Did you know that motorcycle collision are also considered personal injury cases? Personal injury attorneys cover various types of injuries, not just those involving cars.
Some of the ways to know if you need a Utah personal injury lawyer after a collision is if a motorcycle was involved and you were not at fault!
There are multiple scenarios that allow you to have a no-fault claim following a motorcycle crash. These include:
- You were driving a motorcycle that was hit by another car, truck, or motorcycle.
- You were a passenger on the motorcycle that was hit by another car, truck or motorcycle.
- You were a passenger in a vehicle involved in a motorcycle crash, and the driver of the motorcycle you were riding was at-fault.
Sometimes even when you are extremely cautious, you can still get hurt due to the actions of someone else. Over the past ten (10) years, motorcycle deaths have increased by 20%, and in 2020, the number of motorcycle fatalities involving alcohol was greater than any other type of alcohol-related injury.
In Utah, one of the most frustrating things for motorcyclists is the lack of driver awareness of Utah’s filtering law, which was passed in 2019. It doesn’t help that many of us here in Utah “forget” to use our blinker or we drive distracted (Testing, eating, Putting on Make-Up, etc.), or we simply don’t check our blind spots or mirrors. By doing these basic safe driving practices we could all help decrease the number of injuries and even deaths from incidents on the road here in Utah.
Under this law, motorcyclists are allowed to filter or move to the front of the traffic line, on roadways that:
- Have at least two adjacent going the same direction,
- Speed limit is less than 45 mph on that road,
- The vehicles around them are stopped, and
- Motorcycle is traveling at less than 15 mph, and
- Maneuver can be made safely.
Lane filtering should not be confused with lane splitting (or riding in between lanes of slow moving traffic), which is still illegal in Utah. When lane filtering first became legal, many drivers were unaware. There were several news stories of drivers purposefully opening their car doors to impede filtering motorcyclists. If this has happened to you, you need a Utah personal injury attorney who understands the unique nature of these laws.
Remember, just like other types of collisions, insurance is a key piece of the motorcycle personal injury puzzle. Also, documentation can help your claims be taken seriously. Many motorcyclists have started wearing cameras to help protect them in incidents where they are not at fault. There are lots of options out there that can help you if you are ever injured.
Some different insurance claims that can be used in Motorcycle incidents and injuries are:
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Your own insurance coverage can compensate you even if the other person involved in the collision is uninsured.
Liability Coverage: Most claims can be made directly to the insurance of the responsible party to ensure you get the medical care covered and property damage repair. In addition, you are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
Double Coverage: This is the best-case scenario. There is liability coverage and you have UIM coverage, this means after you tenure the policy limits from liability you are eligible to open a UIM claim with your insurance. Remember, Utah law precludes insurance companies from raising your rates when you are not at fault for a collision, but still need to use your own coverage.
Motorcycle cases are unique, and it’s important that if you’ve been involved in a motorcycle collision, that you hire personal injury attorneys who know how to handle these claims.
Here at Johnson Livingston, we take you and your case seriously. We offer free case consultations to see if we are the right fit for your case. Stay safe out there, and don’t forget that the safest way to ride a motorcycle is with your helmet on. Remember that we are here to help in any way we can, just reach out to us to schedule an appointment by giving us a call at 801-948-9670.
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