Grimes Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

A motorcycle accident can upend every aspect of your life in an instant. Physical injuries, emotional suffering, and insurance company tactics all combine to make the path to fair compensation genuinely difficult. Riders in and around Grimes, Iowa need straightforward information and experienced legal representation to protect everything they are owed.

Motorcyclists face risks on Iowa roads that drivers of enclosed vehicles simply do not. Without the structural protection of a car or truck, a crash can leave a rider dealing with broken bones, head injuries, spinal damage, and serious emotional trauma all at the same time. On top of the physical and psychological toll, injured riders then face insurance companies that are well-trained in paying out as little money as possible.

The motorcycle accident attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair serve clients throughout Iowa, including riders from Grimes and the surrounding communities. This guide covers three critical topics every injured Iowa motorcyclist should understand: the broken bones commonly suffered in crashes, the emotional trauma that often accompanies serious accidents, and the insurance company tactics that can cost you thousands of dollars if you are not prepared for them.

Broken Bones from a Grimes Motorcycle Accident

Injuries to a motorcyclist following a crash can be extremely painful, expensive to treat, and may require an extended healing period. Among the most common injuries that a motorcyclist sustains as a result of an accident are broken bones. While broken bones can typically be remedied with proper medical care, in some cases they lead to long-term complications and impairment that affect a rider's life for years.

Signs and Symptoms of a Broken Bone

The most distinct characteristic of a broken bone is usually intensive pain at the affected area. Other signs to watch for include the following:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Limited mobility at the site of the injury
• Numbness or tingling
• Broken skin with a protruding bone
• An obviously misshapen or out-of-place limb or joint

Which Bones Are Commonly Broken in a Motorcycle Crash

Motorcyclists have very little protection in the event of an accident. Whatever protective gear is on their bodies is generally all that stands between them and serious injury. There is no limit to the number or types of bones that may be broken in a crash, but several factors determine what breaks and how severely, including the seriousness of the accident, the angle of impact, the speed the motorcyclist was traveling, and which part of the body absorbed the impact.

Rib fractures are common from the trauma of a torso striking the ground, another vehicle, or a fixed object. Collarbone, leg, arm, spine, and pelvis breaks are all possible as well. The severity and type of break will determine healing and recovery time, and whether there is a risk for long-term complications.

Recovery and Long-Term Complications

Treatment for a broken bone varies greatly depending on the area and severity of the break. Cast immobilization is typically used for breaks in the limbs, while a functional cast or brace may be used for minor fractures. Some serious breaks require surgery to repair. A broken spine can be particularly traumatizing. If a fracture of the spinal column disturbs the spinal cord in any way, injuries can be severe and permanent, including the possibility of paralysis.

Even fractures that heal fully carry risk of future problems. Post-traumatic arthritis, for example, can cause chronic pain and mobility issues at the affected area later in life. These long-term complications are a real part of what an injured rider loses, and they need to be accounted for in any claim or lawsuit.

Who Is Liable for Your Broken Bones

If your motorcycle accident and resulting broken bone injuries were caused by another driver's negligent or irresponsible actions, that driver may be held liable for your damages. Compensation may be awarded for current and future medical expenses, lost wages you suffer as a result of your injuries, and pain and suffering. Under Iowa law, you must file a motorcycle injury case within two years of your injury occurring in order to recover damages. That deadline makes it essential to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a crash.

Emotional Trauma After a Grimes Motorcycle Accident

The injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident go well beyond what is visible on an X-ray. In cases involving severe injuries, motorcyclists who were involved in an accident may also suffer from emotional trauma alongside their physical ailments. Iowa motorcyclists pursuing a liability claim or lawsuit against a negligent driver can and should factor this emotional distress into their claim.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After a Crash

Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, may develop following a traumatic event like a motorcycle accident. Once known primarily as a condition that soldiers exposed to battlefield combat might develop, PTSD can manifest for a wide variety of reasons, including serious vehicle crashes.

According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, PTSD symptoms fall into three main categories:

• Re-experiencing: flashbacks, nightmares, and intrusive thoughts about the incident
• Avoidance: steering clear of certain events or actions, emotional numbness, guilt, depression, difficulty remembering the event, and related symptoms
• Hyperarousal: being easily startled, persistent edginess, trouble sleeping, and intense episodes of anger

Head Injuries and Depression

Head injuries are a major concern for motorcyclists in the event of an accident. This is why advocacy and safety groups recommend helmet use by all operators and passengers, though it is important to note that Iowa has repealed its motorcycle helmet laws, meaning riders are not legally required to wear one.

Researchers have studied the well-documented connection between traumatic brain injury and depression. One study published in 2004 in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that one-third of participants developed major depressive disorder within the first year after sustaining a traumatic brain injury. A separate study published in 2002 in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship found that chronic stress was significantly connected to depression following a traumatic brain injury, a stress that is often related to the recovery process and other complicating factors after a serious injury.

It is also worth knowing that failing to wear a helmet may reduce a settlement if head injuries were sustained. The insurance company or defendant may argue that helmet use could have prevented or reduced the severity of the injury. Talking with an attorney about how helmet use factors into a specific claim is an important early step.

How Emotional Trauma Factors Into Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

A motorcycle accident claim will account for medical expenses related to physical injuries such as head injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones. It may also account for emotional trauma suffered as a result of the accident. Emotional trauma that may be included in the monetary damages awarded after an Iowa motorcycle accident include:

• Mental health assessment costs
• Counseling expenses
• Treatment for psychological conditions
• Mental anguish as a noneconomic damage

These are real and legitimate losses, and an experienced motorcycle accident attorney will make sure they are not overlooked when building your claim.

What Insurance Companies Don't Want Grimes Motorcycle Accident Victims to Know

Insurance companies are some of the richest and most powerful corporations in the United States. Each year they donate millions of dollars to politicians in an attempt to reduce the rights and compensation available to hardworking Iowans so they can generate more profit. What they do not control, however, are the judges and juries that ultimately decide the amount of compensation in a contested case. Here are five things insurance companies hope you never learn:

1. The Insurance Company Is Legally Allowed to Lie and Cheat You

There is no law requiring the insurance company on the other side to tell you the truth or do anything in your best interests. This is why an insurance adjuster will sometimes act like your friend and try to build trust with you. This is a common tactic, sometimes called the "Mr. Nice Guy" or "Mrs. Nice Lady" routine, and it is particularly common when your injuries are serious. Their job is to pay you as little money as possible. Insurance adjusters are not going to tell you your rights, how to best proceed with your claim, or anything else that will help you get fair compensation. The cold hard truth is that you cannot trust what the insurance company for the other side tells you.

2. You Do Not Have to Give Them a Recorded Statement

The insurance adjuster will tell you they need a recorded statement to evaluate your claim. In reality, you have no obligation to give the insurance company for the other side any recorded statement at all. The reason they want one is so they can ask questions in a way that allows them to use your answers against you later. For example, if they ask whether you have ever had back pain before and you answer no without thinking carefully, but your medical records show you saw a chiropractor years ago, the insurance company's lawyer will later use that answer to make you appear untrustworthy. Your credibility is critical in any injury case, which is exactly why insurance adjusters try to damage it right away.

3. Their "Final Offer" Is Usually Not Their Best Offer

During negotiations, the insurance company will often tell you that a particular offer is their final one. Based on the experience of the attorneys at Walker, Billingsley & Bair, that is usually not true. Making another proposal to settle rarely results in the insurance company withdrawing all offers entirely. Sometimes it does take filing a lawsuit and moving through the legal process to get to their actual best offer, but it is almost always worth pursuing.

4. They Will Intentionally Frustrate You

This is a tactic insurance adjusters use when the friendly approach stops working. Making a very low initial offer may make a claimant angry and frustrated, and adjusters know that a certain percentage of people will simply take a low settlement offer just to stop dealing with them. In their calculation, frustration works in their favor. If you have sustained a serious injury that may have lifelong effects on your health, consider turning the process over to an experienced injury attorney. Motorcycle accident attorneys deal with insurance adjusters every day and know exactly how to respond to their tactics. If you hire an attorney, they will handle the insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on healing.

5. They Will Not Pay Your Medical Bills as You Incur Them

Often the insurance adjuster will tell you to send your medical bills directly to them. However, this does not mean they will actually pay those bills. This is a strategy used to pressure you into accepting a cheap settlement later, after you begin receiving collection calls from hospitals and medical providers. In car and motorcycle accident cases, it is best to have medical bills paid by your health insurance or medical payments coverage under your own policy. Otherwise, it could be years before the case against the other side is resolved, and in the meantime your credit rating may suffer and you could end up holding unpaid bills you cannot afford.

Consulting a Grimes Motorcycle Accident Attorney

The toll from severe motorcycle injuries can encompass substantial medical expenses and long-term care costs for victims and their families. Lost wages may compound matters, especially if employment becomes unrealistic for an extended period. Getting help from a motorcycle accident attorney allows the pursuit of comprehensive compensation, from financial damages and emotional distress such as pain and suffering.

Victims of these accidents should seek consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney, as damages may be extensive and recovery of compensation is important.

At Walker, Billingsley & Bair, our motorcycle accident attorneys can represent you in dealings with your insurance company, or when filing a personal injury claim. Set up your consultation now by calling 641-792-3595. 

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