Representing the Rights of Motorcycle Accident Victims
More than 89,000 people in Connecticut have registered motorcycles. People use motorcycles as a means of transportation as well as entertainment and sport. However, riding a motorcycle also comes with special risks of collisions and injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that an estimated 92,000 people were injured in accidents involving motorcycles in one year in the U.S.
Motorcycle accidents can be traumatic and can leave you facing many losses. The lawyers at the law office of Leighton, Katz & Drapeau fully understand how stressful a motorcycle accident can be and are here to help you recover.
Motorcycle Accidents can Cause Devastating Injuries
Motorcyclists do not have bumpers, roll cages, crumple zones, seat belts, airbags, or the other safety features of a motor vehicle. In fact, the only protection they have from outside forces is the clothes they wear and a safety helmet. Connecticut law does not require all motorcycle operators and passengers to wear helmets. In fact, it is their right not to wear a helmet, and an insurance company cannot defend a case claiming the motorcyclist should have worn a helmet.
An impact with the ground and/or with another vehicle can cause catastrophic and life-changing injuries for motorcyclists in collisions. Some of the most common serious injuries caused by these accidents include:
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Head trauma and fractured skulls
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Spinal cord injury (SCI)
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Facial and jaw fractures
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Internal hemorrhaging and organ damage
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Back and neck injuries
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Shattered or crushed limbs and bones
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Friction burns (road rash)
Most of these injuries will require time spent in the hospital, surgeries, long-term rehabilitative therapy, medications, and additional care. Some injuries, such as TBI or SCI, can lead to permanent cognitive impairments, paralysis, loss of organ function, and other severe and life-changing disabilities.
Helping You Recover after an Accident
Because motorcycle accident injuries are often so devastating, the losses suffered by victims are generally also significant. Victims often face medical bills, lose income from missing work, and experience serious pain and suffering. If the motorcycle accident happened because someone else was careless or negligent in some way, the negligent party should compensate the victims for all of their relevant losses.
Different parties may be negligent in causing motorcycle accidents, including the following:
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Careless drivers - Distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, tailgating, violating traffic laws, and other dangerous driving behaviors can lead a driver to collide with a motorcyclist.
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Motorcycle manufacturers - If part of a motorcycle is defective, it can malfunction and cause the motorcyclist to lose control and crash.
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Government entities - Road hazards such as potholes, cracks, or gravel on the road can be particularly dangerous for motorcyclists.
Contact our Hartford, CT Motorcycle Accident Lawyers for Help
No matter what type of negligence led to your collision, the motorcycle accident lawyers at the law firm of Leighton, Katz & Drapeau are here to help. As a victim, you may have many rights to recovery and we will stand up for those rights so that you receive the financial compensation you deserve. Please feel free to contact us at our Vernon, CT office by calling (860) 875-7000, our Enfield, CT office at (860) 749-4000, or our Middletown, CT office at (860) 347-6500.
