Motorcycle accident injuries in Nevada range from minor, severe, to catastrophic. Find out what they are, statistics, causes, fault, and average settlement.
A motorcycle might be a fun ride, but it stops being one when an accident occurs. Motorcycle accidents are famous for catastrophic injuries, and in more severe cases, it results in death. In personal injury claims or insurance claims, the severity of the injury determines how much an injury victim gets as financial compensation. If you were involved in a motorcycle crash, contact McDonald Worley Law Firm to speak with a motorcycle accident attorney.
How Often Do Motorcycle Accidents Happen in Nevada?
The United States is no stranger to motorcycle collisions. Statistics show that in 2019, 5,014 motorcyclists died in traffic accidents. The number is a slight decrease from 5,038 in 2018. Despite the decrease, motorcycle riders were 29 times more likely to crash than passenger car occupants per vehicle miles traveled.
Nevada is known for traffic accidents and motorcycle crashes. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed the following motorcycle accident statistics for the state:
- 68% of motorcycle fatalities were unhelmeted
- 5% of motorcycle fatalities wore helmets
- 27% of motorcycle fatalities were unknown for helmet or non-helmet usage
- 55 people died from motorcycle crashes caused by impairment of drugs or alcohol
The data show the dangers of riding a motorcycle unprotected and impaired. Motorcyclists should protect themselves by wearing motorcycle helmets and other protective gear. According to the Center for Disease Control, Helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and the risk of head injury by 69%.
What Are the Causes of Motorcycle Collisions in Nevada?
From driving under the impairment of drugs and alcohol to drivers failing to see a motorcycle rider, there are several causes of motorcycle wrecks. Some of them are:
- Cars making left turns
- Road conditions
- Inclement weather
- Speeding
- Defective motorcycle
- Unsafe lane changes or lane splitting
- Running red lights or stop signs
Most of the cases above show that the motorcycle owner could be the responsible party in an accident. However, there are times when a vehicle driver or a motorcycle manufacturer fails in their duty of care. This happens when a driver’s negligence causes an auto accident and when the manufacturer makes defective motorcycle parts.
In either of the two, the driver or the manufacturer would be liable in damages for any injury or motorcycle accident death. Find out more about their liabilities and compensatory damages by speaking with our personal injury lawyers.
What Are the Common Injuries Sustained in a Motorcycle Accident?
Any motorcycle enthusiast who has been in an accident knows that motorcyclists suffer devastating injuries. This is because, unlike motor vehicle accidents where the car protects the occupants, there is minimal motorcycle safety for riders. The preceding is the reason why motorcyclists are more impacted in auto-motorcycle collisions.
Below, we look at the common injuries suffered by motorcycle accident victims in Nevada.
Head Injuries
One common type of motorcycle accident is traumatic brain injury (TBI). Brain injuries occur when the skull slams against a hard surface like the pavement on a car hood. In cases where the skull does not get fractured, the impact might affect the soft tissues of the brain.
The latter could cause a concussion or a more severe condition like brain bleed. The accident victim can also suffer permanent brain damage if not treated on time. This is why the CDC advocates for universal helmet laws in states.
Motorcycle helmets approved by the United States Department of Transportation provide safety for the head. The design allows it to absorb the force of hitting the head against a hard surface. This way, it minimizes the damage to the head.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are the most common severe injuries from motorcycle crashes. After a traffic collision, the impact ejects the motorcycle rider. When the body hits the ground, the impact’s force and the length the body travels causes bones to crack, split, or even shatter.
While bones heal with the right treatment and physical therapy, there could be long-term consequences. It might become a permanent injury when you end up with pins, rods, and screws in your body. Another downside of broken bones is that you may need surgery to fix shattered bones or remove bone chips.
Furthermore, the bone might not grow in the right alignment. In more severe cases, where there is a spinal cord injury, the fall from the motorcycle might damage the delicate spinal column. This causes long-term chronic pain, disability, and the victim would need long-term medical care.
Arm, Hand, and Finger Injuries
When falling off the bike, it is common to see experienced riders and inexperienced riders extend their arms and hands when bracing for a fall. This action does not end well for the motorcyclist, as it does not prevent any damage. Rather, it causes arm injuries that result in intense physical pain.
One common arm injury is broken ulna or radius bones in the forearm. The motorcycle rider could also break any of the tiny bones in their hand. The best way to prevent this is by wearing palm sliders and allowing the body to slide against the pavement. Heavy-duty gloves are also helpful protective apparel.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissues refer to the tendons, muscles, cartilages, skin fat, blood vessels, and other tissues surrounding the bones and organs. Ordinarily, soft tissues can heal themselves, but it might become difficult following a motorcycle wreck. Soft tissue damage is often harder to diagnose than other wounds like broken bones.
This is why our experienced motorcycle accident lawyers advise our motorcycle accident clients to get medical treatment immediately after an accident. Only doctors can pinpoint a soft tissue injury as they do not appear in scans. Additionally, a doctor’s report on a soft tissue injury helps get a financial settlement from the liable party.
The list of injuries motorcycle accident victims suffer in Nevada is by no means exhausted by these four. Other common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Neurological injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Disfigurement
- Dental injuries
- Internal bleeding, bruising, or organ damage
- Vascular damage
- Cuts and lacerations
- Road rash
What Is the Major Cause of Death in Motorcycle Accidents?
Most motorcycle accident injuries become deaths depending on the severity and other medical complications. Of all the accident injuries discussed above, the most major cause of death is traumatic brain injuries.. Most times, TBI symptoms do not appear for days or weeks after the occurrence.
This delay endangers the life of a motorcycle rider who might be suffering from it. What appears to be an insignificant bump to the head might cause a brain hemorrhage. Additionally, it might result in permanent tissue damage.
Lastly, untreated TBI results in coma and ultimately death. If TBI causes the death of a motorcycle accident victim, their family can file a wrongful death claim. Contact our personal injury attorneys to find out how to get the maximum compensation.
Who Is at Fault in Most Motorcycle Accidents?
Knowing the right fault party is crucial to the success of a personal injury claim. Most motorcycle accident claims are against the negligent driver of passenger vehicles or larger vehicles. However, there are times when the blame lies with the motorcyclist.
When it is unclear who caused the accident, the parties will rely on evidence. The latter includes a police report, accident reconstruction experts report, witness statements, video footage of the crash site if available, etc. Whoever turns out to the negligent party would pay a pay fair settlement to the victim.
Usually, the responsible party’s insurance company handles the claims process. The victim would get economic and non-economic damages covering medical expenses, pain, suffering, lost wages, etc. If it is a personal injury lawsuit, the victim might get punitive damages if there’s evidence of gross negligence.
What Is the Average Settlement Payout for a Motorcycle Accident?
Most injury victims want to know the average settlement payout of a motorcycle accident. The truth is, no experienced attorney would be able to give a figure. The average sum does not exist because each accident case differs due to some of the factors mentioned below.
- The Value of Economic Damage: The amount a victim gets out of a motorcycle accident claim depends on their economic damages. This includes medical costs, property damage repairs, lost wages, and any out-of-pocket expenses. There must be receipts to show the amount spent; else, the insurance adjuster would reject the claim.
- The Extent of Non-Economic Damages: While it is hard to place a dollar value on non-economic damages, insurance companies find a way to do it. They consider the severity of the victims’ suffering, age, and activity level before the accident.
- The Fault of Each Party: The percentage of fault plays a crucial role in the settlement negotiations. This is because Nevada follows a comparative negligence rule. Thus, while a victim will still get compensation for injuries, it will be to the degree of fault they share.
- Insurance Coverage in Place: The fault driver insurance coverage determines how much the victim gets. If the liability exceeds the coverage the victim might recover the rest in a personal injury lawsuit. However, this rarely happens, making it important for motorists and motorcyclists to have underinsured motorist coverage.
Contact McDonald Worley Law Firm for a Free Consultation Today!
To learn more about motorcycle accident injuries in Nevada and your legal options, contact McDonald Worley Law Firm today. Our attorneys have the legal expertise to win against insurance providers. We will also represent you in a lawsuit and get the compensation to relieve your financial burdens. We work on a contingency fee basis and will charge no upfront fee. Getting you justice is our priority, so let us help you.