Eagle Grove Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Motorcyclists near Eagle Grove, Iowa face a level of physical risk that drivers of enclosed vehicles simply do not. A car has a roll cage, airbags, seatbelts, and four wheels providing stability. A motorcycle has none of those protections. What a motorcycle offers instead is agility, the ability to stop and turn quickly when necessary, but only if the rider has been properly trained and is alert to the specific dangers that cause the most crashes. This article covers the most common causes of motorcycle versus car collisions and how riders can reduce their risk, the serious injuries that most frequently result from these crashes, and how your medical bills will be covered while a claim against the at-fault party is pending.

Ninety-two percent of motorcycle riders involved in accidents are essentially without formal training. They are often self-taught or learned from family or friends. Formal training is the single most important thing you can do to reduce your chances of being in a crash and to reduce the severity of your injuries if you are involved in one. A trained rider understands how to use brakes correctly, how to take evasive action, and how to manage the motorcycle in emergency situations. None of these skills come naturally without instruction.

Almost one-half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol use by the motorcycle rider. Riding a motorcycle requires continuous physical coordination and situational awareness that alcohol directly impairs. Even a small amount of alcohol degrades reaction time and judgment in ways that are especially dangerous for a motorcyclist. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption when operating a motorcycle on Iowa roads.

A significant portion of motorcycle crashes are caused by excessive speed. This includes driving around a corner too fast and losing control, as well as driving above the speed limit and not having sufficient distance to stop when a car pulls out or turns in front of you. Speed reduces your available reaction time and amplifies the severity of any impact. Keeping your speed appropriate for road conditions, traffic, and visibility is one of the most effective crash-prevention measures available to any rider.

While only three percent of motorcycle crashes involve vehicle failures, the vast majority of those failures are single-vehicle accidents where the rider lost control because of a flat tire. Losing control of a motorcycle at high speed almost always results in serious injury. Routine inspection of your tires, brakes, and other critical components before every ride is not optional. It is a basic safety practice that can prevent a preventable crash.

This is the most common type of motorcycle crash. Another driver either fails to see the motorcyclist or misjudges their speed while turning at an intersection. The driver may be distracted, on a phone, or simply not watching for motorcycles. To reduce the risk:

1. Approach every intersection with caution. Look for signs that a driver may turn in front of you, such as a gap in oncoming traffic, a nearby driveway, or a driver's front wheels beginning to move. Watch the wheels of vehicles, not the vehicles themselves, because the wheels give the earliest indication of movement. As you approach, slow down, prepare your brakes, and be ready to take evasive action.
2. Never lay your bike down if you can avoid it. Your best chance of surviving a collision is reducing your speed as much as possible before impact. This is most effectively done by keeping the motorcycle upright and applying both brakes. Proper use of the front brake is the most critical and difficult skill to master. Even reducing your speed by ten to twenty miles per hour before impact can make the difference between a survivable injury and a fatal one.

Motorcycles can be hidden in the blind spots of other drivers, and many drivers are not actively watching for motorcycles in traffic. When a vehicle begins moving toward your lane, the risk of a side collision is immediate. To reduce the risk:

1. Know where blind spots are and minimize the time you spend in them. If you can see a driver's eyes in their mirrors, they have the ability to see you as well.
2. Be especially attentive in situations where lane changes are common, such as when traffic slows in one lane and other drivers look to shift into a faster one.
3. Watch for early warning signs of a lane change: turn signals activating, a vehicle drifting within its own lane, or a driver's head turning to check their mirrors before moving over.

Coming to a stop at a red light or stop sign while a driver behind you fails to notice that traffic has stopped is a scenario that is merely a fender bender for a car driver but can kill a motorcyclist. To reduce the risk:

1. Consider adding brake lights that flash as you apply the brakes, making your deceleration much more visible to drivers approaching from behind.
2. When stopped, position yourself toward the side of the center of your lane rather than directly in the middle. Keep your motorcycle in gear and your hand near the throttle. Pay attention to vehicles approaching from behind and be prepared to move quickly if a vehicle shows no signs of slowing down.

In the event of a motorcycle collision, virtually any bone in the body can fracture. In cases of severe breaks where bone protrudes through the skin, the risk of serious infection is significantly elevated. Certain fracture types create additional complications that extend the recovery period substantially. Prolonged immobilization required for healing can increase the risk of dangerous blood clots and bedsores. Fractures involving joints may require surgery and can result in chronic pain or reduced range of motion long after the initial injury heals.

Road rash occurs when a motorcyclist's body makes contact with the road surface during a crash, skidding across the pavement. Like a severe burn, road rash affects the skin and can be far more serious than it appears in the immediate aftermath of a crash. The most severe type of road rash damages the tissues and muscles beneath the skin, creating wounds that require professional medical intervention. Complications such as serious infection can arise, and skin grafting surgery is sometimes necessary to cover exposed areas and facilitate healing. Pursuing compensation for these injuries and related expenses requires the assistance of a qualified motorcycle accident attorney.

A severe traumatic brain injury from a motorcycle crash can affect a victim in a wide variety of ways depending on the severity of the injury. Mild concussions may bring about temporary confusion and headaches that resolve over time. More severe traumatic brain injuries, however, can yield lasting complications that fundamentally alter a person's life. These complications span from persistent memory and concentration problems to shifts in personality. Physical challenges from serious TBI include impaired movement and coordination. Psychological consequences including anxiety and depression are also commonly associated with significant head trauma sustained in a crash. Iowa riders who are not wearing helmets at the time of a collision face a considerably higher risk of sustaining a disabling or fatal brain injury.

Spinal cord injuries from motorcycle crashes range from minor but discomfort-inducing herniated discs to grave spinal cord damage. The implications of a serious spinal injury extend far beyond the back and neck. Depending on the location of the injury along the spinal column, victims may experience chronic pain, loss of sensation, and even paralysis throughout large portions of their body. The most catastrophic spinal cord injuries can result in lifelong wheelchair dependency and continuous ongoing medical care. These injuries represent some of the most financially and personally devastating outcomes of any motorcycle accident, and they demand comprehensive legal representation to ensure that the full scope of current and future losses is recovered.

The financial toll from severe motorcycle injuries can be enormous. Compensation that may be pursued following a crash near Eagle Grove includes:

• Medical expenses already incurred for emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, and follow-up treatment
• Long-term care costs for ongoing medical needs that may extend for years or for the rest of the victim's life
• Lost wages for any time the victim is unable to work during recovery
• Financial damages reflecting the full economic impact of the injuries on the victim's earning capacity
• Pain and suffering for the physical pain and its ongoing impact on quality of life
• Emotional distress tied to the trauma of the crash, the recovery process, and any permanent disability

1. Your own health insurance from your employment benefits package. If you have employer-sponsored health coverage, this is typically the most effective first source for paying medical bills as they arrive. Using your health insurance does not forfeit your right to recover those costs from the at-fault party through your settlement.
2. Your own health insurance that you pay for personally. Coverage you purchased independently works in exactly the same way as employer-sponsored insurance for purposes of covering treatment during a pending injury claim.
3. Health insurance obtained by a spouse for your benefit, or by your parents if you are a minor living at home. Family coverage can be used to pay your medical expenses just as your own policy would, and it preserves your right to recover those amounts in your settlement.
4. Medical payments coverage from your own auto insurance policy. Many Iowa drivers and motorcycle riders carry medical payments coverage on their auto policy. This coverage can help pay your medical bills regardless of who caused the accident, and in some cases it may be available from more than one policy.
5. Healthcare.gov or Medicaid. If you are not currently enrolled in any private insurance plan, you may be eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Applications can be submitted online, through a local insurance agent, or through your local Department of Human Services.
6. Your own personal funds. If no other coverage is available, using your own funds to pay medical costs while your claim is pending may be necessary to protect both your health and the strength of your legal case.

Do not sign anything for any insurance company before consulting with a qualified motorcycle accident attorney. Common mistakes made without legal guidance, including providing recorded statements, accepting early settlement offers, or signing broad medical releases, can permanently reduce or eliminate compensation you are legally entitled to receive.