Hiawatha Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys

Serving injured riders and passengers throughout Hiawatha and Linn County, Iowa.

Motorcyclists face dangers on the road that drivers of passenger vehicles rarely think about. A car has a roll cage, airbags, seatbelts, and four wheels keeping it stable. A motorcycle has none of those protections. When a crash occurs, the rider bears the full force of the impact, and the injuries that result are often serious, expensive to treat, and long in recovery.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a motorcycle accident near Hiawatha, understanding how these crashes happen, what injuries they cause, and how to protect your legal claim from the moment you start treating can make an enormous difference in the outcome of your case. This article draws on information from Walker, Billingsley & Bair to walk you through the most critical issues facing injured riders in Iowa.

Why Motorcycles Are So Vulnerable on Iowa Roads

A motorcycle lacks the crash worthiness and structural protection of today's cars. Beyond the physical differences in weight and mass, a motorcycle is simply harder for other drivers to see. Because of its smaller size, it can disappear into blind spots and go unnoticed at intersections, especially when drivers are distracted or are not actively watching for two-wheeled vehicles.

That said, a motorcycle is not entirely without defensive advantages. Its ability to stop and turn quickly, when the rider has been properly trained, can offset some of those vulnerabilities. The key word is trained. Research shows that 92 percent of motorcycle riders involved in accidents were essentially without formal training, having learned from family, friends, or on their own. Proper training is the single most important thing a rider can do to reduce both the likelihood of being in a crash and the severity of injuries if one does occur.

The Most Common Motorcycle vs. Car Crash Scenarios

A 1981 motorcycle safety study known as the Hurt Report identified the most common types of motorcycle crashes and offered guidance on how riders might avoid them. These scenarios remain relevant to riders on Iowa roads today.

Another Driver Turns Left in Front of You

This is the most common type of motorcycle crash. A driver either fails to see the approaching rider or misjudges the motorcycle's speed while turning at an intersection. The driver may be distracted, on a cell phone, or simply not watching for motorcycles. When approaching any intersection, riders should slow down, look for signs that a vehicle may turn, and watch the wheels of other vehicles rather than the vehicles themselves, since wheel movement gives the earliest warning of a car beginning to turn.

If an impact looks unavoidable, riders should resist the urge to lay the bike down. The best chance of reducing injury is to keep the bike upright, apply both brakes properly, and reduce speed as much as possible before impact. Even reducing speed by 10 to 20 miles per hour can be the difference between going home with bruises and not going home at all.

A Car Changes Lanes Into You

A motorcycle can sit entirely within the blind spot of a passenger vehicle, and many drivers do not actively check for motorcycles when changing lanes. Riders should be aware of where blind spots are and minimize the time spent in them. A helpful rule of thumb: if you can see the driver's eyes in their mirrors, they have the ability to see you. Riders should also watch for warning signs that a lane change is coming, including turn signals, a vehicle drifting within its own lane, and a driver's head turning to check mirrors.

A Car Hits You From Behind

What would be a minor fender bender for a car can be fatal for a motorcyclist. When a rider stops at a red light or stop sign, a distracted driver approaching from behind may not realize traffic has stopped until it is too late. To reduce this risk, riders should stop toward the center of a lane rather than directly in front of following traffic, keep the motorcycle in gear, and stay alert to vehicles approaching from behind. Installing brake lights that flash when the brakes are applied can also help alert drivers to a slowing motorcycle.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Iowa

Beyond the specific crash types outlined above, several broader behaviors and conditions contribute to motorcycle accidents across Iowa:

• Alcohol use: Nearly half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol use by the rider. Riding impaired dramatically reduces reaction time and judgment.
• Excessive speed: A significant portion of motorcycle crashes involve speeding. Riding too fast through a corner or traveling above the speed limit leaves insufficient time to stop when a car pulls out unexpectedly.
• Inadequate maintenance: While vehicle failure accounts for only about 3 percent of motorcycle crashes, most of those are single-vehicle accidents in which the rider lost control due to a flat tire. Losing control at highway speed frequently results in serious injuries.

Motorcycle Burn Injuries: What Hiawatha Riders Need to Know

Burn injuries are among the most painful and disabling consequences of a motorcycle crash. They can require hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and lengthy recovery periods. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.2 million people were treated in emergency rooms over a seven-year span for non-fatal motorcycle-related injuries. Understanding the types of burn injuries that commonly result from crashes helps riders recognize the seriousness of their condition and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention.

Road Rash

Road rash, also called road burn, refers to the scrapes and wounds a rider sustains when thrown from or dragged by the motorcycle, causing skin to scrape against pavement or gravel. There are three primary types:

• Deep scrapes: At high speeds, road contact can produce wounds deep enough to require stitches. Open wounds carry a serious risk of infection and require careful monitoring and treatment.
• Bruising and compression injuries: When a rider becomes caught between the motorcycle and the road, serious bruising and crushing injuries can result.
• Avulsion injuries: Multiple layers of skin can be damaged, exposing underlying muscle or fat tissue. Injuries of this severity may require surgery and skin grafting.

Exhaust Burns

Exhaust burns happen when the rider or passenger accidentally makes contact with the exhaust pipe. These burns are extremely painful and frequently cause permanent scarring. Research published in the medical journal Burns by researchers at Athens University Medical School found that most exhaust burn injuries occurred below the knee on the right leg, that passengers sustained more than 70 percent of the injuries rather than riders, and that more than 65 percent of victims suffered second-degree burns.

Windburn

Windburn occurs when prolonged wind exposure damages the outer layer of skin. It causes painful, dry, and itchy skin and can make the affected area more sensitive to sunlight. Riders can help prevent windburn by wearing a helmet equipped with a visor to shield the face while riding.

Burns from Collision Fires

A collision can ignite gasoline or other fluids, leading to mechanical or gas fires. Combustion, fluid leaks, and faulty wiring are all factors that can cause a motorcycle fire after a crash, resulting in burns that range from painful to life-threatening. Burn injuries are classified as first-, second-, and third-degree burns, and riders who have sustained any type of serious burn should speak with their doctors about the risks of complications including scarring, infection, and nerve damage.

If you or your loved one sustained motorcycle burn injuries in an accident for which someone else was responsible, you may be able to file a claim for compensation.

Helmets and Your Safety as an Iowa Rider

Iowa is one of the few states that does not require motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. While that is a personal choice, riders should make it an informed one. Statistics consistently show that a helmet is the single most important safety device available to a motorcyclist. Helmets have a hard outer shell that protects the brain and distributes the force of an impact, and modern helmets also include an inner liner designed to absorb that force further. Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the likelihood of a disabling or fatal brain injury. Riders should also be aware that most other states do require helmets, so crossing state lines without one could create legal complications.

10 Mistakes to Avoid When Dealing With Doctors After a Motorcycle Crash

Many injured riders do not realize how much their interactions with medical providers affect the strength of their legal claim. The medical records created during your treatment become the foundation of your case. Common mistakes in how people handle their medical care can significantly reduce the compensation they ultimately receive. Here are the most important ones to avoid:

1. Failing to See a Doctor Immediately

It is your responsibility to prove that you were injured by the accident. Any pain or physical problem should prompt an immediate visit to a doctor. Insurance companies and juries tend to believe that if a person did not seek medical attention right away, the injury may not be serious or may not be related to the accident at all. Even relatively minor pain can develop into a more serious condition over time, so do not wait.

2. Discussing Your Lawsuit With Medical Providers

Your medical providers are focused on treating your injuries, not managing your legal case. Anything you say to them can end up in your medical records, which the insurance company, and potentially a judge or jury, will eventually review. Limit what you share about your claim or your attorney. You will need to tell them how you were injured, but your concerns about the case itself should stay out of those conversations.

3. Hiding Your Prior Health History

Doctors will ask about previous injuries to the same area of the body where you are currently having problems. Be honest. Attempting to conceal prior conditions will not only affect the quality of your medical care but will also damage your legal case once those prior records surface, and they will. Be equally accurate when describing how the accident occurred. Inaccuracies give insurance company attorneys ammunition to attack your credibility.

4. Missing or Arriving Late to Appointments

Every missed appointment appears in your medical records as a "No Show" or "DNS." More than one of these entries can make it look as though you did not take your injuries seriously. Doctors who are frustrated by missed appointments do not make strong witnesses for their patients. If you need to cancel or reschedule, call at least 24 hours in advance.

5. Not Telling Your Doctor How Your Injuries Are Affecting Your Work

Your medical records are the heart of your injury claim. If there is no mention in those records of how your injuries are affecting your ability to do your job, the insurance company and jurors will not simply take your word for it later. If your injuries are limiting your work capacity, tell your medical providers every time you are seen. Bringing written notes to your appointments can help make sure nothing important is left out of the record.

6. Failing to Accurately Document Your Pain

Pain is invisible to everyone but the person experiencing it, which means it must be thoroughly documented in your medical records for the insurance company and a jury to believe it existed. They will want to see how quickly you reported pain after the accident, where it was located, how severe it was, and how long it lasted. Write out your pain and limitations before each appointment and give your doctor a copy. Be accurate and consistent. Doctors are trained to look for inconsistencies, and exaggerating your pain will likely produce a negative note in your records that the other side will use against you.

7. Not Following Your Prescribed Medication Regimen

Doctors prescribe specific medications for specific reasons. If you believe a medication is causing unwanted side effects, call your doctor and ask about alternatives rather than stopping on your own. Some medications need to be tapered, and admitting later that you did not follow your doctor's orders will reflect poorly on your claim.

8. Stopping Treatment Too Soon

Juries and insurance adjusters tend to conclude that when a person stops seeking treatment, they have healed. Significant gaps in treatment of a month or more will be used to suggest that any ongoing complaints represent a new, undisclosed injury rather than a continuation of the original one. If your doctor indicates there is nothing more they can do and releases you, but you are still experiencing problems, return within a few weeks and ask for a specialist referral. Stopping treatment while still injured can seriously undermine your claim.

9. Failing to Keep Records

Hold on to business cards, billing statements, and any other documentation from every medical provider you see. Keep copies of work restrictions, referrals, and any written orders your doctors give you. If you need to hand a work excuse to your employer, make and keep a copy for yourself. Your attorney will need this information to build your case.

10. Not Seeking Treatment for Anxiety or Depression

Pain, limited activity, and disability following a serious motorcycle accident frequently lead to anxiety and depression. These are legitimate medical conditions that can be compensated as part of your injury claim, but only if they are properly diagnosed and treated. If you are struggling emotionally after your accident, tell your doctors and seek appropriate care. Without documentation and treatment, psychological injuries resulting from the crash will almost certainly not be included in your recovery.