Left Turn Motorcycle Wrecks: What You Should Know
The landmark 1982 Hurt Report pegged left-turn motorcycle wrecks as one of the biggest dangers for motorcycle riders. A generation later, the problem is much worse. Today, around 50 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes are left-turn crashes.
Usually, a tortfeasor (negligent driver) waits to make a left turn against traffic, normally at an intersection but perhaps while attempting a U-turn or leaving a private driveway. The tortfeasor doesn’t see an approaching motorcycle or misjudges the time and distance, and turns directly in front of that oncoming motorcycle.
These wrecks usually cause catastrophic (life-threatening) injuries. Additionally, tortfeasors often blame victims for these wrecks, by saying things like “You came out of nowhere” or “I never even saw you.” But such statements are essentially liability admissions. So, a MissouriSugar Land personal injury lawyer can obtain substantial compensation in these cases.
Motorcycle Crash Injuries
Safety advances have made today’s cars and trucks more like lightweight armored cars. But motorcycles are still basically bicycles with combustion engines. Therefore, riders usually sustain very serious injuries in these wrecks, including:
- Internal Injuries: Usually, both vehicles are moving at almost top speed when they collide in a left-turn collision. The force of the impact throws riders off their bikes. As they fall, their internal organs smash against each other. The resulting abrasions bleed profusely, since internal organs don’t have protective skin layers.
- Broken Bones: Either the initial impact with a vehicle or the subsequent impact with the pavement usually shatters bones. Since doctors must use metal parts to reconstruct these bones and physical therapy is so much longer, the medical bills are extremely high.
- Head Injuries: The brain only takes up about a third of the skull. So, the aforementioned motion also causes the victim’s brain to slam against the inside of the skull. The resulting brain bleeding and swelling usually causes a permanent injury. Dead brain cells don’t regenerate.
The economic losses in a motorcycle crash claim, moistly the medical bills, usually exceed $150,000 in a catastrophic injury case. A Missouri City personal injury lawyer can obtain compensation for these losses, as well as noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering.350
Liability Issues
Because of these severe injuries, and also because tortfeasors often immediately pass the buck, one would think that a large settlement is there for the asking. Alas, that’s simply not true.
The contributory negligence defense often applies in these cases. This defense is very common in all intersection collision matters, not just left-turn motorcycle wrecks. The tortfeasor must be at least 51 percent responsible for the crash for the victim to obtain compensation.
“Responsibility” usually means substantial cause. Uncontrollable factors, like the weather, often contribute to crashes. But negligent drivers cause them, at least in most cases.
In a few cases, the last clear chance defense could apply as well. If the motorcyclist had a clear opportunity to avoid the wreck, maybe by braking suddenly, and didn’t avoid it, the tortfeasor might be immune.
There’s a big difference between the last clear chance and any possible chance. That’s especially true in motorcycle crash cases, since two-wheel vehicles are so hard to control. Usually, the defense only holds up in court if it happened during the day, the road was dry, there was no other pedestrian or vehicle traffic on the road, and the tortfeasor pulled slowly into the motorcycle rider’s path. Such fact patterns are very few and very far between.
Speak With a Diligent Harris County Attorney
Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in Missouri City, contact the Henrietta Ezeoke Law Firm. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start working for you.
Source:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37294138/
