Eldora Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Dedicated legal support for Eldora, Iowa riders injured in motorcycle crashes, from crash prevention to recovering fair compensation.

Riding a motorcycle through Eldora offers a sense of freedom that a car simply cannot match, but that freedom comes with real risk. A motorcycle lacks the crash worthiness of a car. It has no roll cage, no roof, no airbags, and no seatbelts, and it is far less stable with only two wheels on the road. Because of its smaller size, a motorcycle is also harder for other drivers to see. At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, we want Eldora riders to understand both how to reduce their risk on the road and what legal options exist if the unexpected happens.

How Eldora Riders Can Help Prevent a Crash

What a motorcycle sacrifices in size and protection, it makes up for in its ability to stop and turn quickly, but only when the rider has proper training. Riders without formal training are far more likely to be involved in a crash, since many riders are self-taught or learned from family or friends. Training remains the single most effective way to reduce both the chances of a crash and the severity of any resulting injuries.

Three Common Crash Scenarios Eldora Riders Should Know

A well known motorcycle safety study, the Hurt Report, identified patterns in how motorcycle crashes typically occur and how riders can respond.

A driver turns left in front of you. This is the most common type of motorcycle crash. Another driver fails to see the motorcycle or misjudges its speed while turning at an intersection, often because of distraction or simply not looking for motorcycles. Approaching intersections with caution, watching for a gap in traffic or an open driveway, and focusing on a vehicle's wheels rather than its body can give you an early warning that a car is beginning to move. If a collision becomes unavoidable, keeping the bike upright and applying both brakes properly, rather than laying the bike down, gives you the best chance of reducing your speed before impact.

A car changes lanes into you. A motorcycle can easily sit in another driver's blind spot, and not every driver is looking for motorcycles before changing lanes. Staying aware of where blind spots lie, watching for turn signals or a driver's head checking mirrors, and being extra cautious when traffic slows in a single lane can help you avoid this type of crash.

A car hits you from behind. What might be a minor fender bender for two cars can be fatal for a motorcyclist stopped at a light or stop sign. Installing brake lights that flash when you apply the brakes, positioning your motorcycle toward the side of the lane rather than dead center, keeping the bike in gear, and watching approaching traffic from behind can help you react in time.

Should Eldora Riders Wear a Helmet?

Iowa is one of the few states that does not require motorcycle riders to wear a helmet, but statistics consistently show a helmet is the most important safety device a rider has. A helmet's hard outer shell and inner liner work together to distribute and absorb the force of an impact, significantly reducing the chance of a disabling or deadly brain injury. Riders should also confirm any helmet they wear meets federal safety standards, and should keep in mind that most states outside Iowa require helmet use.

Spinal Cord Injuries in Eldora Motorcycle Accidents

Spinal cord injuries are among the most serious injuries a motorcyclist can suffer, affecting a significant share of motorcycle accident victims. Motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of new spinal cord injuries nationwide. Upon impact, a rider's vertebrae can become crushed, compressed, or dislodged, and damaged ligaments or spinal discs can affect the spinal cord as well.

Complete vs. Incomplete Spinal Cord Injuries

Doctors classify spinal cord injuries as either complete, meaning a total loss of sensation and movement below the injury site, or incomplete, meaning some sensation and function remain even though it is not total. With incomplete injuries, it can take weeks or months before doctors know the full extent of a rider's condition. Research on motorcycle related spinal injuries has found that the thoracic spine is the most commonly injured region, followed by the lumbar spine, with the cervical spine and neurologic injury also affected in a substantial number of cases.

Complications Eldora Riders May Face After a Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury can leave an Eldora rider facing extensive medical costs, and new treatments continue to become available, though they often carry a high price tag. If another party was liable for the crash that caused your injury, an attorney can help you explore your legal options for restitution.

Disfiguring Injuries From Eldora Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents make up only a small share of all road accidents, yet they account for a disproportionate share of serious, injury-related crashes and fatalities. The best way to reduce your risk is to follow the rules of the road and wear a helmet, but even the most cautious Eldora rider can still end up in a serious crash. If you suffered a disfiguring injury, you may be entitled to pursue compensation.

Check Your Insurance and Consider a Third-Party Claim

It is wise to carry complete coverage on your motorcycle, since not every accident involves another vehicle and you will need a way to cover medical and living expenses while you recover. If you were seriously injured or disfigured due to weather conditions or driver error, you may be entitled to compensation through your own motorcycle insurance coverage. You may also be able to file a third-party claim against another driver's liability insurance if that driver caused your Eldora accident.

Hire an Attorney Before You Settle

It is important to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a serious motorcycle accident, and you should never settle with an insurance company before getting legal advice. Insurance companies employ their own lawyers and experts, and it is in their financial interest to offer a quick settlement. Even when an offer sounds fair, an injured rider is rarely in the physical or emotional condition to evaluate it properly. Working with an experienced motorcycle accident attorney allows you to focus on healing while someone else handles the insurance company.

Types of Compensation Available for Disfiguring Injuries

Eldora riders who suffer serious or disfiguring injuries may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, hospitalization, long-term care, the cost of hiring caregivers, physical therapy, and lost earnings, both current and future. Riders may also be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress connected to the disfigurement. In cases involving extreme scarring or amputation, both physical and emotional therapy may be necessary, and any long-term complications or future issues should be factored into your claim.