Riders love the freedom of two wheels on Northern California’s open roads, but let’s talk straight about the grim reality: motorcycle crashes are a different beast than car accidents. The hard truth is two wheels vs. four. There’s nothing like leaning into a curve with the wind in your face but that thrill comes with an increased risk. A bike just doesn’t have the stability of a car. Hit a patch of gravel, a slick spot from a sudden rain shower and that motorcycle is far more likely to get squirrely. Cars typically shrug off those road imperfections; bikes don’t.
Most of the time, it’s not you, it’s the driver of the car. Nearly three out of four motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle, and almost always, the driver “didn’t see” the bike. While cars might crash because of texting, speeding, or drunk driving, for riders, it often comes down to simply being invisible to other motorists. And let’s be real, cars have steel cages, airbags, and seatbelts. You? You’ve got your gear and your wits. That’s why your injuries are often catastrophic: head trauma, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and road rash that goes to the bone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states it plainly: motorcyclists are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than car passengers for the same miles traveled.
A crash, no matter what you’re driving, is a financial nightmare. Medical bills pile up, your ride’s trashed, and you’re out of work. But with motorcycle accidents, those costs are usually magnified. More severe injuries mean higher medical expenses and longer recovery times, hitting your wallet and your livelihood even harder. Protecting your motorcycle and your future may be expensive. When you’re outfitting your bike with insurance, don’t skimp. You need solid liability and uninsured motorist coverage, plus collision and medical payments. We highly recommend cranking up that underinsured motorist coverage. There are too many folks out there on the road with minimal or no insurance, and if they hit you, you’ll be glad you have that extra protection.
Navigating the aftermath can be very complicated. Motorcycle crash cases are often scrutinized differently. Lawyers and insurance companies will dig into your actions: your speed, your helmet use, your gear, and whether you were following traffic laws. Car accidents, on the other hand, often hinge more on insurance limits and proving who was at fault. To get compensated for your injuries and damages, you’ll generally need to prove the other party was negligent — that they acted carelessly and caused the crash.
The best crash is the one that never happens. Always gear up with a helmet and protective clothing, follow the rules of the road, and ride defensively. And for those cagers sharing the road, the message is simple: stay focused, put the phone down, and give bikes the space we need. Got any questions about protecting yourself on the road, or what to do if the unthinkable happens? We’re here to help.
We represent people injured as a result of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. Insurance companies have paid our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation because we uncover the facts. When insurance companies fail to offer full compensation, we are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com
