Experienced Las Vegas Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
The road can be a hazardous place for motorcyclists. Sure, riders like to feel the freedom of the open road, but they are left quite open and vulnerable when compared to car drivers.
Accidents can quickly occur if other vehicles don’t adequately share the road, if street conditions are poor, or if a host of other road hazards pop up. Because motorcyclists are not nearly as protected as their counterparts in vehicles, they can sustain severe injuries in case of a crash.
Call Us for a Free Consultation
If you have been in an accident, A Las Vegas injury attorney can help. Call 702-766-4336 for a free consultation with a Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorney.
You will not owe us anything unless you win your case. We will fight for you to receive all of the compensation you are rightly due as a victim of a motorcycle collision.
What to Do if You Have Been Involved in a Motorcycle Accident
Traffic accidents are stressful situations. Motorcycle accidents can be even more so. Here are some tips on what to do if you have been involved as a rider or a passenger in a motorcycle accident:
- Make sure you are safe. Get off the road, or at least to the side of it. Stay away from your damaged motorcycle, as fuel may have leaked and create a safety hazard.
- Seek medical attention. Even if you are fortunate enough to walk away from a motorcycle accident, you may not be aware of any internal injuries that you sustained from the impact. Many times, internal injuries do not immediately present themselves. If you have injuries that result in delayed pain and suffering, it may be harder to prove that the motorcycle accident caused them. With this in mind, it’s imperative to see a doctor as soon as possible after your road accident for a thorough examination.
- If you are not seriously injured, document as much as you can of the accident. Take notes on what happened—do not rely on your memory for the details of the collision. Even if you did not sustain a head injury, the trauma of the accident alone could make you block out essential information. At the very least, record the names and phone numbers of any witnesses on the scene.
Use your cell phone camera to take pictures of the scene, including damaged vehicles and property and road conditions (i.e., potholes, wet roads, etc.) Check the area to see if there are any traffic or security cameras nearby. Law enforcement may be able to obtain the video, which could serve as crucial evidence for your case.
- Contact a local personal injury attorney as soon as possible. While Nevada motorcyclists do have up to two years to file a lawsuit, we encourage you not to delay. The sooner you seek legal assistance, the better the chance you have for gathering evidence to support your case.
Connect with a Las Vegas Motorcycle Wreck Injury Law Firm Today
You have many things to consider when you have been in a motorcycle accident. But the most important factor for you to focus on is getting better. Leave the rest up to the experienced motorcycle accident attorney team at Accident Attorneys of Southern Nevada.
If you have have been in a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to call Accident Attorneys of Southern Nevada at 702-766-4336.
You will not owe us anything unless you win your case. We will fight for you to receive all of the compensation you are rightly due as a victim of a motorcycle collision.
If you cannot call now, here are some answers to common questions about motorcycle accidents in Nevada.
Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents
What will a Las Vegas motorcycle accident attorney do to help me?
As you recover from your motorcycle accident, one of our attorneys will build a strong case to get the most compensation for your pain and suffering. Here are some of the things that we do for our clients as they focus on getting better:
- Survey the site of the accident to determine other factors that may have contributed to the crash
- Review the police report and any available footage from nearby security or traffic cameras
- Speak with witnesses who are present for the accident. Their testimony will be vital in determining who or what was at fault in your motorcycle collision
- Connect with others who can lend valuable testimony and support to your case, such as medical professionals and accident reconstruction specialists
- Review the total amount of financial loss sustained by the accident to determine the appropriate amount of compensation to request from the defendant
How much insurance coverage should I have as a motorcyclist?
Just as car owners must have insurance, motorcyclists must also carry insurance. These are the minimum insurance requirements under Nevada law:
- Bodily injury or single fatality in a single accident: $25,000
- Bodily injury or two or more fatalities in a single accident: $50,000
- Injury or destruction of property in a single accident: $20,000
It’s a good idea to add additional insurance protection should you experience an accident or sustain an injury. Ask your insurance company about adding the following to your insurance plan as a motorcyclist:
- Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
What other requirements must Nevada motorcyclists fulfill in order to ride legally?
Motorcycle laws are different in each state. Your motorcycle must be “street legal,” meaning that it must have all the functioning components to be safely ridden on streets and roadways.
If your motorcycle is not legal for street use, at the very least, you can be given a ticket. However, if you are involved in an accident while operating a motorcycle that is not up to Nevada motorcycle standards, then you will likely see your damages reduced accordingly.
Here are the motorcycle parts and safety equipment that is required to comply with the State of Nevada:
- Front and rear brakes
- Front and rear turn signals
- Fenders on both front and back wheels
- Adjustable footrests
- Handlebars with hand grips that are located below the shoulders
- At least one headlight (two maximum) that should be turned on for both day and night rides
- A horn
- A muffler
- Two rearview mirrors, one mounted on each handlebar
- At least one rear reflector able to be seen from 300 feet away in low beams
- A brake light that is visible in the daytime from 300 feet away
- A red tail light that can be seen from 500 feet away
Is there a helmet law for motorcyclists in Nevada?
Yes, Nevada also has a universal law for helmets. All motorcycle riders, regardless of age or experience, must wear a helmet. Studies show that helmets can lower the risk of injury in a traffic collision, so do make sure you wear one when you ride.
Facts About Motorcycle Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that motorcycle collisions account for 14% of all traffic accident fatalities. In 2017, there were 5,172 motorcycle accident fatalities. Of these, 6% percent were passengers. Out of all fatal motorcycle crashes, 91% involved two-wheeled motorcycles.
Here are some additional sobering facts about motorcycle accidents from the Insurance Information Institute:
- There are more likely to be fatalities in motorcycle accidents than there are in car crashes
- Each year, billions of dollars are spent in the aftermath of motorcycle collisions. These costs cover emergency response, medical bills during recovery, damage to property, loss of wages while the victim recovers, insurance fees, and legal assistance
- Alcohol and speed are two of the top causes of motorcycle crashes
- Older riders are more at risk than younger riders. This is not only because of physical health. Instead, mature motorcyclists tend to prefer riding larger bikes, which are known to roll over easily in collisions.
- Helmets have been shown to lower the rates of fatalities and serious injuries. However, only 19 states, plus the District of Columbia, require motorcycle riders to wear helmets. Nevada is one of the states that mandate helmets for riders.
Injuries from Motorcycle Crashes
Even minor traffic accidents involving motorcycles can lead to major injuries. Here are some of the severe conditions that afflict riders:
- Broken bones and torn ligaments and muscles
- Spinal cord damage
- Loss of limbs, whether on impact or by amputation later
- Brain damage
- Severe scars, burns, and other disfigurements
- Paralysis
- Emotional trauma
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, these are the primary reasons for motorcycle collisions:
- Switching lanes without regard for motorcyclists
- Drivers and passengers opening car doors in the pathway of motorcyclists
- Making left turns that cut off motorcycle riders
- Driving under the influence
- Distracted driving
- Speeding and otherwise reckless driving, such as ignoring traffic signals and other rules of the road
Let’s review some of the risk factors that lead to motorcycle accidents.
Road conditions
Sometimes accidents occur even when all motorists are driving carefully and obeying traffic laws. Poor or unsafe road conditions can cause collisions as drivers and motorcyclists swerve to avoid obstacles in the road and inadvertently cause an accident.
Here are some examples of road conditions that can cause traffic accidents for motorcyclists:
- Weather conditions, such as rain, snow, ice, wins and poor visibility
- Uneven surfaces that affect tire traction, including rocks and gravel, utility hole covers, snow and ice, wet leaves, etc.
- Obstacles such as roadkill or debris from previous accidents
- Pedestrians moving outside of crosswalks
- Negligent or reckless drivers
Motorcyclists must learn to drive defensively to stay safe on the road. There are many more cars, trucks, and SUVs on the road than motorcycles.
Many times, drivers do not see the smaller motorcyclists in their blind spots, leading to catastrophic results. Even if the drivers can see the motorcyclist, they often cannot correctly note how far away they are and at what speed they are approaching, resulting in a collision.
Motorcycle Crashes Caused by Mechanical Failure
Sometimes, it is neither driver negligence nor road conditions that cause motorcycle accidents. Rather, mechanical failure due to improper assembly of the motorcycle or faulty repairs can cause serious road accidents.
If you believe mechanical problems caused your accident, it is even more imperative for you to contact a Las Vegas motorcycle accident lawyer. The legal team at Accident Attorneys of Southern Nevada will help you seek compensation for your injuries.
Lack of riding experience
As you can see, many outside factors can cause motorcycle accidents, but the riders themselves may also be at fault.
Some motorcycle riders are simply too inexperienced to share the road with other vehicles. Many do not hold licenses, which is against the law in Nevada. In fact, a 2008 report from the NHTSA stated that 25% of motorcyclists who perished in accidents were without licenses.
Licensure for Motorcyclists
Just like automobile drivers, motorcycle riders are required by law to have licenses. All motorcyclists in the state of Nevada are required to obtain a Class M driver’s license. To do this, you must do one of the following two tasks:
1. Complete a licensing course
You can enroll in a motorcycle instruction course offered by various businesses in Nevada. There is no need for you to own a motorcycle already; you will be given the use of one for the course. You do not need an instructional permit to enroll in this course, either. Once you finish the course, you may go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with your Certificate of Completion and register for your license.
2. Pass two tests.
If you already know how to ride a motorcycle, you can go directly to the DMV and sit for the knowledge and skills tests. The knowledge test is a written exam that asks you questions about road rules and safety precautions. The skills test is based on your aptitude for operating a motorcycle. When you earn a passing grade on both exams, you can receive your license to ride a motorcycle in Nevada.
Call Our Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you have have been in a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to call Accident Attorneys of Southern Nevada at 702-766-4336.
You will not owe us anything unless you win your case. We will fight for you to receive all of the compensation you are rightly due as a victim of a motorcycle collision.