Columbus Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents in Ohio are becoming more frequent and deadlier. According to data from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, motorcycle crashes in Ohio rose 4% between 2017 and 2021, while fatalities rose 42%. Around 4,000 motorcycle-related crashes tend to happen every year in the Buckeye State, while the number of deaths has climbed to well over 200 annually in recent years.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ranks Ohio as the number three state in the nation for the most fatalities involving bikers riding without a helmet. Even so, traffic deaths come to the helmeted and unhelmeted alike, and even with a helmet, motorcycle riders remain physically exposed to serious and life-threatening injuries and death in a motor vehicle crash. Sadly, no amount of riding leathers, skill, experience or attention can protect a motorcyclist from catastrophic injury or wrongful death in a serious crash with a negligent driver. If you or a loved one were hurt in a motorcycle accident, the attorneys at the Oliver Law Office will dedicate themselves to holding the responsible party or parties fully accountable to you for the damage they have caused. While you focus on yourself and your family, the Oliver Law Office will handle every aspect of your case, so you won’t have to lift a finger when it comes to getting the compensation you need and deserve after being injured by the negligence of another. Contact our experienced Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer today.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Columbus
Ohio has high rates of unhelmeted riders and alcohol-involved motorcycle fatalities, and low rates of riders taking motorcycle training courses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Negligence on the part of the motorcyclist can certainly be the cause or a contributing factor to motorcycle accidents. But even skilled, trained, and careful riders can find themselves in trouble when faced with a negligent driver behind the wheel of a 4,000-pound automobile. These are some of the most common mistakes that motor vehicle drivers make that end in a serious or fatal injury to the motorcycle rider:
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Failing to yield to a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction or a cross-street. The most common and serious type of accident is a driver executing a left-hand turn in front of an oncoming bike. Drivers commonly misjudge how far away a motorcycle is and how fast it is approaching. These judgment errors yield the most motorcycle crashes.
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Failing to check for the presence of a motorcycle in the vicinity before turning or changing lanes. This includes checking mirrors, looking behind, and checking blind spots.
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Failing to signal before turning or changing lanes.
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Aggressive or reckless driving. Aggressive drivers crowd motorcycles or squeeze them out of their lanes, or pass motorcycles and then reenter the lane too quickly, whether intentionally or negligently. Motorcycle riders have every right to share the road on equal footing with cars and don’t deserve to be treated like second-class citizens on the road.
How the Oliver Law Office Can Help After a Columbus Motorcycle Accident
Some of the biggest hurdles to recovering compensation from a negligent driver or their insurance company after a motorcycle accident include proving the driver’s fault and the extent of the damages caused. Insurers will often argue that their insured driver was not liable for the crash, playing into biases and stereotypes about motorcycle riders being reckless or aggressive drivers. The facts of the case lie in the evidence that can be collected after the crash – skid marks, surveillance camera footage, witness statements, accident reconstruction, etc. We urge accident victims to call us as soon as possible after a crash so we can start right away collecting and preserving that evidence. We know how complicated it can be in some cases to prove the other driver’s fault and defend accident victims against allegations of their own negligence. We also understand the immediate, long-term and lifelong costs a motorcycle accident can impose on victims and families, and we take the time and effort to put together a strong case that convincingly demonstrates what compensation is due. We do all of this with compassion and sensitivity to what our clients are going through, and we are devoted to making their experience as comfortable as possible.
Contact the Oliver Law Office Today
If you have been injured in a motorcycle crash, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal collision with a negligent driver, the attorneys at the Oliver Law Office are ready to help you get the care and compensation you need. Call our experienced Columbus motorcycle accident lawyer today.
