The beautiful open roads and year-round riding weather make Arizona a motorcycle haven. But the state also poses serious hazards to bikers. With over 150 motorcycle fatalities annually, Arizona has the 9th highest motorcycle death rate in the U.S. If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver on Arizona’s roads, you need an experienced personal injury attorney on your side. Successfully calculating and proving damages is key to recovering maximum compensation.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Arizona
There are many hazards faced by motorcyclists on Arizona’s roads. Some of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes in the state include:
- Drivers failing to see motorcycles and turning into the rider’s path at intersections or while changing lanes. This is sometimes called “looked but failed to see” accidents.
- Speeding, and reckless or impaired drivers.
- Unsafe road conditions like potholes, debris, uneven pavement or gravel on the road.
- Drivers making illegal U-turns into the motorcyclist’s right of way.
- Adverse weather like rain or high winds.
- Defective motorcycle parts like tires or brakes.
- Negligent road design, construction zones, and poor signage.
- Aggressive driving behaviors like tailgating, unsafe passing, and weaving in and out of traffic.
- Unanticipated hazards like animals running into the roadway.
No matter what caused your motorcycle accident, a skilled attorney can help investigate fault and build your injury claim.
The Importance of Proving Liability
In any Arizona motorcycle injury claim, the first step is to establish legal liability. This means proving that the other driver’s negligent actions directly caused the crash and your injuries. Some examples of negligence in motorcycle accidents include:
- Disobeying traffic signs or signals
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Distracted driving like texting behind the wheel
- Tailgating the motorcycle too closely
- Unsafely passing the motorcycle
- Failing to check blind spots before turning or merging
If you can show the other driver was negligent and at fault for the accident, you can pursue injury damages through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. An attorney will gather police reports, surveillance video, eyewitness statements and other evidence to prove liability.
Documenting Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries
The severity of your injuries will directly impact the compensation you can recover. Be sure to seek prompt medical treatment after any motorcycle crash. The medical records, bills, and other documentation will help substantiate damages. Some of the most common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Road rash
- Broken bones like fractures to the arms, legs, ribs, or collarbone
- Spinal cord injuries that can lead to partial or total paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Internal organ damage
- Disfiguring facial injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burns
Make sure all treating physicians are aware your injuries resulted from a motorcycle accident. Ask them to document the collision details in their notes and reports. This creates a clear record showing that the crash caused your injuries.
Calculating Economic Damages in a Motorcycle Injury Claim
Economic damages refer to the quantifiable financial losses caused by a motorcycle accident. Be sure to track all cost-related losses like:
Medical Expenses
This includes ambulance fees, hospitalization, procedures, surgeries, medical devices, prescription medication, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and any other treatment costs related to your motorcycle crash injuries. Keep detailed records of all bills, receipts, and insurance claims.
Lost Income
If your injuries forced you to miss work for recovery, document how much income you lost. Gather pay stubs and tax returns showing your typical wages. If you missed a future promotion or lost job opportunities, your attorney can help account for this.
Loss of Earning Capacity
If your injuries left you disabled or unable to work in the same capacity as before, you can recover damages for decreased future earning ability. Vocational experts can assess how your disability affects long-term income.
Property Damage
If your motorcycle or gear was damaged in the crash, include repair receipts and valuation reports to recoup property damage costs.
By carefully documenting each category, you substantiate the real economic impact of a motorcycle injury.
Seeking Non-Economic Damages
In addition to concrete financial losses, motorcycle crash victims can recover damages for non-economic losses like:
Pain and Suffering
You can be compensated for any pain, discomfort, anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, or other subjective hardships caused by crash injuries. The award amount is based on the unique details of your case.
Emotional Distress
If your injuries left you with debilitating anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health effects, you can recover damages. A mental health professional can offer expert testimony on your condition.
Loss of Consortium
If your injuries are so severe that you can no longer maintain your previous marital relations, show intimacy, or engage in family activities with your spouse, you can claim loss of consortium damages.
Disfigurement
If crash injuries left you scarred or disfigured, compensation can help account for resulting self-consciousness and loss of self-esteem.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
Damages can address losing the ability to participate in hobbies, sports, and other life activities you previously enjoyed before the motorcycle accident.
By combining economic and non-economic damages, experienced attorneys build a strong claim that maximizes compensation for clients.
Why Hire a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer?
Trying to value a serious motorcycle injury claim on your own is extremely difficult. An attorney knows how to strategically calculate and prove damages resulting from the negligence of another driver. Other benefits of hiring a lawyer include:
- Dealing with insurance companies so you can focus on recovery
- Gathering police reports, witness statements, camera footage, and other evidence to prove liability
- Consulting medical and vocational experts to substantiate injury claims
- Negotiating aggressively to reach a full and fair settlement
- Taking the case to trial if needed to secure maximum compensation
An experienced motorcycle accident attorney levels the playing field against negligent drivers and insurance companies. With legal guidance, you can pursue the financial recovery you need and deserve.
Get a Free Consultation on Your Arizona Motorcycle Injury Claim
The motorcycle accident attorneys at Monge & Associates have years of experience helping injured riders throughout Arizona. With 32 offices in 19 states, including Arizona, Alabama, and Nebraska, we have the resources to handle motorcycle cases of any size. We offer all motorcycle injury clients a free, no-obligation consultation to evaluate your claim’s value. Call us today at (888) 477-0597 to learn more about recovering the compensation you deserve.