Harris, AR Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Known as the Natural State, Arkansas offers motorcycle riders a wide variety of winding and scenic roads to enjoy. In addition to riding to explore the state’s natural wonders, many motorcyclists rely on their bikes for daily commutes, including going to and from work or running errands.

Motorcyclists have the same rights as other motorists on the road. However, when an accident involves a motorcycle and another vehicle, the cyclist is more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries. Catastrophic injuries result in significant medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. Motorcycle accident victims have a right to seek financial compensation if they are not to blame for an accident. However, this process is complicated and challenging without experienced legal counsel.

Our experienced Harris, AR motorcycle accident attorneys have been fighting for the rights of injured riders for decades. Our lawyers and staff understand the difficulties associated with a motorcycle accident case and have the knowledge and resources to address them. Call (479) 316-0438 to review your case.

Five Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Harris, AR

It is not uncommon are to blame a motorcyclist if they are injured in an accident. In many people’s minds, motorcyclists are reckless, risk-takers, or just prone to dangerous conduct. However, many accidents are the result of unsafe or negligent conduct on the part of other motorists. Motorcycles are often hard to see and offer a much smaller profile than larger vehicles. Below, our Harris motorcycle accident lawyers look at five common causes of motorcycle crashes.

1) Distracted Driving

Driving while distracted is the root cause of many accidents. When a driver is engaged in something other than the safe operation of their vehicle, the chances of an accident increase. Because of a motorcycle’s size, they are easier to miss if a driver is texting or otherwise taking their eyes from the road. Furthermore, a motorcycle is more likely to become lost in a driver’s blind spot, especially if the driver is not paying attention.

2) Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

Driving while drunk or high is dangerous and illegal. When a motorist’s cognitive and physical abilities are impaired, they are more likely to make a devastating error in judgment or fail to react to traffic conditions. Drivers who are impaired will have difficulty gauging distances and speeds. This is dangerous to other drivers and potentially deadly for motorcyclists sharing the road.

3) Speeding or Reckless Driving

Speeding is a common denominator in many catastrophic accidents. When speeding is coupled with other reckless behavior, such as swerving between lanes, tailgating, or ignoring traffic signals, it becomes more dangerous. Speeding inhibits a driver’s ability to stop or react to changing conditions decreases exponentially. If a speeding driver collides with a motorcyclist, the rider will often suffer severe or fatal injuries.

4) Left-Turn Accidents

If a driver makes a left-hand turn and fails to account for oncoming traffic, a serious accident could occur. Often, a driver will either not see or misjudge the speed of a motorcycle when making a left-hand turn. In some cases, a driver makes a poor decision because they were distracted or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

5) Poor Road Conditions

Towns and cities are responsible for maintaining their roadways. A pothole or an uneven pavement is usually just an inconvenience or a slight bump for someone traveling in a car or truck. However, the same condition is much more hazardous to someone traveling on two wheels. When a rider is injured because of poor road conditions, it might be possible to hold the responsible municipality liable.

Five Common Injuries in Harris, AR Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycles provide very little protection for their riders. Outside of a helmet and some protective clothing, there is nothing between a motorcyclist and the road or another vehicle. This is the primary reason why cyclists often suffer devastating injuries when they are involved in an accident. Even when an accident occurs at a low speed, serious injuries are likely. Five common types of injuries are listed below.

1) Traumatic Head Injuries

Even with a helmet, an impact to a motorcyclist’s head during an accident could have long-lasting medical complications. Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include seizures, memory loss, sleep apnea, and a wide variety of other difficulties depending on what part of the brain was injured. In some cases, a head injury could leave a victim permanently paralyzed.

2) Road Rash

Road rash occurs when a rider slides across pavement or asphalt after being thrown from their bike. If the rider’s clothing is not protective enough, the road surface scrapes through the layers of clothing to damage the skin underneath. Road rash is more than cuts, scratches, and bruises. The damage to the skin is so severe that it could lead to permeant damage, including long-term skin irritations, dangerous infections, or nerve damage.

3) Fractured Bones

Another common injury in motorcycle accidents is broken bones. Fractures occur in other vehicle accidents, but motorcyclists have no protection from the hard road surface or the colliding vehicle. Because of this, a motorcyclist will often suffer severe breaks when involved in a crash. Fractured bones in a motorcycle accident include the skull, arms, legs, ribs, and in many serious cases, the spine.

4) Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are common in motorcycle crashes. Depending on the severity of the injury and what part of the spinal cord is damaged, an injured motorcyclist could experience anything from numbness to complete paralysis in one or more extremities.

5) Muscle or Soft Tissue Damage

When a motorcycle rider is in an accident, their entire body is liable to experience severe trauma. The forces the body endures often result in damage, bruising, tears, and strains of the victim’s muscles and soft tissue. Often, muscle and soft tissue damage is a complication of other injuries, including broken bones and road rash.

Contact Our Harris, AR Motorcycle Accident Attorneys to Review Your Case

Motorcyclists who were injured in an accident through no fault of their own deserve to be justly compensated for their injuries and financial losses. Our Harris, AR motorcycle accident attorneys are committed to providing professional, compassionate, and aggressive legal representation. If you were hurt while enjoying a ride on your motorcycle, call our law offices at (479) 316-0438.