hit motorcyclists is that they couldn’t see the smaller vehicle. At night a motorcycle will be lit from front to back. Drivers paying attention should never mistakenly pull out in front of a fully illuminated bike or veer over on one in the next lane.
Common Injuries for Motorcyclists in Accidents
Experts believe those headlights can actually confuse drivers who aren’t paying enough attention to the road. With brains wired to expect to see the two headlights of a car, SUV, or truck, seeing only one headlight or taillight can confuse drivers and make them misjudge the distance of a motorcycle ahead or behind them. Of course, the simple act of caution of taking a longer look would likely solve this perception issue.
Unfortunately, drivers can plow ahead and ram a motorcycle in front of them, sweep one out of the lane beside them, or even pull out in front of a rider they thought was much further away.
The accidents caused by these careless acts can result in terrible injuries and leave a rider off his bike for many months of recovery.
These are some of the most common injuries that doctors in Idaho have to treat after a motorcycle accident:
- Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injury – Can cause dizziness, blurred vision, and problems with short-term and long-term memory.
- Blunt Force Trauma – Riders can suffer the force of impact from a vehicle and then endure another impact with the road surface after they’ve left their bikes. Often the skin isn’t penetrated, but internal organs can be severely damaged. Victims are often flown to trauma centers where specialized surgeons can attempt to stop internal bleeding.
- Fractured limbs – Motorcyclists may try to cushion a fall by extending their hands and feet. This can lead to damage up and down the arms and legs. The neck, vertebrae, skull, and hips can also be dislocated on impact.
- Road Rash – Friction with a road surface as a rider lands may tear away layers of skin.
- Chest Injuries – An impact to the chest can break ribs and affect the heart and lungs. Force absorbed by the back can injure kidneys and a side impact can damage the liver.
Compensation for Coeur d’Alene Motorcycle Accident Victims
A motorcyclist can be enjoying the cool air and the stars above when a careless driver ends the night with a stupid maneuver. If you are injured because of the negligence of a motorist, you’ll want to act quickly. Idaho sets the statute of limitations on filing a personal injury lawsuit at two years. That means you have two years from the date of the accident to file a claim for damages against the driver and his or her insurance coverage.
This may convince you that you have plenty of time to worry about a lawsuit later, but actually the sooner you or your attorney file, the better chance you’ll have at collecting important evidence for your case. Documents can be difficult to find once years have passed and witnesses can move to a different state when it’s time to speak out to prove your innocence. Also, the sooner you file, the sooner you can secure a potential settlement to get your bills paid
A successful claim can earn you money to put all of your hospital bills to rest. Any rehabilitation costs to get you back to the point you can ride again can be covered. A claim can also replace any paychecks you’ve missed while away from your job. A replacement for your bike is also a common factor in an award.
Contact a Coeur d’Alene Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary & Domanico, P.S. is licensed and practices in both Washington and Idaho. We are committed to providing motorcycle accident victims with the absolute highest quality legal representation.
If our Coeur d’Alene Motorcycle Accident Attorneys represent you for your accident case, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation. We will only offer you advice which is in your best interest.
