Altoona Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Iowa Motorcycle Insurance: Why the Default May Not Be Enough

Iowa motorcyclists who do not carry motorcycle insurance can lose their licenses if pulled over, per the Iowa Financial and Safety Responsibility Act. Beyond the legal consequences, a rider who is at fault for an accident can be held personally responsible for the full cost of all repairs and medical bills. Carrying the right insurance coverage is not just a legal obligation; it is a financial safeguard that can make an enormous difference when a serious motorcycle crash occurs.

Many riders purchase only the minimum coverage required by law without realizing how quickly those limits can be exhausted when injuries are involved. Investigating all of the optional coverage types your motorcycle insurance company offers is one of the most important things a rider can do before getting on the road. A little extra money spent on premiums on the front end could save thousands later when you no longer have the means to generate extra income after a crash.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

While you may carry insurance, not all drivers do. And even when the at-fault driver has a policy, it may not be enough to fully cover your injuries. By purchasing uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, you can help ensure that your damages are paid in the event of an accident caused by someone else who carries little or no insurance. For motorcycle riders, whose injuries tend to be more severe than those in enclosed vehicles, this coverage is especially valuable and should not be overlooked.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Comprehensive coverage pays for damages that occur to your bike for things other than a motor vehicle accident, including flood, fire, and vandalism. Collision coverage, on the other hand, helps cover the cost of repairs when you are involved in an accident caused by colliding with another object rather than another motor vehicle. Together, these two types of coverage protect your investment in your bike across a wide range of scenarios.

Medical Expense Coverage

Medical expense coverage is one of the most valuable types of optional coverage available to motorcyclists. It pays for the medical expenses of both you and any of your passengers in the event of an accident, regardless of who caused the wreck. Given the severity of injuries that frequently result from motorcycle crashes, having this coverage in place before an accident occurs can be the difference between manageable medical debt and a financial crisis.

Roadside Assistance and Excursion Diversion Coverage

If you have an accident while on a ride, run out of gas, or experience a mechanical breakdown, roadside assistance coverage provides free towing. Excursion diversion insurance, sometimes called interrupted trip insurance, pairs well with roadside assistance, as it provides riders with lodging, food, and transportation in the event of an accident that occurs more than 100 miles from home. Reviewing the pre-ride checklist for Iowa bikers before every ride may reduce how often you need to rely on these coverages.

When Insurance Alone Is Not Enough

Despite the many coverage options available, sometimes the damages that result from a motorcycle accident are so severe that insurance alone cannot make a rider whole. When this happens, filing a personal injury lawsuit for damages may be necessary to recover the total cost of all losses incurred. In Iowa, a claim must be filed within two years under Iowa Code 614.1, so acting promptly is essential.

Serious Injuries After a Motorcycle Accident: Cervical Radicular Pain and Nerve Damage

Motorcycle riders have no protective shell around them when a collision occurs. The impact of a crash frequently causes significant trauma to the neck and spine, and one of the most serious and painful conditions that can result is cervical radiculopathy, commonly referred to as cervical radicular pain. Understanding this condition and the treatments available is important for injury victims pursuing compensation.

What Is Cervical Radicular Pain?

Radicular pain, or radiculopathy, is a condition in which the nerves stop working properly due to a malfunction in the root of the nerve. It can result in pain, numbness, weakness, and loss of motor control. Even though the problem originates in the spinal area, the pain is frequently felt in other parts of the body. Many cases occur in the cervical spine and produce severe neck pain along with symptoms that radiate into the arms and hands.

In many cases, a herniated disc, usually the result of trauma such as a motorcycle accident or a fall, causes cervical radicular pain. The material from the ruptured disc puts pressure on the nerve root, compressing it and causing pain. Radicular pain may also result from arthritis or other types of degenerative bone disease, though trauma from an accident is a recognized and common trigger.

Traditional Treatments for Cervical Radicular Pain

Many patients suffering from this condition begin with conservative therapies. These may include corticosteroids and pain medication to varying degrees of effectiveness, either through injectable treatments or oral medication. Physical therapy is often another part of the treatment plan and might include cervical traction, which involves either mechanical or manual traction. When conservative treatment fails and the pain becomes intolerable, surgery is often considered the next step. However, there is another treatment option that may provide meaningful pain relief before surgery becomes necessary.

The Epidural Nerve Block Procedure

The epidural nerve block procedure involves injection of a corticosteroid into the epidural space of the spine. The physician uses a fluoroscope to allow real-time X-ray imaging during the procedure. A contrast medium allows the doctor to ensure the needle is placed correctly before injecting the medication, which combines a local anesthetic like lidocaine with a corticosteroid into the epidural space. The degree and duration of pain relief is then monitored over a set period of time.

This procedure is minimally invasive and may be an excellent alternative to surgery. Complications are considered slight and include a risk of infection, slight bleeding, and minor pain around the injection site. Patients should discuss the full range of possible side effects with their doctor before receiving any injection or treatment.

Recovering Compensation for Cervical Radicular Pain Treatment

Living with cervical radicular pain is not easy. The patient's daily life becomes focused on pain management. Patients may be unable to work, sleep, or enjoy everyday activities they took for granted before the accident. If you suffer from this condition because of a motorcycle crash that someone else caused, you may be able to recover compensation for damages including medical bills for epidural nerve block procedures to relieve the pain. Damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses may be recoverable as well. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after your injury gives you the best chance of building a complete and well-documented claim.

Five Critical Steps to Protect Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

The actions you take in the days and weeks following a motorcycle accident have a direct impact on the value of your claim. Insurance companies are trained to look for reasons to reduce what they owe you, and certain common mistakes give them exactly the ammunition they need. The following five steps are essential to receiving a fair and just settlement for your injuries.

1. Tell Your Doctor Everything That Hurts

One of the most critical pieces of evidence in any personal injury claim is how you feel and how your injuries have affected your ability to function on a daily basis. Your doctor is required to keep accurate and detailed records of your medical history and care. Those records include your description of how you were injured, your physical complaints, the doctor's examination findings, and the treatment you received. Insurance companies will base their settlement offers on this information.

If you fail to tell your doctor everything that hurts, not only will those injuries go untreated, but no one will have a documented record of them. If you first begin to complain about a problem weeks or months after the accident, the insurance company will claim the problem was not caused by the crash and use that gap to reduce their settlement offer.

2. Follow Your Doctor's Orders

If your doctor recommends therapy three days a week and you only attend once a week, you will damage your claim. Insurance companies will argue that you could not have been truly injured if you failed to follow your doctor's recommendations, and they will use that argument to reduce your settlement. Consistent compliance with your prescribed treatment plan is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate the legitimacy and severity of your injuries.

3. Keep a Diary to Document Your Injuries

Few accident victims think to write down how they felt from day to day after a crash, but a personal diary can be a powerful piece of evidence. Writing down how your injuries affected your ability to function on a daily basis provides an accurate, contemporaneous account that can help prove the extent of your pain and suffering. A thorough diary can mean a higher evaluation of your overall claim.

4. Keep Documentation Regarding Missed Work

It is important to track all time you missed from work as a result of your injuries. This includes keeping any doctor's notes that excuse you from work and maintaining a record of time missed for doctor's appointments. Lost wages are a compensable element of damages in a personal injury claim, but they must be properly documented to be recovered.

5. Be Careful What You Say

Insurance companies and their lawyers will use anything and everything you tell them against you in the claims process. No matter what, do not lie. Even a small misstatement can destroy your credibility and seriously damage the value of your case. The best approach is to always tell the truth and to avoid making any statements to the insurance company without first consulting with your attorney. If you are not sure whether you should speak with an adjuster, get legal guidance before you do.

Why Altoona Motorcycle Accident Victims Need an Experienced Attorney

Motorcycle accident claims involve a unique set of challenges. Bias against riders sometimes surfaces in insurance negotiations and even in the courtroom. Insurance companies know these dynamics and may use them to their advantage when evaluating your claim. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney understands how to counter these tactics and knows how to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.

An attorney can represent you in all dealings with your insurance company, help you understand what optional coverages in your own policy may provide immediate financial relief, negotiate subrogation claims from health insurers to maximize what you keep from any settlement, and pursue every available source of compensation when insurance coverage falls short of covering your full losses.

Whether your case can be resolved through settlement or requires filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover your total damages, having knowledgeable legal representation in your corner from the very beginning of the process gives you the best possible foundation for a full financial recovery.

For more information about your rights after a motorcycle accident, visit iowainjured.com and request a free copy of the Iowa Consumer's Guide to Motorcycle Crashes: 9 Insider's Secrets to Keep Your Case on 2 Wheels.