Motorcycle Accident FAQ (May 2025)

Motorcycle Accident FAQs You Need to Know

Many motorcycle accident victims have little experience with insurance claims and personal injury cases. Here are some answers to questions they often encounter as they progress through the accident claim process:

What are the risk factors for motorcycle crashes?

Motorcycles can be difficult to control because they require the rider to balance as they ride. Moreover, motorcycles have a higher power-to-weight ratio than most passenger cars, resulting in greater acceleration. These factors combine to make motorcycles less stable, which can mean riders are more likely to lose control.

At the same time, drivers often behave carelessly around motorcycles. They misjudge their distance, speed and maneuverability due to unfamiliarity. Drivers may also fail to spot motorcycles on the road because of inattention or distractions.

In some cases, drivers may have a cognitive bias against seeing motorcycles on the road. Motorcycles can fail to register in their minds because they are not watching for them.

This bias is called inattentional blindness. It can lead to crashes called looked-but-failed-to-see collisions in which the driver does not even realize the motorcycle is there until it is too late to avoid hitting it.

Are motorcycle accidents more risky than car accidents?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 22 times more likely to die and four times more likely to get injured in a motorcycle crash compared to vehicle occupants in a car crash.

This statistic does not necessarily mean that riders crash more often than drivers, though. Instead, it means that the outcomes of collisions between a motorcycle and an automobile are, on average, less survivable than when two cars collide.

What are some common causes of motorcycle accidents?

Motorcyclists tend to have a high rate of single-vehicle crashes in which they run off the road or hit a fixed object. These crashes often occur when the rider loses control of their vehicle.

However, many motorcycle accidents happen when an automobile hits a motorcycle. Some common scenarios in which drivers hit motorcycles include:

• Turning left across the path of a bike proceeding straight
• Failing to yield to a motorcycle at a multi-way stop
• Making a right turn in front of an approaching rider
• Changing lanes into or in front of a motorcycle

These negligence examples often happen due to inattention or carelessness.

What are the most common injuries in motorcycle collisions?

Studies show that the most common motorcycle crash injuries affect the legs, upper extremities and head, including the following:

• Fractured bones
• Concussions and other brain injuries
• Lacerations
• Abrasions and road rash
• Burns

Helmet use is effective in reducing head injuries and fatalities. However, head injuries can still happen in a motorcycle accident when the rider’s helmet strikes the ground or they get ejected from their motorcycle.

How do I get injury compensation after a motorcycle crash?

In most states, you must prove the other driver acted negligently in causing your accident. Specifically, your motorcycle accident lawyers must prove they failed to exercise the care expected of a reasonably cautious driver.

In many cases, this means they broke a traffic law, such as tailgating or texting while driving. In other cases, you will need to show that they did something unreasonably dangerous, like changing lanes without checking their blind spot.

Who is liable for a motorcycle accident?

You will typically start your accident claim with the other driver’s insurer. If you prove that the insured driver’s negligence caused your injuries, the insurer will generally pay your losses up to the policy limit.

What losses can I claim for my injuries?

You can seek compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Economic losses cover the costs of your injuries, such as bills you paid or income you lost. Non-economic losses encompass your pain and suffering. Compensation for these losses is meant to address the reduction in your quality of life caused by your injuries.

Will my motorcycle insurance pay my medical bills?

Your motorcycle insurance might cover your injuries if you bought medical payments (MedPay) coverage. This coverage pays your medical bills up to the policy limit, regardless of fault. Thus, you may be able to file a MedPay claim for medical bills from a single-vehicle accident or a multi-vehicle accident you caused.

Can I file an injury claim if I contributed to the cause of the accident?

There are two general systems for allocating fault after an accident. States that use contributory negligence bar injury claims if you contributed to the cause of the accident in any way. This means you cannot recover anything if you were even 1% at fault.

On the other hand, states that use comparative negligence allow you to file a claim but reduce your compensation according to your percentage of the blame. For example, if you were 25% at fault, you can only recover compensation for 75% of your losses.

What do motorcycle accident lawyers do?

Motorcycle accident lawyers know personal injury law and insurance procedures. They can file your claim and negotiate with the insurer to settle it. If you cannot settle your case, your attorney can also file a lawsuit against the driver who hit you.

What happens if I get hit by an uninsured driver?

An uninsured driver does not have a liability insurance policy to pay for the losses resulting from their negligence. If you have uninsured motorist coverage in your motorcycle insurance policy, you can file a claim with your insurer. You can also sue the uninsured driver.

Contact ConsumerShield to Learn More About Motorcycle Accidents

You may have suffered significant physical and mental trauma from a motorcycle crash. As a result, you might require resources to pay for the treatment and therapy you need.

The knowledgeable team at ConsumerShield can help you navigate your path forward and find a trusted lawyer in your area to advocate for you. Contact us for a free case review and a motorcycle accident attorney referral today.